New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-03

fore. such as Aguinaldo suggested is ont of the
question. If this country is to be responsible
for the islands it must have authority over
them The Canadian and Australian colonial
plan is ruled out because there is no commu-
nifty of blood speech or political institutions be
tween the Philippines and the United States
such as there IS between those colonies and
Great Britain In like manner the other forms
of British colonial government are deemed in
applicable TO this case, though they may offer
profitable suggestions concerning it. The Com
mission is rather disposed to bark back to the
established American nomenclature OF Terri
tory" and to give to the Philippines not a colonial
but a territorial syStem-thOugh the difference
between them may be more in name than in
fact
That does not mean however. that the Philip
pines are to become Il Territory in the sense
that a ma iOrity of our States formerly were and
Arizona, New-Mexco and oklahoma are now
Territories We are reminded that under the
personal direction of those Fathers of the Con
stitutlon whoRI the anti-eXpansiOnists so fire.
Quently fervcntly and futiley quote there were
formed two classes of Territories. In one the
Legislatures elected by the people, in the
other appointed by the President. In the North
west Territory laws were to be made by the
Governor and Judges In Louisiana they were
TO be made by the Governor and a Legislative
Council of thirteen members appointed by the
President of the United States. If Jefferson,
the author of the Declaration of Independence,
with its fine phrase about the consent of the
governed" himself imposed such system upon
the property which he purchased for the United
States. his successors certainly seem to have
some color of precedent for doing likewise.
Jefferson, indeed. as the report in hand reminds
u.s. fully realized that self government was the
point to be aimed at for attainment, and not
necessarily in all cases the starting point.
The Commission, however suggests a more
liberal scheme of government for the Philip
pines than that which jefferson devised for
Louisiana and one giving the inhabitants from
the beginning a larger part in the adminstra-
ton of the islands Its plan is 10 employ the
natives TO the largest possible extent. No
American is TO be put into an office which
a native satisfactorily fill. Only n small
number of Americans will be needed, per
haps not more than one to 100000 natives.
That would mean only thirty forty Ameri-
can officials in the Enthusiastically a dis
appointing outlook for ambitious carpet bag
gers! These are 10 he experienced civil ser
wants, selected on the sole ground of merit.
Under them there should he native civil ser
vice organized on the merit system, with exam-
nations, promotions, tenure of office etc. ac-
cording TO the most enlightened plan. The few
Americans who appointed to office are in
full reality TO take up the white mans burden"
They are to learn the native language familiar
ze themselves with the native customs and, in
brief, devote their lives not to ording 1t over
the natives but TO being their guides phlOso-
pliers and friends. Finally, as to the tariff and
like bp
recognizes the fact that it is impossible to idpn-
tify or to assimlate the Philippine system with
that of the United States. Those islands are not
a part of the United States and are not to he
treated as though they were. Tariff. internal
revenue and all else to be devised in ac-
coTdance with Philippine conditions, not accord
ing to United States examples
Such in general outlines. is the scheme pro
posed. The criticism that rises first upon the
lips OF those who are opposed to the whole ex-
pansion business is that while il is very pretty
in theory it will prove far different in practice
In the hands of the partisans and Spoilsmcn
who, they imagine, the all in all of our own
Government. IF only" they sigh. I'VE could
have civil service like that of England we
might hope TO govern possessions as we'll rs
she does" Yet seem to remember hearing
the name of Walpole in English history Yes
and hearing of rotten horoughs" and the cor
rupt use of patronage to m extent never ap-
preached in our own most unregenerate days
We are not drawing comparisons or contrasts
between this and any other country But since
they are suggested by critics of the Nations
policy 1t may be as well to reafiirm a lively
faith i'll the ability of this Nation to do what
other nations have done whether in elevating
its own domestic systems of administration or
IN accepting and fulfilling the responsibilities for
the welfare Of weaker tribes which the remorse-
less progress of events may force upon it,