The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-11-25
UNDER CIVIL CONTROL.

While the mainland press is discus
sing the possibility Of the return of the
control of the Philippines to the mill
tary, there seems to be one point which
Is overlooked. Such step would place
the United States in false position in
the eyes of the world, and this is just
what is not TO be expected of President
Roosevelt.
The President Is looked upon as dis
tinctly a military President by the men
of the army, since he came to the front
during the late war, was brevetted q
brigadier during that struggle. and was
in the service with many Of the pres
ent general officers. While 1t would
add TO the glory and Importance of the
army to have the control OF the islands
of the far East given over to them,
there would be in the act such step
backwards that 1t is not reasonable to
expect that 1t will be taken upon the
showing made up to the present time.
The opinion of the officers of the army
returning from the archipelago is that
there cannot be any success in the at
tempt to govern the various races
there by any civil system, until there
has been shown the full power of the
military arm, and the tribesmen come
to know that retribution for any out
break Is swift and sure. They do not
think the army was given sufficient
swing and IN their opinion a further
campaign would be of service in pro-
ducing quiet all over the islands. All
of which would rebound to the credit
of American arms, for if once the army
was called upon to sweep the islands
no one doubts that it would be done.
To Offset this opinion, which must be
given great weight coming from the
sources that it does, every member OF
Congress, whether of the upper or low
or branch of the legislative body who
has made the trip to the new posses
sion this year, returns with nothing
but praises for Governor Taft. He IS
hailed on all sides the man of the
hour, and to him is given much praise
for the wonders which have been ac-
comDlished in the government of the
peoples. Much has been in the line OF
experiment for the study of the habits
of mind of the only partially modern
lied races, which the new forces meet
is not to be accomplished in a day.
The policy which meets with the most
criticism is that of placing the former
insurgent leaders in places of power,
vet thus is a plan which has commend
ed itself with force to every member
of the commission, and despite the sew
eral failures which have been recorded,
they have not lost faith in the ultima te
success If the plan. The hope is not
vain that the people viii see the ad-
vantages which will come from ad
vanclng under the new conditions. and
that the result will be hearty avowal
OF determination to cooperate TO secure
{ the best government of the islands
along lines which viii be laid down by
/ this country, but which viii be modified
according to conditions which are local.
| It would be a step backward to give
over the control of the islands to the
military The opposition now going on
is not warfare, the resistance Is not
coming from any organized head, the
so called Filipino Republic is thug
! OF the past and the only legitimate
future for the races there is develop
ment along lines which will make theIa
useful citizens Of the Great Republic.
No matter what Lopez may say. Even
If Warren spends the year in inves.Iga-
ton. the die once cast there is no look
Ing backward for America. The task
has been set and the islands win be
governed and held. The military arm
Of the service is necessary. 1t viii BE-
kept and In force, but the government
of the people viii go on along civil
lines. Education will solve the prob
lem and the next generation Will take
kindly 20 the ways Of Americans.