The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-21
UNsoLvED PROBLEMS.

@O~N--~
election was the question of expansion or
imperialism" as political issue. 1t will
never be heard of in another election, at
least with reference to our recently &C
quired possessions. Possibly some time in
the future, far distant. the same outcry
may be made against the acquisition of
other territory, but as far as Porto Rico
and the Philippines are concerned it is set
tied forever. We are TO retain them and
do the best we can with and by them
Many questions regarding their govern
ment. control and disposition may arise in
the future and may figure in politics or
perhaps become political issues, but the
question as to the legality of our title TO
them or the propriety of establishing
American sovereignty over them will never
be raised again. That chapter in our his
tory is closed.
That the holding, governing, civilizing
and Americanizing of the islands presents
serious and difficult problems is undeniable,
but that is no reason why we should
shrink from the work. There is not a
unsolved problems on its hands, some OF
Them of long duration, slow progress and
still difficult solution. Every government
in Europe has them, and the United States
cannot hope to escape them. In fact, there
has never been a moment in our history
when we were free from them. The Indian
problem Is as old as the government and
still far from solution. One policy after
another has been tried, always with the
best of motives, but not always with en-
couraging results. and still the problem
remains unsolved after more than hun
Gred years of effort Much TIE same is
true of the negro question. For the first
three quarters of a century after the gov
eminent was formed the problem existed in
the form of slavery, a constant menace to
ing it, When slavery was abolished the
problem Immediately took the new form of
the race question, which is one of the great
unsolved problems of to-day and promises
to be for many years to come. But. be-
cause the Indian question and the race
far from solution and very difficult of solu-
tiony is no reason why we should cease do
ing the best we can towards solving them,
doing duty see it in the light of
current events and leaving results in the
hands of Providence. No nation can do
more than this. and no nation ought to do
less. There has never been a time in our
history when it was possible for any polit-
zeal party to escape the responsibilities in
volved in the slavery question, the Indian
question and the race question, and the last
two are as pressing ever. No problem
was ever solved by Sinking it, and the
Lord is apt to punish that kind of cowar-
dice and abandonment of duty more severe
ly than honest mistakes I'm attempting to
perform it.
During the recent campaign Mr.. Bryan
used to say in advocating the abandonment
Of the Philippines: 1--WE have got one race
question and unsolved problem on our
hands already; why annex another in the
Philippines?" In other words, he advised
that a problem which Providence had put
upon the nation be solved by Sinking it.
The same controlling power-carl it mani
fest destiny If you please-that put the
slavery question, the race question and
the Indian question upon us for solution
has also put the Philippine question upon
us. The others are still unsolved, although
we have made great progress in a hundred
years 1t may take another hundred years
to solve the Philippine problem, but what
is that in the life of nation? Better a
hundred years of strenuous effort to solve
difficult problem by conscientious dis
charge of duty than hundred years shrk-
ing of golden opportunities and cowardly
disobedience of the commands of Provi-
dence.
The path of duty in regard to the prob
lens growing out of our new possessions is
as plain as it is in the Indian and the ne
gro question. 1t is to meet the responsi-
bility bravely. deal with each new phase
of the problem it arises wisely as
possible. and leave the results to Provi-
dence. 1t is not likely the Philippine prob
lem will be solved during this generation
or the next, but every generation will adj
vance it towards solution as every one does
the negro question and the Indian ques-
ton. 1t is enough if each generation does
its duty. A nation with no unsettled ques-
tons is a decadent nation. For the vitality
OF republican government it is to be hoped
the United States may never be without
some unsolved problems to beckon or urge
IL forward