The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-11-19
OUR COLONIAL POLICY.

1t is probably safe to take the vote
of Nov as an Endorsement of an
American colonial policy. It would
however, be going too far to take this
this Endorsement as absolute and I'M
qualified. Ii is not likely that the ma
jority of the people would indorse the
military despotism at present estab-
Iished in the Philippines. Such meth
DDS Of governing are repugnant to the
American sense of justice and liberty,
and the people would not tolerate them
in their colonies for any length of time.
They consider the present government
In the Philippines a mere temporary
transition stage, and they were willing
TO take it for granted that Mckinley
will accord to the Philippines moe lib
eral treatment as soon as the condi
lions there will warrant It. At least
they preferred to take the risk rather
than to cut loose from the Philippines
entirely.
The majority of the American people
might be in favor of holding colonies.
but they would insist on having them
governed according to liberal and en-
1tghtened principles Our colonies might
be given territorial form Of govern
ment similar to that Of Arizona, with
legislature Of their own to make their
own laws and governor appointed bv
the president. The right to vote might
be made dependent on certain quail
fcations such as the ability to read
and write and the possession Of a GER
tain amount of property. Similar quail
ihcations are now required in Cuba and
P>>to Rico This puts the government
OF the colony at once into the hands
Of those who are qualified for it, and
1t gives them practically the same
amount of liberty and self-government
as enjoyed by the people of the United
States. 1t would be difficult for any
party to convince the people that such
a policy was contrary to the spirit of
our institutions.
While the people will not indorse the
holding Of colonies under an arbitrary
military despotism, it is, however, quite
likely that q, policy such as the above
would meet with quite general approval
Under such a policy the Philippines
would certainly enjoy more liberty and
prosperity than if cut loose and left to
drift and shift for themselves. If the adj
ministration pursues such liberal policy
toward the Philippines the people will
no doubt uphold it. They might even be
willing under such a policy to acquire
other additional colonies. If China is to
be dismembered, we will probably get
some sort Of a share, at least harbor.
The Spanish-Anqerican republics are
in mortal dread lest we have covetous
designs on their little hailiwicks. 1t is
due to this feeling that Mexico has just
voted large sums to improve her army
and navy. Our leading papers Of the
administration type are frequently drop
ping hints that looks suspiciously like
feelers. Is the administration contem-
plating further conquests? OF course, by
far the bulk Of the South American trade
IS al present in the hands of the Euro
pean nations, and they wouldn't for
moment think of allowing us to deprive
them of all of it. but they would prob
ably be moro than glad to agree to
partition and let us have the lions share
at that, say the entire western part,
the plateaus of the Andess, with their
enormous mineral wealth and their beau
tiful climate.
According to latest Indications MeKin-
ley is down with his ears to the ground