The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-05
SCHURMAN ANSWERS LOPEZ.
shows From Filipino Admissions
Correctness of Commissions
Reuorf.

BUFFALO, N. Y, Nov. 4-Prof. Jacob
G. Schurman, who passed through this
city this afternoon. en- route from the
West to Ithaca, handed TO the Associated
Press the following reply to an open let
ter addressed to him by Sixto Lopez:
Mr.. Sixto Lopezs open letter of the
Sd instant addressed to me, although 1
have not yet seen it, except in the news
papers, is gratifying proof of the cor
rectness of the report of the Philippine
commission. Mr.. Lopez, by his declara-
lions, confirms all l have said Of the
promising educational possibilities in the
Philippines and Of the admirable charac-
ter Of the educated Filipinos. few though
they are. who may be taken as type
and promise of the future. Nor does Mr..
Lopez deny that the masses OF the In
habitants of the Philippine islands, of all
tribes and races, are uneducated and very
ignorant Furthermore. by silent acqui-
escence in the report Of our committee,
Mr.. Lopez acknowledges that the major
ity of the Filipinos either desire Ameri-
can sovereignty. as is the case with the
men of education and property, or acqui-
esce in it. or are Indifferent to 1t, and
that the demend for independence orfgi-
mated with the ambitious Tagalog insur-
gent leaders who have diffused it with
fire and sword, aided by atrocious misrep-
sensations of the aims and purposes OF
the United States.
Lastly, Mr.. Lopez does not question
the finding of our commission, that the
inhabitants of the Philippine islands are
marked by great racial and tribal differ
ences. by immense varieties of social
conditions which range all the way from
the civilization of Manila, down through
all phases Of barbarism, to the naked
savage OF Mindanao and Northern Luz
zon, by bewildering multiplicity of lam
guages which are mutually unintelligi-
BILE, by dense ignorance on the part of
the masses of the people. by the abb
sence of union and concert, and the utter
lack of the idea and sentiment OF ma
tionality and by the absolute inexperi-
ence of all classes in the affairs of gov
eminent, which Spain always kept in
Spanish hands.
And the consequence to be drawn from
all this is equally indisputable; nor does
Mr.. Lopez seek to dispute it, namely,
that the various and diversified peoples
of the Philippine islands are at the pres
ent time incapable of being considered
as a nation: they are utterly unfit to ac-
cept sovereignty over the archipelago.
even il the American people wished to
invest them with 1t. nor have they any
hope of ever becoming a free and self
governing nation except in the continu-
ance OF American sovereignty over them,
and In the peace. prosperity and ever
increasing liberty of self-government
which the American flag guarantees
them. Pull down our flag and you leave
the Philippines prey to internal feuds
and democratic instructions which
would quickly beget anarchy. This would
necessitate the Intervention of foreign
powers, for the protection of the lives
and property of their subjects.
'Of course the islands would eventually
be divided up among them and the Fill
pinos would exchange the free institu-
lions and home rule which the American
people desire, as soon as possible and in
the largest degree practicable, to bestow
upon them, for the genuine Imperialism
of the old world. emperors, kings and
czars. II is the mission of our republic
to save the Filipinos, who. in general, are
most promising estimable and even Iowa
BILE people. from this cruel fate and to
train them up to the use of free institu-
lions and the noble work of self-govern-
ment Just as quickly and as generously
as they or any portion of them can be
induced to exercise a civil function SO
arduous and SO unaccustomed.'