The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-12-04
Future of the
Philippines,

Future of the In the Philippines problem is
Philippines. larger. They very rich tropical
islands, inhabited by many varying
tribes representing widely different stages of progress
toward civilization. Our effort is to help these
people upward along the stony and difficult path that
leads to self-government. We hope to make ad.
mnistration of the islands honorable to nation
by making ii of the highest benefit to the FilipinoS
themselves; and as an earnest OF what intend to
do, point to what we have done. Already greater
measure of material prosperity and of governmental
honesty and efficiency has been attained in the Phil
ippines than ever before in their history
IT is no light task for nation to achieve the tenn
peramenta qualities without which the institutions o:
free government are but empty mockery. Our peo-
pie successfully governing themselves, be-
for more than II thousand years they have been
slowly fitting themselves. sometimes consciously,
sometimes unconsciousiy. toward this end. What has
taken US thirty generations To achieve, we cannot
expect to see another race accomplish out of hand
especially when large portions of that start very
far behind the point which ancestors had reached
even thirty generations In dealing with the Phil
ippine people we must show both patience aud
strength, forbearance and stcadfast resolution. our
aim is high, We do not desire to do for the islanders
merely what has elsewhere been done for tropc peo
pies by even the best foreign governments, We hop,
do for them what has never before been done for
any people of the tropicsto make them lit for SELF
government after the fashion of the really lree
tions
History may safely be challenged to show q. singh
instance in which maserfu race such as ours, hnv
ing been forced by the eNgences of To take pos
ants with the dsnterested zeal for their progress
people have shown in the Philippines. 70 leave
the islands at this time would that they would
fall into weter of murderous anarchy. Such deser-
tion of duty ON our part would he crime against
humanity. The character of Governor Tart and his
associates and subordinaes Is proof, il such be
needed, of the sincerity of effort to give the island
a constantly increasing measure of self-govern.
ment exactly as fast as they show themselves fit to
exercise it. Since the civil government estub.
lished not an appointment has been made in the
islands with any reference to considerat ions of po
ltical influence to aught else the fitness of
the man and the needs of the service,
In our anxiety for the welfare and progress of the
Philippines, 1t may be that here and there we have
gone too rapidly In giving them local selfgovernment
1t Is this side that If has been
mitted No competent observer, sincerely desrous OF
finding out the facts and Influenced only by desire
for the welfare Of the natives assert that have
not gone far enough. We have gone to the
of safety In fastening the process. To have taken
single step farther faster in advance would have
been folly and weakness, and might well have been
crime. We are extremely anxious that the natives
shall show the power of governing themselves. We
anxious, first for their sakes and next because
it relieves us of great burden. There need not he
the slightest fear of continuing to give them
all the liberty for which they are fit
The only Tear is lest In our overanxiety we give