Cañon City record., 1900-10-25

paign has been n brill MT o e, and has
displayed the capacit. OF the AmerI-
cnn soldier for war 10 officers and
privates alike let full honor and praise
be given.
Nov TINT the natives are convinced
of the power Of the United States, and
Of Its stern determination to maintain
that power. 1t ought to he an easy mat
ter to pacify the islands and assure
their inhabitants of the pacific inten-
tt0ns and benehcent purposes of the
American government. The commits
sion has arrived there at an opportune
time, and IL able to definitely announce
the intentions and desires of this gov
ernment. This action ought to have
a salutary effect on the Filipinos, who,
freed from the odious tyranny and OPP
pressive exactiOnB and taxation of
Spain, can look forward to n local gov
ernment of their own. under the guild
ance and protection OF the United
States. But this guidance and protec-
tion must Imply absolute obedience to
the national power. THIS is the first
lesson that the Filipinos must learn.
Indeed. 1t is the first step that will en-
able them to become prepared for self
government. What liberty actually
means they have not the remotest con-
ception. When they know that it is
n respect for law and order, for per-
sonal rights and civic equality, then
they will begin to appreciate the efforts
of the United States In taking for the
bettering of their condition. National
Independence Is something beyond
their ability to maintain Mt present,
and can only come with the changed
conditions that will follow American
rule. To abrogate that now would
be simply to open the archipelago 10
a prolonged war In which every
European power would strive to gain
the mastery over them
Capacity for SeIf-0overnment.
April 18th, 1899.
"There is very much loose tnlk from
the platform and very many shallow
editorials in various newspapers about
self-government and Independence for
Cubans and F'ilipinos. Admitting that
1t all comes from the best OF motives.
the opinion must he expressed that
much OF 1t Is based on the want OF
proper knowledge or appreciation OF
existing conditions among those peo-
pie.
"CapacIty for self-government Is not
a matter OF sudden growth In any
nation or among any people. 1t comes
only rs the result OF long training and
experience. In the new possessions
which have fallen into our hands, this
lesson of self-government will have TO
be their inhabitants. The native
Cubnns had thought that they would
be permitted to retalInte on the Span
ish residents for the tyranny they had
suffered at the hands uf the Madrid
government. and were surprised and
Indignant when they discovered that
the United States would not permit
such notion. Their ideas of freedom
and Independence was the privilege TO
practice the same dcspotism on others
ms they had endured They did not un-
derstand that civil freedom to all
means equal rights TO all.
'.The same is substantially true of
the FilIpinos. Many Of them. and no
doubt honestly. entertain the belief that
American occupation means the same
kind OF rule that Spain enforced. The
proclamation of the American commits
sion ought TO undeceivc them. by u
the United States is pledged to grant
civil nnd religious liberty. local self
government. and efficient and ccono-
mical administration OF the revenues
for local purposes. strict and iu-
partial administration OF Justice.
educational privileges md whatever
else may contribute to the welfare and
progress of the Fiiippine people. But
how to conduct their own affairs and
administer government so as to secure
these results. Is something these peo-
pie will have to learn by observation
and experience.
'Tn carrying to the people OF these
islands the GIFT OF civil liberty and free
institutions, the United States cannot
be termed nn oppressor. The talk OF
such men as convened In Boston the
other evening il the rnnkest kind OF
lunncy. Freedom for any race or any
people that do not know what freedom
IL and how to use II. or what 1t means.
II the most dangerous and destructive
thing that can be put In their hands,