The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-12-07

GUS anarchy. Such a desertion Of duty
on our part would be a crime against hui
manity. The character OF Gov. Taft and
Of his associates and su~bordinates Is q
proof. II such be needed, of the sincerity
Of our effort to give the islanders a con-
stantly increasing measure Of self-gov-
eminent exactly as fast as they show
themselves At to exercise 1t. Since the
civil government was established not an
appointment a been made In the ISL
ands with any reference to considerations
Of political influence or to aught else save
the fitness of the man and the needs OF
the service. 80
%
In our anxiety for the welfare and .
q progress of the Philippines 1t may be .
. that here and there we have gone .
. too rapidly In giving them local self
. government. 1t is OF this side that .
o our error. II any has been commit =
Q ted.
GUS of finding out the facts and influenced
only by a desire for the welfare of the
natives can assert that we have not
gone far enough. We have gone to the
very, verge of safety in Fastening the
process. To have taken a single step
farther or faster in advance would have
been folly and weakness m might we'll
Ak0NS OCSh Sk4AAS y 80
fous that the natives shall show the
power of governing themselves. We are
anxious first for their sakes and next
because 1t relieves us of a great burden.
There need not be the slightest fear of
our not continuing to give them all the
liberty for which they are fit.
T The only fear Is lest In our over anx-
iety we give them a degree Of indepen-
dence for which they are unfit, thereby
inviting reaction and disaster. AS fast
as there Is any reasonable hope that In
a given district the people can govern
themselves self-government has been
given in that district. There Is not Il To-
has not received it. But 1t may well
be that certain cases 1t will have to
be withdrawn because the inhabitants
show themselves unfit to exercise 1t. Such
instances have already occurred. In 9TH
err words, there is not the slightest chance
Of our failing to show a sufficiently nu-
m%anitarian spirit. The danger comes in
the opposite direction. .
-
. There are still troubles ahead in .
Q the islands. The insurrection has be- .
Q come an affair of local banditti n q
q marauders who deserve no higher .
q regard than the brigands of portions q
q of the old world. .
90
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS QiIcCk VI IlullCSl, "
these insurrectos stands on the same foot
ing as encouragement to hostile Indians
in the days. when we still had Indian
wars. Exactly as our aim Is to give to
the Indian who remains peaceful the
fullest and amplest consideration, but to
have it understood that we will show no
weakness If he goes on the warpath, SO
we must MAKE it evident, unless we are
false to our own traditions and to the
demands of civilization and humanity,
that while we will do everything in our
power for the Filipino who is peaceful,
we will take the sternest measures with
the Filipino who follows the path of the
insurrecto and the ladrone.
The heartiest praise is due to large
numbers of the natives of the islands for
their steadfast loyalty. The Macabebes
nav been conspicuous for their courage
and devotion to the flag. I recommend
that the secretary of war be empowered
to take some systematic action in the
way of aiding those of these men who
are crippledSin the service and the fami-
| lies of those that are killed..
q The time has come when there q
should be additional legislation for .
q the Philippines. Nothing better can q
q be done for the Islands than to intro q
q duce industrial enterprises. Nothing 4
would benefit them so much as 4
. throwing them open to industrial de- 4
q v%elopment. 4
The connection between idleness and
mischief is proverbial, and the opportu-
nifty to do remunerative work is one OF
the surest preventives of war. OF course
no business man will go into the Philip
pines unless 1t Is to his interest to do so,
and 1t Is immensely to the interest Of the
islands that he should go in. 1t is there