El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-03-22
A FOREIGN VIEW.
The Way the Filipino Matter Is Look
ed At By a Neighbour.

Under the head of "What the Filipi-
nos demand the Mexican Herald
says:
The revolution, begun so actively by
the Filipinos in 1896 against Spain, had
some points of resemblance to that OF
the British Colonies in America
against the rule of England. There is
much conflicting evidence as to the
ability of the Filipinos to maintain an
effective government; they certainly
could not remain long independent, I'M
less protected by some Great Power
during the formative period OF their
new governmental existence Hence
the mistake, as it seems to US. OF Agu1-
naldO in fighting against the liberating
Americans. The revolution against
Spain had six separate objects, accord
ing to Mr.. William 81. Salter, who has
made study of their social conditions:
U The expulsion of the monastic
orders, who, even Catholic authorities
admit, practiced abuses.
~ The abolition of the governor
generals arbitrary power to Danish
without accusation, trial or sentence.
(3) Restoration to the natives of
LANDS held by the religious orders.
az A limitation of the arbitrary
powers of the civil guard.
(5 No arrest without judges war
rant.
(6) Abolition of the fifteen days per
annum compulsory labor.
For less than this did the American
patriots wage war for freedom. But
the American people had the Anglo
Saxon talent for self-government, and
the FilipinOs may reasonably enough,
despite many pleasing and creditable
quslities) be judR ed to be, at the pres
ent time incapable of establishing a
republic on firm basis, Mr.. Salter
says of them that they have some of
the marks of a superior people. They
Sjsp saS Thy they 'i saSa
pleasing family life. Wives have an
amount of liberty hardly equaled In
any other Eastern country, and they
seldom abuse it, The men are self
to remarkable degree. The
climate allows them to be indolent, yet
they pos e. many fine branches OF in
dustry (msking beautiful mats and
elegant linen fabrics), and they initiate
such branches of European industry.
carriage building with great success.
While all this is doubtless true, they
would have done far better to accept
The provisional care of the United
States, for their weakness is palpable
and they ere certain if allowed to go
alone, to fall under the dominion of
Japan, or some other power. The geo.
graphical position of the Philip
oines makes them a tempting
prize to the great nations now
,ontesting for the trade of China.
he Filipinos that they require a
powerful friend, and that they had al
.eady found in the United States. |
They cannot stand alone, and it is a |
choice of guardians that they are re-
luced to. We are far from consider
ng the permanent occupation OF the |
Philippines as advantageous for the |
American people; we are inclined to |
believe that the true policy for them
s to hold the islands in trust for the |
Filipinos and educate them to govern
retaining protectorate
,ver them, and thus safeguarding the
treat interests of the United States I'm
Eastern Asia. The vast commerce of
china is being played for
~ the most powerful nations
# the earth; the times are fraught with
.reat issues of mighty import for the
hief nations of Christendom, and none
f them can afford to lose single pint
vantage in the Orient: President Nc
Finley is looking ahead, into the
twentieth Century, and he is acting in
he spirit of Seward who predicted Al
ears ago, all that has now come to
ass, the confronting of the United
tates and Russia in China and Chinese
aters.
Here in Mexico, which has like the
-nited States, great Pacific frontage.
Il that happens in the Far East is of
loment to US: but Mexico's stake in
lie Orient is small compared with that
her giant neighbor which must pro-
,ct her commercial interest continual
increasing, in Japan, China and the
lands of the Pacific. Destiny, the
gic of commercial development, will
,mpel the United States to suppress
lie insurrection in the Philippines.
guinaldo is fighting against the stars