The evening times., 1900-03-07

now degenerated into mere guerrilla tight
ing and brigandage Our immediate duty,
therefore, is to suppress this disorder, put
an end 10 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 so by legis-
lative act. except TO make such provision
that there may be no delay in Ie-establish-
ing civil government when the war ends.
The question of our constitutional right
and power 10 govern those islands in any
way We please | shall not discuss. Not
only is it still in ,.e future. but if author
ity is lacking he Constitution can be
amended Personally, | have no doubt
that our Constitution gives full right and
authority to hold and govern the Philip
pines without making them either eco
nOmically 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 TO the fu-
ture. and as to the course to be pursued
an the Philippines hope and believe that
we shall retain the islands, and that peace
and order Cnce restored, We shall and
should re-esta blish civil government be-
ginning with the towns and villages,
their own affairs. We should give them
honest administration. and prompt and ef-
ficient courts. We should see to it that
there is entire protection to persons and
property. in order to encourage the deyel-
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.
H. Oh, Ill, rhsa
An9 Of which they have been robbed in
TIE past. should be returned TO them and
'heir titles made secure. We should in
augurate and carry forward. in the most
earnest and liberal way. a 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 will
permit, beStow upon them self-government
and home rule. Such. in outline. is the
policy which / believe can be and will be
pursued toward the Philippines. Il Will
require time. patience. honesty, and abili-
ty for its completion. but it is thoroughly
practicable and reasonable.
The foundation of it all is the retention
OF Iht ISLANDS DE the nlte1 states S1dH
not argue cur title to the islands by the
law of nations, for it is perfect No other
nation has ever questioned it. Ii is too
plain a proposition to warrant the waste
of tine and words upon il. Equally plain
is our right under the Constitution, by a
treaty which is the supreme law of the
land. TO hold those islands. | viii not argue
this point nor the entire legality of AL
that the President has done in accordance
with his constitutional power and with the
Jaw passed by Congress at the last session
which recOgn zPd the necessity of an in
creased army in order TO cope with the
existing insurreCtion. The opposition to
the Republican policy rests its weight on
grounds widely different from these. They
assert that on moral grounds We have no
right 20 take or retain the Philippines. and
hat as a matter of eXpsdiency our whole
Eastern policy is a costly mistake. | ira
verse both assertions. | deny both pr0po-
sitions [ believe We are in the Philip
pines as righteously as We are there right
fully and legally. / believe that TO abandon
The islands or to leave them now would
be a wrong to humanity. a deTelictiCn Of
duty and in the highest degree contrary
10 sound morals As 10 eypedieucy. the
arguments in favor Of the retention OF the
Philippines seems to me so overwhelming
that l should eEard their loss as a calami-
,y 10 our trade and commerce and TO all our
business interests so great that no man can
measure itt