New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-04-19

in sheer eagerness and joyfulness Of heart, an
tsr,pste or as Wall Street spectators say dis
,couutv such decree for National degradation
1auf in their own land. and as far IS may be in
accordance with their old customs and laws the
Commission viii secure TO them. if they are to
u-,n the success all wish them. every civil
light we enjoy and next the fullest measure of
rotiaal rights and local self-government they
are found capable Of sustaining with ordered
liberty for ali the people.
There then. is the doom we have reason TO ex-
meet this Commission to infct on these tenn
1orarily turbulent wards Of the Nation, First
order: then justice: then American civil rights
not for 2 class. or tribe a race, but for all
The people then local self-government. And
nav God help It to fulfil this task
But Il they begin 1t with the notion that they
are the first officials Of free people ever given
such work and must therefore discover from
The foundation for themselves; if they fancy no
body ever dealt with semi-civilized Orientals
tiH we stumbled on them in the Philippines.
tbev VIII waste precious time in costly expert
merits II not fail outright. 1t isn't worth while
thus to invent over again everything down to
the very alphabet OF work among such people
We can afford 10 a5ate the self-sufficency of the
almighty Yankee Nation enough to profit a
little by the lessons other people have learned
IN going over the road before us
From such lessons they viii be sure to gather
Al once that II they now show trace Of tinid-
itv or hesitation in their firm and just course
because somebody has said something in Wash
ington or on the stump, or because there is an
election coming on, they viii fail
In fact. Il they do not know now, as well as
they know what soil they still stand on and
what countrynen are about them. and If they
CO not act as If they knew, that no matter what
the politicians or rho platforms say, and no mat
lar Whit party comes into power the American
reople have at present no notion Of throwing
these islands away. or abandoning them, or
neglecting the care Of them. they have not
mastered the painest par Of their problem and
must fail
Above all, II there is a trace Of politics in
their work Of Of seeking for political effec. at
home they viii fan and deserve 10 fail In
this most delicate and difficult task before them
there Is no salvation but in the scrupuIous
choice Of The very best fitted agency avail
able il each particular case. for the par
tteulzr Rork in hand. If they appoint one
man or encourage OF silently submit TO the
appointment Of one man 10 responsible place
IN Their service among these islanders, merely
because - has been useful in politics at home,
thev viii be organizing failure and discredit in
advance
But they VIII CO no such things Not so has
this Commission been made up Not such is
the high appreciation OF the opportunity Of
fsred that has led YOU MI. President Of the
Commission, TO abandon your well earned and
distinguished place al home, 70 begin a new
career al the Antipodes;-nay more, I at least
can certify 70 this company that not such is the
sense OF public duty you Inherited from your
honored father. and have illustrated through
Out your career You will not fail because
you know the peril and the prize. You Will
not fan, because you have civilization, and law
and ordered freedom, the honor Of your land
and the happiness OF a new one in your care
because you know. that for uncounted peoples
The hopes Of future years hang GREATNESS on
your fate And SO. gentlemen Of the Commits
sion Goodby and Godspeed!
IN spite Of rock and tenpest's roar
spite q false lights the shore,
Sal or. nor fear breast the sea-"