New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-12
GUARANTEED INDEPENDENCE.

1t IS not astonishing that conventions in
this country of the party which the people
do not intrust with power and leaders or
mouthpieces of a rebellion In the Philippines,
which the majority Of the inha bitants does
not support, should agree in singular
Idea OF the duties Of the United States
Government The Tagal is legally a rebel, and
the Democrats call themselves patriots, but in
the essential points they are perfectly in ac-
cord. They want, to use their own phraseoIogy
independence for the Philippines, and that in
dependence guaranteed by the United States.
The simplest intelligence one would SUD-
pose. might grasp the idea that government
that is guaranteed cannot be exactly indie
pendent. When the mighty giant brandishes
his arms, catches by the waist the Philip
pine midget and lifts him aloft, shouting This
shall be your ruler and 1 guarantee him. the
only vestige Of independence anywhere visible
is that of the giant
Wonderful though 1t may seem, this mar
ticular function is that which Democratic con-
ventions demand that the United States shall
perform, and the Iagal rebels want exactly the
same thing. The United States cannot DOS
sibly know what sort of government the Tagals
may establish or maintain, though justified by
all experience in expecting that it would be
cruel, bloodthirsty, corrupt and oppressive But
1t is asked to guarantee that government
against opposition at home and all the world
outside One can scarcely comprehend the as
surance OF the Tagal In asking such thing but
| he shines IN comparison with the American
Democrat who anticipates a demand so amaz-
ing ana offers to guarantee without condition or
Qualification anything the Tagal may call gov
eminent In practical working everybody knows
that dummy can be guaranteed only because
it is and must remain mere dummy. with no
power to do anything save under dictation of the
guaranteeing government Because that is the
inevitable outcome Of such relation it comes
| to this, that the Tagal would like to be taken
! up and supported in fat and snowy office as if
he were ruler, in private being only the tool
of the Power which guarantees him.
! One cannot indulge the faintest doubt about
such q transaction the one proposed be-
! cause In the very nature of things it can ha We
! just one meaning and no other. People of ordi-
nary sense know that no Philippine rule would
be able to resist Germany or France Great
Britain or Russia, even Japan. ANY one of
these could and would extinguish Philippine in
dependence in short order If It were not the
kind of government which the American Nation
consents to set up and defend. But if that be
the fact, what decent excuse can any American
! give for such government through irresponsible
Tagal tools in place of government directly by
/
would feel tremendous responsibility If I'M
dertaking the government of such possessions
directly, and would hold their rulers and Con-
gressmen accountable for everything done to
tarnish American honor. But If the great
American Nation consents TO hide behind
a Tagal stuffed manikin and TO shirk RESPONSE
bilty for the details of government on the plea
that 1.-THE government guaranteed over there is
left to itself in the MAN, then we may be
sure that there is in store for Americans
more humiliation and shame than they have
known for many years.
The single fact that the Tagal leaders have
openly declared their desire for what they call
independence guaranteed by the United States
is abundant evidence, if there were no other
of their ignorance to the nature and respon-
sibilities Of Independent government. If people
do not see this at glance, it is only proof that
they have not in the least considered the real
nature of the task proposed. When Democratic
leaders and conventions propose that kind of
government as the one which the United States
ought TO establish and bind itself TO uphold they
lead the world to wonder what Democrats can