Willmar tribune., 1900-10-20

| A0AAe AVA uAN AAoA otIVy W.
They might earnestly consider
whether, when we have done wrong it
is not our Christian duty to right the
wrong to the utmost of our power
that this is inexorably demanded by
Our first responsibility as a nation.
and that it would, in the bishop
words, indeed, be, a source of ma
tional modification il we gave up that
responsibility because we find it diff
cult.' And this responsibility the
imperialists have either not the will
or the courage to meet face to face.
How is that responsibility to be
met? No sensible man can doubt, th at
we should have had no war with the
FilipinOs, just as We have had no war
with the Cubans, If we had, after de-
feating the Spaniards. simply applied
to the Philippine islands the same
principles which we have applied to
Cuba-that is, if we had frankly and
siucere}y at the start recognized the
Philippine islanders as entitled to
their freedom and independence, and
then gone about in good faith to aid
them in setting up an independent
government. and let the world know
that we would not permit any other
power to interfere with them, which
would have been quite sufficient for
their protection.
Nor will any sensible person doubt
that if we, even today, after all that
has happened, proclaimed it to be our
sincere and fixed Intention with regard
to them to treat the Philippine island
ers on the same basis of right as that
on which we have promised to treat
the Cubans, the abominable slaughter
would cease at once, and although
much natural distrust would have to
be overcome, friendly relations with
the islanders could be established with
substantially the same desirable re-
suits as we might have had more
cheaply by honorable and statesman
like conduct at the beginning. Who
has the audacity to deny this? Is
there any sound reason why this most
righteous and rational policy should
not be adopted?
By some it is said that the estab-
lishment of an Independent govern
ment in the Philippines would at once
be followed by bloody anarchy; that
those people would forthwith begin to
cut one another's throats, and that to
prevent this we had to destroy the ma
tive government, which at the time
was in a considerable portion of the
country in peaceful operation, and
that incidentally we had therefore to
cut their throats ourselves. A more
ghastly mockery than this objection
can hardly be imagined. In. the first
place this prediction of bloody an
archy is mere guess, without any
proof.
But even if it were we'll founded, will
any imperialist have the hardihood to
pretend that those people would in
their internal broils have killed hall
as many, Or one-tenth as many, as we
have killed and are killing to subju-
gate them? Can we, who have been
and are, slaugntering them by the
thousands with no end in prospect,
can we presume to refuse them inde-
pendence on the ground that there
may be disorders that may cost some
Of them their lives? Can hypocrisy be
more impudent and disgusting?
1t is also said that there are great
difficulties in the way Of their having
an Independent government. differ.
ences of tribes and the like, and tha,
therefore they cannot be left to gov.
ern themselves. Admiral Dewey, EN-
phatically and repeatedly, from his
knowledge Of them, pronounced then
far more capable of self-gover nmen>
than the Cubans. But if The Cubans
are less capable than the Philippine
islanders, must we therefore give uI
our efforts to secure Independent gov
ernment to that island?
No doubt there are difficulties in the
way; but venture to say that at pres
ent the greatest of those difficulties is
in curse elves*~ There are two ways tt
approach the solution>of such prob
lem. One is to take the problem il
hand with sincere desire that it b.
solved. Then many of the difficulties
which at first sight appeared most for
midable will be found not to be ins ur
.nountable at all to an honest; intelli
gent and persevering effort to over
come them. The other way to approach
the problem is with no sincere desir'
to solve it, or even with the desir
that it be not solved. Then difficultie
): are diligently looked for and magni
fed until they appear so great ,ha
the task, of overcoming them seem
hopeless. -
Here is the trouble with our imperi
a]ists netermined tn mako the phil