Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1900-08-16

Filipino peoples, but the continuance Of
his own arbitrary and despotic power.
In any event, the American people may
feel confident that no effort was omitted
by tAe commission 70 secure a peaceful
end If the struggle. but the opport uni-
ties thcy offered and urged We're all neg
lerted. ii not. indeed. spurnnd."
The chapter devoted to Capacity for
Se,f-truNernmrnt" is the result. the re-
port states. of diliscnt inquiry for sew
eral months. in the course of which a
great number of witnesses We're exam
med, of all shades of political thought
and varieties OF occupation, tribe and To-
cality.
Tribes, Not a Nation.
The most striking and perhaps III" most
significant fact in the entire situation is
the multiplicity of tribes inhabi,ny the
archipelago, the diversity of their lam
suages (which are mutually unintcllgi-
blel and the multifavious phases OF civ
Misunderstanding all the way from the
highest to the lowest. AS to this the
report says:
The FilipinoS are not 4 nation. but
a variegated asS"mbage of different
tribes and peoples. and their loyalty is
still of the tribal type
Converting their intellectual capacities
the commission says:
AS to the general intellectual capari-
ties of the Filipinos the commission is dis
posed to rate them high. Bat excepting
in limited number of persons these ca
pacitieS have not been developed by eGu
cation OF experience. The masses of the
people are uneaucateu.
Need of Education.
THAT intelligent public opinion on,
which popular government rests does not
exist in the Philippines. And it cannot
exist until education has elevated the
masses, broadenad their intellectual hori-
ION and disciplined their faculty Of juds-
ment. And even then the power of self
government cannot be assumed without
considerable previous training and expert
ence under the guidance and tu,elaye Of
an enlightened and liberal foreign power.
For the bald fact is that the Filipinos
have never had any experience in govern
ing themselves"
The report shows that this inability for
government is due to the old Span
ish regime. which gave the Fiiipinos lit
tie or no part in governing themselves.
After reviewing this Spanish system the
commission sums up on this point:
This is all the training in selfsovern
ment which the inhabitants of the Phil
ippinc Islands have enjoyed. Their lack
of education and political experience,
combined with their racial and linguistic
dvers;;e>. disqualify them, in spite of
their mental gifts and domestic virtues.
tn undertake the task of governing the
archipelago at the present time. The
most that can be expected of them is to
cooperate with the Americans in the
administration Of general affairs. from
Manila as a center, and TO undertake,
subject to American control or guidance
'aS may be found necessarily, the admin
istration Of provincial and municipal at
fairs
Must Retain Rule.
fortunately, there are educated Fill
pinos, though they do not constitute a
large proportion of the entire population.
and their support and services will be- Of
incalculable value in inauguratiny and
ucation advances and experience ripens,
the natives may be intrusted with a larg
er and more independent share Of govern
ment, >elf-govcrnment, as the American
ideal. being constantly kept in view as
the goal. In this way American sover-
eighty over the archipelago will prove
great political boon TO the people
Should our power by any fatality be
withdrawn the commission believes that
the government of the Philippines would
speedily lapse into anarchy. which would
excuse. if it did not neceSSita,s the in
Prevention of other powers and the even
tual division of tho islands among them
Only through American occ,,pation
therefore, is the idea of free. self-.ov-
"rning and united Philippine common
wealth at all conceivable. And the in
disp"nSable need from the Filipino point
of view of maintaining American sover-
eighty over the archipelago is recognized
by all intelligent l'ilipinos and even by
those Insurgents who desire an American
protcctoratc. The latter, it is true, would
take tn" revenues and leave us the re-
sponsibilitles Nevertheless they reroy-
niZe the indubiIable fact that the Fill
pinos cannot stand alone.
Thus the welfare of the Filpinos co
incidcs with the dictates of national hon
or in forbid1ing our abandonment Of the
archipelago. We cannot from any point
Of view escape the responsibilities Of gov
eminent which our sovereignty entails,
and the commission is strongly persuaded
that the performance of our national duty
will prove the greatest blessing TO the
peoples Of the Philippine Islands,
Praise for TroopA
One of the closing chapters of the re-
port is devoted to a tribute to ''our sol
diers and sailors in the war" The com
mission says that the presence Of Admiral
Dewey as a member of this body makes
il uniting to dwell on his personal
achievements. but he joins in the oulovy
of his comrades. The commissioners wit
messed some of the many brave deeds of
our soldiers. and they declare that all that
skill. courage and a patient endurance
can do has been done in the Philippines.
They dismiss the reports Of the desc
Grating of churches, the numbering Of
prisoners and the committing Of unmen-
tionabie crimes. and say they are glad to
express the belief that a war was never
more humanely conducted. adding:
If churches We're occupied it was ONLY
as military necessity. and frequently
I hair 1850 forrS hv tho