The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-10-08
ABOUT THE FlLlPINOS BY
ONE WHO KNOWS THEM


| Albert G. Robinson whose letters from
the Philippines published in The Evening
Post were conspicuous for accuracy. fair
| ness and freedom from bias. has sent 10
Secretary Winslow, of the Anti-Imperial-
list League. the following survey OF the
| Philippine question::
Replying to your request for an ex-
| preston of my opinion concerning the
| capacity of the Fllipinos for self-govern-
| ment. | have to say that, after an expe-
| rience of seven months among those peo-
| pie, / should not feel justified in assert
| ing their Immediate fitness for an abso-
lutte and wholly Independent self-gov-
| ernment. The probability that any peo-
pie will step from n position of politi-
| cal dependence into an immediately sue
cessful lf-government Is somewhat re-
mote.
IF my memory serves me. tho success
which accompanied the first decade or
our own nationality is somewhat open
to question. How, then. shall we rea-
sonably expect from the little brown
men of Luzon that which was not at
tanned by those who are presumably
of higher type, wider experience and
broader capacity? / should feel no
small measure of apprehension for their
Immediate future We're the United States
to Withdraw at once and entirely from
the islands.
1.-THE situation has been greatly compli-
Gated by the disturbing conditions of
eighteen months of warfare, and peo-
pie who in May, 1898, might have handled
the reins of government with fair success
would now be overweighted In an effort
to bring order out of the social. political
and Industrial chaos which follows as the
Inevitable result of a protracted war. l
hot hnI nj
States government established in Cavite,
Immediately after the Dewey incident in
Manila bay, the army OF 5000 men which
Admiral Dewey then declared to be n suf-
ficient garrison for the islands, and had
that 5000 been men of the regular army,
commanded by n broad-minded and tact
full general, furnished with instructions
which were based upon a fully and clear
" defined and announced policy TO aid
the Filipinos in the establishment OF a
government Of their own. and to protect
them. for the time being at least, against
any attempted conquest by other powers,
there would have been no war with the
FiliUinos and they would today have been
running a peaceful and wholly creditable
government of their own.
I'm such a case they would have been
animated by sentiments of the highest
regard toward and confidence in the
To-day we are distrusted and hated
by those who might and should have
been our friends.
Notwithstanding assertions TO the con-
trary our opponents there constitute at
least three-fourths Of all the people or
the islands, and they comprise. with
few isolated exceptions. the great mass OF
the more Intelligent of the people.
Normally the Filpinos are quiet, or
DERBY, peaceful and peace-loving race.
Quarrols or wars among themselves or
among the different tribes have been
notably infrcqucnt throughout their his
tory IN the matter of internal dissen-
sion they compare more than favorably
with any of the nations of the world
Ignorance or Observation-Disclosures may
charge them with 'savagery,' but their
history refutes, and disproves the
charge.
"Au un-American policy and blunder-
ing diplomacy have turned the Philippine
islands into Il chaos and n graveyard.
Americas highest duty and noblest policy
toward these people is now to cease from
lighting them; to re-establish their confi-
dence in those whom they once regarded
as thcir friends and redeemers: to assist
them, wisely and kindly, in settling their
house in order and then TO give them
such help in political creeping as they
may need until they be able to walk
alone.
IA continuance of the present policy
and method can only result in an indefi-
nitelv protracted war with an embittercd
and rcsentful people; In the necessity for
a strong military garrison. with all the
attendant expense in life and money
which inheros in guerrilla warfare III
tropical lands. and in a continued viola
ton of all the principles and sentiments
of genuine Americdnism."