Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-09-27
A Fair rictur. of The Filipinos.

from tho Philippines 10 the New York
Evening Post attract wide attention by
reason of their thoroughness, interest
ing detail aud freedom from bias has
sent to Secretary winslow OF the Anti
lmperialist League, the following ad-
mirable pen picture of the Filipinos:
Replying to your request for an sx-
preston OF my opinion concerning the
capacity of the Filipinos for self-gov-
eminent, have to say that, after an
experience OF seven months among |
those people, should not feel iusti-
fed in asserting their immediate fitness
for an absolute and wholly Independent
eelf-government. The probability that
any people will step from a position OF
political dependence into al immedi-
ately successful self-government is
somewhat remote.
If my memory serves me, the SUCCESS
| which accompanied the first decade OF
our own nationality ia somewhat open
to question. How, then, shall We rea-
sunably expect from the little brown
men Of Luzon that which was not at.
tanned by those who are presumably OF
higher type, wider experience and
broader capacity? I should feel no
small measure OF apprehension for their
immediate future were the United
States to withdraw at once and entirely
from the islands.
The situation has been greatly COM
plicated by the disturbing conditions
Of eighteen months of warfare, and a
people who in May, 1898, might have
handled the reins of government with
fair SUCCESS would now be overweighted
In an effort to bring order out of the
social, political and Industrial chaos
which follows as the inevitable result
of protracted war. / am quite conf
! dent that had the United States gov
eminent established in Cavite, imme
diately after the Dewey incident in
Manila Bay, the army Of 5000 mel
, which Admiral Dewey then declared
:, to be q sufficient garrison for the
:, islands, and had that 5000 been mer
of the regular army, commanded by I
:. broad minded and taotful general, fur
nished with instructions which wer
/ based upon fully aud clearly defineI
- and announced policy to aid the Fill
= pinos in the establishment Of govern
y ment of their own, and to proteC
: them, for the time being at least
=, against any attempted conquest b
"a other powers, there would have bee
no war with the Filipinos and the
+s would today have been running
w. peaceful and wholly creditable govern
" ment of their own.
: In such case they would have bee
~ animated by sentiments of the highe
vi regard toward and confidence in Il
a. United States government.
- Today we are distrusted and hate
by these who might and should ha
IL been our friends.
Notwithstanding assertions to Il
Ia contrary, our opponents there consi
az tute at least three fourths of all I
~ people of the islands. and they col
~ prise, with few isolated exception
w. the great mass of the more intellige
,t OF the people. r
ast Normally the Filipinos are quit
orderly, peaceful and peace-loving RAJ
Quarrels or wars among themselves
among the different tribes have be
notably infrequent throughout tn
re- history. In the matter of internal q
TO sension they compare more than fay
ably with any of the nations of
an world. Ignorance or uncharitablen
may charge them with "savagery,
81 their history refutes aud disproves
,ent charge.
lay, An un-American policy and BLU
ering diplomacy have turned
oers Philippine Islands into ohoas an
nm. graveyard. Americas highest duty {
noblest policy toward these peopl,
ded now to cease from fighting them
not re-estabish their confidence in til
are whom they once regarded as I'll
10, friends and redeemers; to assist th
ikep wisely and kindly, in setting Il
l;op house in order, and then to give I'll
the such help in political creeping as
M may need until they be able to v
rob. alone.
continuance OF the present po
ever and method can only result In an
the definitely protracted war with an
IL in FILTERED and resentful people; in
se is necessity for strong military garri
Il be with oil the a,tsnaant expense IN
and money which inheres in gue
warfare in tropical lands, and in
tinued violation of all the prinoi
. 70 and sentiments Of genuineA merican