The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-17
Unfit for Self-Rule.

Unfit for Self-Rule.
It was the unanimous opinion Of the first Phil
ippine commission, composed Of the following
members: President, J. G. Schurman, OF Cornell
university; Professor Dean Worcester, Charles
DENLY, late minister to China; Admiral Dewey
and General otis, that the inhabitants Of the
PHILIPPINE islands are at present unfit for self.
government
The standing and character Of these gentlemen
carnot he mpugned, and their conclusions made
after a most painstakng and careful personal IN.
yestiCaticn, and after months spent in personal
contact with conditions in the Philippines, must
he regarded as conclusive, supported they
by the evidence Of other distinguished men who
have visited the islands
The Philippines are group Of islands, nearly
1000 in number. The inhabitants OF the island
lack racial unity; and they have in their rela
tons with us thus far proven treacherous and uu.
reliable. They have for hundreds OF wears been
under manarchia rule and do not understand the
first principles Of self.govenmcnt. Under pres
cnt conditions their selt.government could nor
result in anything but a small cruel and corrupt
oiglrchy, il Agllinaldo were recognized and his
government maintained by the forces OF the
United States. Ii the United States-should re
move the strong hand OF authority from the
islands there would probably be anarchy A
small fiacticn Of the people, represented by
Aguinaldo, and his tribe, could not be recog.
ni7cd as in any way representative Of the entire
population, AMI Il they were representative
OF the entire population their authority
would probably mean the massacre OF the
foreigners in Manila and a reign Of blood
shed and tyranny. II the United States
should withdraw its sovereignty from the
Philippines it would not he liberty which would
result as our Democratic friends maintain, but
Il would be license, ard anarchy, AMI misery,
and wretchedness unspeakable.
Now, my friends il is perfectly evident under
! III,
rs by all those who have been in the Philip
pines, including the first and second commits.
sions appointed by the president as well as by
| the officers Of our army and our diplomatic rep.
! rcSentatives in the far east, that the Filipnos
| are at present incapable of selfgovernment in
| the American sense Of that word. This is the
! attitude of the administration, determined by its
conservative consideration Of conditions
| We may discuss every plan which could be
made for the future Of the Filipinos, and, IL the
! recognition Of their present incapaCty for self.
government Is not involved in It, we must con.
| frss thaC plan failure whenever we confront
and reason upon conditions in that island as they
| are.
What Is f-Governmentp
| Now the effort Of Mr.. Bryan and the Demo.
cratic party is to get our people TO 9slieye that
in some way this attitude oi The administration
! toward the Filipino violates certain principles
| which we have always upheld and maintained
| in this nation.
They maintain that we should give the Fill
pinos selfgovcmuent. But they do not discuss at
| length with rs their capacity for sei-govern.
| ment. They say that we have no right TO ask
whether they are capable Of sclf'govemment; for
| II We should decide thly were not, then We
would make them subjects. not citizens, and
| that would be "mperialism.
These theoretical arguments, Of course, as.
sumo by implication that these sixty different
a q af-nf,r
capable of seligoyeninent, or II they are not,