The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-04-03

ice law, has widened the gates
again for new foray Of spoils
politics in the public service ?
What assurance have we that the
Philippines, far away from pub
lie observation, will not be simp-
ly a pasture for needy politicians
and for specializing syndicates to
grow fat on, without much
scruple as to the rights of the
despised "natives ?" Has it not
been so with the British in India,
although the British monarchy
is much better fitted for imperial
rule than our democratic repub-
lie can ever be ? True, in the
course of time the government OF
India has been much improved;
but it required more than cen
fury of slaughter, robbery, de-
vastation, disastrous laundering,
Instruction, and renewed bloody
subjugation to evolve what there
is of good government in India
now. And have the populations
of India ever become the friends
of England ? Does not England
at heart tremble today lest some
hostile foreign power come close
enough to throw a firebrand into
that fearful mass of explosives 3?
| ask you, therefore, in ali
soberness, leaving higher con-
siderations of justice, morality,
and principle aside, whether
from a mere business point of
view, the killing policy of sub
Ijugation is not a colossal, stupid
blnnder, and whether it would
not have been, and would not
now be, infinitely more sensible
to win the confidence and cult
vate the friendship Of the island
ers by recognizing them as of
right entitled to their freedom
and independence, as we have
recognized the Cubans, and thus
to obtain from them their friend
ship and gratitude, for the mere
asking, all the coaling stations
and commercial facilities we re
quire, instead of getting those
things by fighting at an immense
cost of blood and treasure, with
a probability of 'having to fight
for them again ? I put this
question to every business man
who is not fool or a reckless
speculator +? Can there be any
doubt of the answer
A word now on a special point:
There are some very estimable
men among US who think that
even if we concede to the island
ers their independence, we
should at least keep the city of
Manila. I think differently. not
from a mere impulse of gener-
osity, but from an entirely prac
tical point of view. Manila is
the traditional, is not the natural
capitol of the archipelago. To
recognize the independence of
the Philippine Islanders, and at
the same time to keep from them
Manila, would mean as much as
to recognize the independence of
Cuba and to keep Havana. It
would mean to withhold from
the islanders their metropolis.
that in which they naturally take
the greatest pride, that which
they legitimately most desire to
have, and which, if withheld
from them, they would most ar
IDENTIFY wish to get back. The
withholding of Manila would in
evitably leave sting in their
hearts which would never cease
to rankle, and might, under crit
ical circumstances, give us as
much trouble as the Withholding
of independence itself. If we
wish them to be our friends. we
should not do things by halves,
but enable them to be our friends
without reserve. And maintain
that, commercially as well as
politically speaking, the true
friendship of the Philippine Is
landers will, as to our position