New-York tribune., 1900-01-19
OPENING PHILIPPINE PORTS.

The announcement of the opening of addi-
tional Philippine ports to commerce is to be re-
garded with sincere satisfaction for more rea-
sons than one. Perhaps the most obvious con-
sderation is that it indicates subsdence of re-
bellion and brigandage and the return of peace
under the lawful authority of the United States.
It is not yet year since Aguinaldo and his fel-
low conspirators, impelled by lust OF selfish gam
and encouraged by wicked and lying reports
from this country, began their violent resistance
to American authority at Manila Since that
time those misguided men have succeeded in
causing much trouble in Luzon, in inflicting de-
plorable losses upon this Nation in the persons
of it's military servants, and in bringing incalcu-
lably heavier disasters upon their own country
men. Happily the tide of Outlawry is now fast
ebbing 1t is not much longer to be deemed an
appreciable factor in the affairs of the Philip
pines. OF that the opening of the ports is a
sure sign.
This announcement is, moreover, not only
sign that peace has been restored in large If not
complete measure, but it is also guarantee
that peace will be preserved. There can be no
more effective method of winning the allegiance
of those-the minority-who have been unfavor-
ably disposed toward American CONTROL and Of
retaining and confirming that of those-the ma
iority of substantial ctizens-who have been
from the first favorably disposed, than is to be
found in restoring and increasing the material
prosperity of the islands, Government touches
men through their pockets more directly than in
almost any other way. Complaints against bad
government usually have a financial basis 1t
was unjust taxation that brought Charles to
the block and that led to the Declaration of In
dependence The chief grievances of the Philip
pines and of Cuba against Spain were related to
the fiscal systems of those countries. History,
ancient and modern, abounds with like in
stances. And. conversely, if high taxes and lack
of prosperity drive men to revolt, low taxes and
increasing prosperity will as surely commend
their government to them.
Nor is it of less Importance that the United
States is thus seen to be taking actual as well
as nominal possession of it's new property. 1t
has hitherto been urged that the way to annex
the Philippines was not merely to overrun them
with troops and thus to suppress armed oppo-
sition, but, at the same time that this is done
wherever it is unhappily necessary, to establish
a de facto civil government, with all its benef-
cent appurtenances- conquer the land, II con-
quest be necessary, with courts and schools and
roads and posts and industries and commerce.
That is not merely to overcome savage force
with civilized force. 1t is to overcome savagery
with civilization. Against a camp full of sol
ders a people may rage. They will not rage
against the institutes Of industry commerce and
government which are operating for their own
benefit. Equally does the principle serve the
interests of the governing country. To hold
distant possessions permanently at the point of
the bayonet would be intolerable. To hold them
in bonds of law and amity and profitable COM
merce, with ample benefits received and given,
will be a far different matter. News of insur-
gents dispensing inhabitants returning to their
homes civil government established and ports
reopened to the commerce of the world is the
news that justifies the past and gives best
promise for the future