Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1901-01-04
THE PROBLEMS CONFRONTING
THE ADMINLSTRA TON


The chief trouble we have encountered is
In offering freedom TO the Filipinos in a
way they do not want 1t. Had they been
invited TO form government of their own
consistent with the laws of the United States,
1t is quite probable they would have &C
copied the protecting power Of our govern
ment, but we have thus far offered them
freedom at the point Of the bayonet, and
that sort OF freedom is not appreciated by
the followers OF Aguinaldo. After q long
and costly war, costly in both life and treas.
ure, we seem 70 be no nearer TO peace than
we were when the war began, and In the
end will probably be compelled TO give
them the freedom that should have been
offered them Immediately after the acquisi
ton of the islands, War has certainly not
Quickened our faith In the United States
government. The solution Of the Philip
pine question is one of the greatest with
which the Administration must deal, and II
is not improbable that the President may
find the war in the Philippine islands the
rock on which the Administration will be
wrecked.
We seem to have acquired one loyal people
by the acquisition Of Porto Rico. We have
given the people of that island much provo
cation, but there has been no sign OF re-
bellion They have been submissive and
loyal. They seem TO be entirely ignorant
of every principle of free government I'm
der an act of Congress they were authorized
to choose legislative body TO regulate their
local affairs, and when that body met 1t was
found that no citizen had ever participated
in a deliberative legislative body, and all
were entire strangers 10 the simplest parlia
mentary rules. The inauguration Of the
legislative branch presented the most grotes-
que features, but they managed to get along
after fashion, and 1t Is probable that they
may soon acquire sufficient parliamentary
knowledge TO be able 10 conduct legisla-
tive assembly. The parties Of that island
are known as the Republicans and Federal
lists. The Republicans are In control. They
are In sympathy with the Administration
and look early to territorial organization
and future statehood. The Federalists are
the more conservative of the Porto Rican
people, with substantially the same aims OF
the Republicans,
1t is claimed that the most troublesome of
our acquisitions is Cuba 1t is one of the
most obstrepero1s wards with which any
guardian was ever afflicted. The United
States interviewed to rescue the Cuban PEG.
pie from the oppression and barbarian Of
Spain, and all that is asked of the Cuban
people by our government is that they shall
show their ability to establish stable author.
ity to insure protection TO person and prop
erty. They have constitutional conven-
ton now in session, made up almost wholly
of men who now hate the United States,
and some of them are intense 10 their hatred.
These are but some of the questions that
must vex US in the future. How long their
healthy solution will take Is a question
which the future must decide. We greatly
tear that there will be much waste Of treas
ure and blood, but let US all indulge the
hope that soon, very soon, we may be at
peace with the world and that with the open
ing o. the new century We may start career
that will add additional splendor and pros
perity over every loot Of ground over which
the American flag floats