Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-10
PHILIPPINE DISCUSSION.

The discussion in the Senate OF the
Filipino question ought to result In
definite declaration, at an early date
Of the future policy Of our government
on that question. II has been claimed
that the insurgent leaders have Kept
their followers under arms, In the hope
that Congress would reverse the course
followed By the administration, ana
that the rebellion would collapse as
soon as II became evident that the
American people Is supporting the gov
eminent. There should be no unneces-
sary delay in reaching a definite con-
cluslon. II the war can be put an end
to by a congressional resolution, IT
should not last much longer.
Senator Beyeridge Of Indiana un-
doubtedly expressed the public sentl-
ment when he declared that the Amerl-
can people will not repudlate It's duty
in the archipelago; that It will not re-
nounce It's part Of the mission entrust-
ed to IT, to carry civilization to the
world. This is exactly what ma
jorlty Of the American people feel; 1t
is the underlying motive OF the policy
sarcastlcally referred TO as imperial
ISM" Nowhere Is there a desire TO
trample upon the rights Of other ma
lions or races, or deviate from the path
marked out by the founders Of the Re-
public.
But even with the declaration solemnly
made, that the Philippines are to be
regarded from now on as territory be-
longing to the United States; that II
Is the intention OF the country TO re-
tain them as such and to maintain
such government as the situation de-
mands, the struggle may not at once
be ended Some Of the insurgents will
lay down their arms, convinced OF the
hopeessness Of Aguinaldos cause, but
a great many will continue a life Of
brigandage, as best suited to their
taste.
The conditions prevailing in the is
land Of Luzon are such that II Will
take many years to adjust them in ac-
cordance with the standards Of Amer-
can civilization. And the work is not
to devolye upon the military entirely.
No matter how many thousand soldiers,
they are inadequate to the task. The
pacifcaton OF the archipelago will de-
pend ultimately on the engineer, the
builder OF roads, the farmer, the
merchant and the mechanic. Il
is very doubtful whether the reb-
els can be starved into sub
mission or brought into sub
lection by powder and shell, but there Is
no doubt that liberal and humane gov
eminent, entrusted mainly TO the capa-
BILE natives themselves, aided By a SUI.
fcient educational system, would In
time make the conquest Of the Philip
pines as complete and satisfactory as
has been the assimilation" Of the west
ern part Of the United States into the
Union.
The great trouble with many of the
natives Is that they view all the white
people in the same light. They have
transferred upon Americans the hatred
they bestowed upon Spaniards. This will
be changed when our people have had a
chance 10 demonstrate that Americans
are not Spanards.
Some complaints have reached this
country to the effect that American
vices are commencing TO become ram
pant where the Stars and Stripes float,
II this is 50, and II that cannot be pre-
vented, 1t would be better to withdraw,
for nation that fails to establish in its
steps truth, justice, temperance and
purity, is not prepared to take up the
white mans burden"