Smyrna times., 1900-03-28
POTTER ON THE PHILIPPINES.
Bishop Potter Gives Deliberate Expression
on the Philippine Situation.


Bishop Potter, having happily re-
turned in good physical and mental
health after an extended and instruc-
tive tour of the East, has performed
public service by giving deliberate ex-
preston to deliberately formed opin
ions concerning our situation and duty
in the Philippines. Those opponents of
the National policy who prefer epithet
to argument have never included
Bishop Potter among the "JingOes. "
On the contrary, they have rejOiced to
claim him as an anti-expansionist, and
have expected to derive great aid and
comfort from the results of his tour.
Their disappointment will conse-
quently be keen, and it may be feared
that their demeanor will leave some
thing to be desired.
We suppose it is quite fair to say
that Bishop Potter when he left New
York not only was predisposed to de-
plore the establishment of our sover-
eignity over the Philippines, but ex
pected to find in the conditions pre-
vailing there substantial causes for
complaint against the United States
and some support for the contention
that even now the islands ought to be
given up. But he is cool and con-
scientious observer, his opportunities
for ascertaining the truth were uneX-
celled, and he comes home to declare
that eve shall keep the islands be.
cause there is no way to get rid of
them" He still permits it to be un-
derstood that in his opinion it might
have been desirable to adopt different
course Immediately after the battle of
Manila, and that his views on the gen
eral subject of expansion have not
been greatly changed; but the ques-
tion of retention or abandonment is
''nOw purely ''an academic one; prac-
tically the matter is ''settled. 1t
being granted, as it must be, that the
islands are to remain in our posses
sion, he believes that military gov
ernment is for while the only feast
BILE form of government. Why? Be
cause sit is nonsense to talk of the
native Filipinos having the ability to
organize a government of their own. y
He confirms the common report that
they are industrious and mechanically
dexterOus, but sit is only in rare
cases that any of them show real gov
erning power" There and everywhere
throughout the East 'the problem is
the same--to bring these peoples tC
see and recognize the superiority OF
what we know as civilization, and give
them the opportunity to adopt it."
AS to the manner in which that prob
lem is being solved by the representa-
tives of the United States within the
limits of their responsibility BishoI
POtter's testimony is valuable and
gratifying. The Filipinos have beer
described by men who are apparently !
more anxious to make out a case thar
to tell the truth as oppressed with feal
and distrust of this country. The
Bishop reports that ''the majority O
the Filipinos are friendly to us, have
every confidence in our soldiers, anC
are ready to come under our govern
ment." It has been declared will
wanton recklessness on the slendere
possible basis of rumor that the sol
diers are cruel, profigate and undis-
ciplined. The Bishop speaks will
hearty admiration of their appearance
character and morale, and says tina
the children everywhere are devoted
to them. Indeed, his clear and com
pact statement of facts is at ever
point striking refutation of the ca
lumnies which Americans have bee
entreated to believe concerning thei
fellow countrymen serving unselfshl
and efficiently in the Philippines. H
may still regret the events which hav
produced these formidable tasks, bu
he clearly discerns the imperious obi
cations under which we are laid, an
believes that they are being fulfille
with honor and sa gacity.