The Winslow mail., 1900-03-01
IDEAL ADMINISTRATION.
what che Sanguine Senator Rev.
- crfdge Prescribes for the
Philippines.

The speech of Senator Beveridge, of
Indiana, in support of his resolution for
the permanent holding of the Phil
ippines, enthusiastic, eloquent and OPP
timistic as it is, at the same time sug
gests disturbing reflections. Mr.. Bev-
eridge regards the possession of the
Philippines as of the greatest impor-
tance to the United States for CONNER
cial, military, political and moral rea-
sons, and insists that for these reasons,
separately and conjoined, it is our duty
to hold fast to them. Yet he says that
unless they are ruled in the most ideal
ly perfect manner-in a manner of
which the United States has had little,
il any, practical eXperience-the islands
had better be abandoned at once. He
processes implicit faith that this ideal
administration can be secured. Expert
ence has taught older observers than
The InGiana senator to limit themselves
to bope, shaded with doubt.
Senator Beveridge spent some time
exploring the waters and roaming
among the islands of the Philippine
archipelago. His recital of his obser-
vations and experiences is an expan-
sion of the line in the old missionary
hymn: Where every prospect pleases
and only man is vile.'' In glowing pc
riods he pictures the beauties of the
islands, their richnes of vegetation, the
exceeding fertility of the soil, the vast
mineral wealth awaiting American en-
terprise to bring it to the surface, the
salubrity of its climate, the boundless
possibilities of this empire of the
ocean,"
When he comes to speak of the peo-
pie he takes an altogether different
tone. They are described as "a bar
barous race, modified by three CEN
turtles of contact with a decadent
race" In the whole 100000 'there
are only three commanding intellects
and characters-Arellano, Mabini AMI
Aguinaldo. The first, the chief justice
of the supreme court under American
jurisdiction, is "a profound lawyer and
brave and incorruptible man." Ma
bini is ''the highest type of subtlety
and the most constructive mind that
race has yet produced" Aguinaldo is
"a clever, popular leader, able, brave,
resourceful, cunning, ambitious, un-
scrupulous and masterful."
Senator Beveridge insists that last
ing peace can be secured only by over
whelming forces in ceaseless action
until universal and absolutely final de-
feat is inflicted on the enemy. In this
connection it is well to remember
what Lieut.. Gilmore said after nine
months captivity and forced travel
over the island of Luzon. He Thought
the insurrection would last as long as
there were any Tagalos left" That
puts the ''lasting peace" in the distant
future and presents a prospect of
''ceaseless action" by the troops for
years to come.
But when peace does come Mr.. Bev-
eridge aims against any attempt to
give the Filipinos self-government,f for,
he says, they are not capable of it,
''they are orientals, Malays, instruct
ed by Spaniards in the latter's worst
estate" Mr.. Beveridge says the gov
ernment must be simple and strong"
Neither the Dutch nor the English
methods in the Malay states will do.
The ruling power must be exclusively
in American hands, with perhaps an
advisory council to discuss measures
with the governor general, but with
no power beyond discussion. Even
mat elemental plan twill fail in the
hands of any but ideal admin
istTators." They must be ''men of the
world and of affairs, students of their
fellow men, not theorists nor dream
ers. They must be as incorruptible as
honor, as stainless as purity, men
whom no force can frighten, no influ-
ence coerce. no money buy" If such
men cannot be had, then it is beAer
pure military occupation for years.
Mr.. Beveridge says we had better
abandon this priceless possession, ad
nit ourselves incompetent to do our
part in the world-redeeming work of
our imperial race, haul down the flag
of arduous deeds for civilization and
run up the flag of reaction and decay
than TO apply academic notions of self
government to these children or at
tempt their government by any but
'"S AiOSV P0AAocI dulhlillslldtOIS our
country can produce"
Senator Beveridge is rather new to
national politics, but he is old enough
and ought to have seen enough to
judge whether his ideal admins
traitors" for the Philippines are, under
existing conditions, likely to have the
support of the political bosses, with
out whose sanction appointment and
confirmation are doubtful.-Cleveland
Plain Dealer.