Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1899-10-13
FRIDAY, OCTOBER ID, 1899.
UP TO STAY.

missioners has resulted in his con-
version from a Philo- Filipino to
an American controlist, the gov
eminent ought to make commits
sioners Of the entire outfit Of Mas
sachusetts Filipinophobists and
send them to the land Of their
Washington, and give them an
opportunity to study the situation.
It would be a good idea to send
Senator Mason along with them.
It might modify the opinions Of
the whole outfit. Prof. Schur-
man comes back fully convinced
that the tribes which inhabit the
Philippine islands are totally un-
fit for self government. He says
if they had any conception of
what a republican government is,
they would probably have been
able to cope with their difficulties
themselves. The fact is that
while they talk very knowingly
about it they comprehend very
little. He found that every edu-
Gated native wanted a job in. the
government for the immunity it
would give him and for the op-
portunity it would afford him to
get even with his enemies, as we'll
al to squeeze all he could out of
everybody. This, however, is not
so strange, when we come nearest
home. Isn't that just what the
Tammany Hall crowd want in
New York and isn't it what the
.Populists in the western states de-
sire? Human nature, after all, is
about the same the world over. So
there is not such a wide difference
between the educated Filipinos
whom Prof. Schurman met and a
great many educated and unedu-
Gated Americans. But the fact
remains that the great mass Of
the inhabitants of the Philippine
islands are no farther advanced in
civilization than our wild Indians.
Most Of the tribes are far below in
all the attributes of civilization,
the Sioux Indians Of the great res
ervation west of the Missouri.
Even the greater portion Of the
Tagalos, the most enlightened
tribe, regard Aguinaldo as a super
natural being, a superstition which
has enabled that willy chief to
make them slaves to his will.
These people are not fit for self
government. If this government
should withdraw from the islands,
the people there would go to cut
ting each others Threats and pan
demonium would be let loose.
One of the great powers would sieze
the islands in the interest Of
humanity. The United States
flag is raised there and it is going
to remain until peace is restored
and American authority is respect
ed and obeyed in all portions of
the archipelago. The people will
be given the portion Of self gov
eminent they are capable Of man
aging and as they improve under
our control and tutelage, they will
be given more and more of self
government until they are able to
walk alone. This talk about i'm
perialism is the veriest nonsense.
There are no imperialists in this
country. The American people
are for liberty the world over and
for every people under the sun.
But they DO not believe in allow
ing savage tribes to kill, burn and
destroy, or the cannibal to kill,
cook and eat any stranger that
happens into his hands. That is
the kind Of liberty that Senator
Mason seems to want the savage
tribes Of the earth to enjoy. We
shall come out of this affair all
right. The American flag is up
in the Orient and it is up to stay.
This is a Nation with a big N. It
belongs to the great family of