New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-10
A GREAT SPEECH.

Senator Beveridge, of Indiana. delivered a
great speech to great audience in the Capitol
yesterday, and this morning his audience is
the whole country. 1t a speech which he
had been preparing ever since his election to
the Senate, not merely by the comparatively
easy process Of arranging the materials collected
for general use by others, but chiefly by means
of personal investigation amid the conditions
for the treatment of which he desired to de-
termine and recommend a rule Of National
policy and duty. 1t is impossible to doubt that
Senator Beverage during his recent visit to the
Philippines devoted himself with unceasing
energy to the task Of observation and inquiry,
making the most of unusual facilities and ap-
plying a keen and vigorous mind to the con-
sideration of the problems that confronted him.
So much, at least, his speech clearly proves
He has brought back a large store of knowl-
edge and, based thereon, positive conclusions
which are not novel, but which his advocacy
cannot fail to confirm.
Senator Beveridge declares that the Philip
pines, which would be enormously important
because Of their position to any progressive
nation holding them, are intellectually rich in
themselves; that for an indefinite time to come
they will reward expenditure and labor in a
vast variety Of industries; that no other tropi-
cal climate in the world is so favorable; that
interest and obligation alike demand their re-
tention and development by the United States
1t is dangerous to forecast the future even the
future that the young will live to see Our
short National history has already demon
strated that fact in the most impressive man
ner 1t is possible to conceive and to hope that
the Filipinos may at some time be fit to manage
their own affairs, but nothing, in the Judgment
of Senator Beveridge is more certain than that
they now utterly incapable of instituting
and maintaining an equitable and efficient gov
eminent, and that the United States cannot
safely base its present policy and conduct
toward them upon an expectation that they
will sooner or later become capable In the
course of events the responsibility for their
welfare has been devolved on us, and we can
not in honor or in reason shirk it.
The Senator does not shrink before the con-
sequences, immediate and prospective. of this
determination. The first unavoidable necessity
is to fight the war through to a finish Doubt
less it is an unenviable task and a difficult
one-a task made far more difficult. according
to a host of competent witnesses, Including
General Lawton the most competent of all
by the conduct Of Americans at home whose
aid and comfort TO the enemy Senator Beveridge
benevoently attributes to foolishness rather
than to perfidy. But the rebellion, now scarcely
more than smouldering. must be extinguished
Then and not until then, can this Nation begin
to gather for its dependents and itself the
blessings which are surely destined to result
from a brave and faithful performance of IN
sought duties. And in this path Of oppor-
tunity there stands no constitutional mpedi-
ment, nor any obstacle which is not meaniy
placed there by fear or sloth