The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-23
NEWS OBSERVER FRIDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY 49,

altogether expunge the disgraceful page
Of history that has been written. But
the American people can rise mp and
declare that the great wrong attempted
by misguided men in power in the name
of the republic shall mot be cons,mlnat-
ed; that as we solemnly promised at the
beginning of our Spanish war, that war
shall stand in history as a war of liberia
ton, and not of conquest; that our gov
eminent shall recognize the Philippine
Islands as free and Independent, and that
il the present Congress and ExeclTtiv,
will not do so, the people will elect
Congress and an Executive who will.
But what will become OF the Philippine
islanders if unfit for independent govern
ment? OF course, every man who either
himself wishes to keep the Philippines, or
who serves the administration, strerll-
ously insists that the islanders are utterly
unable to govern themselves. 1t is always
so. He who seeks to make another man
hos subject, always maintains that the
other lis incapable of being freeman.
Thus. as q last resort, the agltators FOR
Imperialism are all now husily engaged
in abusing the Filipinos and their leader.
But here we have Admiral Dewey's en-
phatic and repeated official statement:
'In my opinion, these people are far SUI
perior in their intelligence and more ca
pable of self government than the natives
of Cuba, and l am familiar with both
races" Has this weighty declaration
been invalidated by the subservient talk
of others Who Thought likewise until the
desire of the administration that the Phil
irpine people should not be held capable
Of independent government became pub
lie? Let our government take the posi-
ton that the Philippines are to be indie
pendent, and Admiral Dewey's original
opinion will be promptly and generally
accepted as the correct one.
And what of the danger That, if we
recognize the independence of the Philip
pines, some other power will at once
rush in to clutch them? Does any sane
man believe that there will be such a
danger If this great republic forbids it!
And why should not American diplomacy
succeed in bringing the Powers most
nearly concerned TO an agreement to de-
clare the Philippines neutral territory as
Belgium and Switzerland are in Europe!
| have often asked this question, and it
has never been answered. The Presi-
dent SAYS in his message: 1--WE fling
lUeUn Il SOlueli dIlle VI OlStulu, oihoAS
the rival Powers. no one Of which could
permit another to seize them unques-
toned" Precisely. No one OF them
permitting another to seize them it will
be easily feasible to make them all agree
To Their neutrality, so that none Of them
shall have them.
These are phantom dangers. Neither
have we a right to say chat the Philip
=, |, bn1 y I ii
Of independent government il they can
rot form an ideal republic, in which lib
erty and peace, and order, and honesty
viii reign III unclouded sunshine. They
may easily be as orderly as Kentucky
and as honestly governed as the city Of
New York. What If they have their
! troubles and turmoils? They may be
Ike some South American republics or
develop into something like the orderly
dictatorship in Mexico. Do we question
the title of those countries to their in
F, dependence? Let Us not indeed 'scuttie
away from the PHILIPPINES, like baffled
! thieves, hut assist aud protect them until
! they stand upon their own feet; and
j if this is done in perfect good faith,
difficulties now deemed ever so formida-
| BILE will vanish like morning mist
! Besides. it is not the most important
| question how TO perfect their government
viii be. More important is it that their
! government should he their own, and
ruore important still that the American
| people should not become unfaithful to
the fundamental principles of their
Democracy; that they should not lose
| their high ideals of liberty fright and
| justice, and that they should wash from
| the escutcheon of the republic the foul
| blot with which the great perfidy to our
| late allies has defled it,