The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-03-07

now degenerated into mere guerrilla fight
ing and brigandage. Our immediate duty,
therefore. is to suppress this disorder. put
an end to fighting. and restore peace and
order. That is what we are doing. That
is all we are called uDon TO do in order
to meet the demands Of the living present.
Beyond this we ought not TO 90 by legis-
latiye act except to make such provision
that there may be no delay in Ie-estaDiish-
ing civil government when the war ends.
The question of our constitutional right
and power TO govern those islands in any
way we please I shall not discuss. Not
only is it still in ,Se future. but if author
ity is lacking ne Constitution can be
amended Personally l have no doubt
that our Constitution gives full right and
authority to hold and govern the Philip
pines without making them either eco
uomiCally or politically part OF our sys-
TEN.
Further than the acts and the policy
which | have just stated, / can only give
my own opinion and belief as 30 the fu-
ture. and as to the course to be pursued
an the Philippines. I hope and believe that
we shall retain the islands. and that. peace
and order once restored. we shall and
should re-establish civil government. be
ginning with The towns and villages,
where the inhabitants are able 10 manage
their own affairs We should give them
honest administration and prompt and ef-
icient courts. We should see to Il that
there is entire protection to persons and
property. in order to encourage the devel-
Opment Of the islands by the assurance
IF safety to investors OF capital. All men
should be protected in the free exercise
of Their religion. and the doors thrown
open . missionaries Of all Christian sects-
The land. which belongs to the people,
anG Of which they have been robbed in
TIE past. should be returned to them and
'deir titles made secure We should in
augurate and carry forward, in the most
earnest and liberal way. n comprehensive
system OF popular education.
Development and Home Rule.
Finally. while We bring prosperity to
the islands by developing their resources.
We should. as rapidly as conditions viii
permit, bestow upon them self-goye-nment
and home rule. Such. in outline. IS the
policy which I believe can be and will be
pursued toward the Philippines. Il viii
require time. patience, honesty. and abili-
ty tor its completion. but it is thoroughly
practicable and reasonable
The foundation OF it all is the retention
the islands by the United States. I shall
net argue our title 10 the Islands by the
law of nations for il is perfect No other
nation has ever questioned it. Il is too
plain a proposition TO warrant the waste
Of tine and words upon it, Equally plain
is our right under the Constitution. by a
treaty which is the supreme law Of the
land. 90 hold those islands. ! viii not argue
this point nor the entire legality of q !
that the President has done in accordance
with his constitutional power and with the
Jaw passed by Congress at the last session
which recOEn zed the necessity Of an in
creased army in order TO cope with the
existing instruction. The opposition 20
the Republican policy rests las weight on
grounds widely different from these. They
assert that on moral grounds We have no
right 20 take or retain the Philippines and
TGat as a matter Of expedienCy our whole
Eastern policy is a costly mistake. I ira
verse both assertions. / deny both pr0pO-
sitious. / believe we are in the Philip
pines as righJeously as we are there right
fully and legally. / believe that 10 abandon
the islands. or to leave them now. would
be a wrong TO humanity. a deTelictiCn OF
duty. and in the highest degree contrary
TO sound morals. As to Cypedieucy. the
arguments in favor Of the retention OF the
Philippines seems 70 me so OverE hslmiu-
tEat I should regard their loss as a calami-
ty TO our trade and commerce and to all our
business interests so great that no man car
measure ir.G