The Forrest City times., 1900-02-02
4 PRETTY PICTURE.
vhaf the Sangufue Senator Dev- eridCe Prcscribes for the
 Philippines.

The speech of Senator Beveridge, of Indiana, in support of his resolution fer the permanent holding of the Phil ippines, enthusiastic. eloquent and op- limistic as it is, at the same time sug gests disturbing reflections. Mir. Bev- eridge regards the possession of the Philippines as of the greatest impor- tance to the United States for conner cial, military, political and moral req sons, and insists that for these reasons. separately and conjoined. it is our duty to hold fast to them. Yet he says that snless they are ruled in the most ideal ly perfect manner-in manner of which the United States has had little, ii any. practical experience-thei islands bad better be abandoned at once. He professes implicit faith that this ideal administration can be secured. Experi- ence has taught older observers than the Indiana senator to limit themselves 10 hope, shaded with doubt.
 Senator Beveridge spent some time exploring the waters and roaming among the islands of the Philippine archipelago. His recital of his obser- vations and experiences is an expan- sion of the line in the old missionary hymn: Where every prospect pleases and only man is vile" In glowing pe- riods he pictures the beauties of the islands, their richnes of vegetation, the exceeding fertility of the soil, the vast mineral wealth awaiting American en- terprise to bring it to the surface. the salubrity of its climate, the boundless possibilities of this ''empire of the ocean,"
 When he comes to speak of the peo- pie he takes an altogether different tone. They are described as "a bar barous race, modified by three cen- turies of contact with a decadent race" In the whole 5000 GOO there are only three commanding intellects and characters-Arellano, Mabini and Aguinaldo. The first, the chief justice of the supreme court under American jurisdiction, is "a profound lawyer and brave and incorruptible man." Ma bini is the highest type of subtlety and the most constructive mind that race has yet produced" Aguinaldo is "a clever. popular leader, able, brave, resourceful, cunning, ambitious, Cn- scrupulous and masterful."
 Senator Beveridge insists that last ing peace can be secured only by over whelming forces in ceaseless action until universal and absolutely final de- feat is inflicted on the enemy. In this connection it is we'll to remember what Lieut.. Gilmore said after nine months captivity and forced travel over the island of Luzon. He thought the insurrection would last as long as there were any Tagalos left" That puts tEe lasting peace" in the distant future and presents a prospect of "ceaseless action" by the troops for years to come.
 But when peace does come Mir. Rev. eridge aims against any attempt to give the Filipinos self-government, for. he says, they are not capable of it, they are orientals, Malays. instruct ed by Spaniards in the latter's worst estate" Mir. Beveridge says the gov ernment must be simple and strong.' Neither the Dutch nor the English methods in the Malay states will do The ruling power must be exclusively in American hands, with perhaps an advisory council to discuss measures with the governor general, but with no power beyond discussion. Even that elemental plan twill fail in the hands of any but ideal admin istrators." They must he linen of the world ard of affairs, students of their fellow men, not theorists nor dream CTS. They must be as incorruptible as honor, as stainless as purity, men whom no force can frighten. no infu- ence coerce, no money buy" If such men cannot be had, then it is better pure military occupation for years.'' Mir Beveridge says we had better abandon this priceless possession, ad- init ourselves incompetent to do our part in the world-redeeming work of our imperial race, haul down the flag of arduous deeds for civilization and run Up the flag of reaction and decay than to apply academic notions of self government to these children or att tempt their government by any but the most perfect administrators our country can produce"
 Senator Beyeridge is rather new to national politics, but he is old enough and ought to have seen enough to judge whether his ideal admini.- trators" for the Philippines are, under existing conditions, likely to have the support of the political bosses, with out whose sanction appointment and confirmation are doubtful.-Cleveland Plain Dealer.