Washington sentinel., 1901-02-16
give them n Chance.

a little civil government in the
Philippines. We should, indeed.
If We had given the people there
some civil government two years
ago we should not have had so
much need tor military govern
ment now, saws the New York
90NrHaI.
When we are blaming the Fill
iDinos for resisting the mild and
bene6cent rule oi the United
States we should remember that
they have never had a chance to
know what real American govern
ment is. To us the American flag
means personal liberty, the right
to 90 and come as we please, the
right 90 choose our officials, and
the protection Of written laws,
based on the Constitution of the
United States. To the Filipino
that flag means, and has meant
from his first acquaintance with II,
the provost marshal and the bay
onet, the most irritating interier-
ence with personal habits, and the
denial OF all civil and political
RIGHTS.
Our new regular army OF 100. 900
rren is to cost US SIIS, 900, 900 next
year. That is equal to the cost OF
the magnificent army OF Germany,
the most formidable militar"
machine in the world. That is to
say, from financial point OF view
we are now carrying as heavy a
burden Of militarism as the great.
est military power IN Europe.
This expenditure is almost en-
tirely due TO the war in the Philip
pines. But for that war the army
would not need to cost over $780,
ooo, 900 a year. The difference
would build the Nicaragua Canal
in two years. Itwould pay off our
national debt in ten years,
Under present conditions there
is no prospect of relief. General
Macarthur saws:
Expectations based on result Of
election have not been realized.
Progress OF pacihcation apparent
to me. but still verv slow. Condi-
ton very infiexible and likely to
become chronic"
What is needed now is a taste
Of genuine Americanism. We
have tried the FIliplnos with mill
tsrY slave driving and they have
not learned 70 love us. We have
tried them with TAFT paternalism,
and their affection has still refused
TO flow. Now let US try them with
American self-goveTnment.
We may take a lesson from the
experiences of the powers that
tried to colonize America. SPAN
came first She tried the OTIS plan.
She kept her subjects down with
the iron hand. She trampled over
their rights and their senti .nents.
And her dominion became a ta!.
that was told.
Then came France. She gov
erned on the Taft Commission
plan. She was benevolently ma
ternal. She ruled her colouists
Tor their good. She sent over
wives for them, helped them to
make their settleme nts in the tor
ests, bought their iurs cheap,
and sold them provisions dear.
She looked after their moral and
welfare, according to her
lights, with the help OF officials
who were solemniY warned o be
honest, although they usually stole
everything portable within Tescn.
And when the dominions Of France
were wrested away, and a dozen
years later the chance offered itself
to recover them. her children
would not strike a bl W to get
back under her benevolent rule.
Lastly came England. She let
her colonies look out for them
selves. She let them make their
own la VS., lay their own taxes, set
lie their own church fghts-and
here were many OF them-and
lang their own witches. And the
colonies thrived on hard fare,
wholesome neglect and the fresh |
.ir Of liberty. They not only
hrived, but they were conferred
Ind loyal.
Their loyalty was not disturbed
Until England began to pay more
ttention TO their affairs Then it
'roke down, and most olthem were
ost to the empire. England holds
he remainder because she learned
rom that experience to let them
lone.
Let the Fllipinos govern them
elves. What If they do m ke
lunders and do things which, &C
ordIng to our idea, are not only
polish but even wrong9 They
'ill learn by their mistakes. II
iey amuse themselves on Sun