The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-12-06

ippineS than ever before Ia their his
tory.
achieve the temperamental qualities
without which the institutions of free
government r but an empty mockery.
Our people are now successfully gov
rnfng themselves. because for more
than a thousand years they have been
slowly fitting themselves, sometimes
consciously. sometimes un~consciousiy.
toward h end What has taken Us
thirty generations to achieve. we can
not expect to see another race accom-
plish out Of hand. especially when large
portions OF hat ace start very far be-
hind the point which our ancestors had
reached even thirty generations ago.
In dealing with the Philippine people
we must show both patience and
strength. forbearance and stsadfast res
olution- Our aim Is high We do not
desire to do for the islanders merely
what has elsewhere been done for tropic
peoples by even the best foreign row
ernments- We hope TO do for them
what has never before been done for
any people Of the tropics-to make them
fit for self-government after the fash
ion OF the really free nations.
History may safely be challenged to
show a single instance IN which a mas
terful race, such as ours. having been
forced by the exigencies of war to take
possession Of an alien land. has be-
haved to its inhabitants with the dis
interested cal for their progress that
our people have shown in the Philip
pines. To leave the islands at this
time would mean that they would fail
into a weller Of murderous anarchy.
Such desertion OF duty on our part
would be a crime against humanity.
The character of Governor Taft and of
his associates and subordinates is a
proof, II such be needed, of the sim
certify of our effort to give the islanders
a constantly increasing measure OF
self-government. exactly as fast as they
show themselves fit to exercise IL.
Since the civil government was estab-
lished not al appointment has been
made in the islands with any reference
to considerations OF political influence,
or to aught else save the fitness OF the
man and the needs of the service.
In our anxiety for the welfare and
progress of the Philippines, it may be
that here and there we have gone toe
rapidly in giving them local self-gov-
eminent. 1t is on his side that our
error, if any,, has been committed. Nc
competent observer, sincerely DESTROYS
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 nave gone to the
very verge of safety in fastening the
process. To have taken a single steI
farther o II faster in advance would
have been folly and weakness. and
might we'll have been crime. We are
extremely anxious that the natives
shall show the power of governing
themselves. We are anxious. first fol
their sakes, and next, because it re-
lieves us of a great burden. There neeC
not be the slightest fea of our not con
| Timing m oiyn fhano oil tho 1ihnrty fny
which they are fit.
The only fear is lest in our overanx.
iety we give them a degree of indepen,
dence for which they are unfit, thereby
inviting reaction and disaster. AS fast
l as there is n reasonable hope thai
| in a given district the people can gov.
ern themselves. self-government ha:
been given in that district. There is
not a locality fitted for self-governmen'
which has not received it. But it may
we'll be that in certain cases 1t will
have to be withdrawn because the in.
habitants show themselves unfit to ex
erciSe it: such instances have already
occurred. In other words, there is no
the slightest chance of our failing Il
show a sufficiently humanitarian spirit
The danger comes in the opposite direc.
ton.
There are still troubles ahead in tn,
islands. The insurrection has become
an affair of local banditti and marau
ders, who deserve no higher regard thar
the brigands of portions of the Ole
World. Encouragement, direct or indi
rect. Of these insurrectos stands on tn,
same footing as ncourageme to hos
tile Indians in the days when we still
had Indian wars. Exactly as our ain
is to give to the Indian who remain.
peaceful the fullest and amplest con
~sideration, but to have it understood
| that VIC ril che M NC lrnar- - l..
goes on the warpath, so we must max,
it evident, unless we are false to GU
own traditions and to the demands o
civilization and humanity, hat whil'
we will do everything in our power foI
the Filipino who is peaceful. we vii
take the ~sternest measures with tn
Filipino who follows the path of tn,
insurrecto and the ladrone.
The heartiest praise is due to larg,
numbers Of the natives of the island
for their steadfast loyalty. The Maca
bebes have been conspicuous for thei
courage and devotion to the flag.
recommend that the secretary Of wa,
be empowered to take some systematic
action in the way Of aiding those O
these men who are crippled in the ser
vice and the families CT those who ar
| killed.
The time has come when there shoult
be additional legislation for the Phil
ippines. Nothing better can be lone TO
h islands than to introduce industrial
enterprise. Nothing would benefit then
so much as throwing them open to in
dustrial development. The connection
between idleness and mischief is pro
verbal, and the opportunity to do. re
munerative work is one of the sures
~preventives of war. or course no bust
ness man will go into the Philippine
unless it is to his interest to do so
and it is immensely to the interest o
the stands that he should go in. I
is therefore necessary that the ongre
should pass avs by which the re
sources of the islands can be developed
SO that franchise Cfor limited terms o
years. can be granted TO companie
doing business in them, and every en-
enlargement De given to the incoming
Of business men of every kind.
Not to permit this Is to do a wron
TO the Philippines. The franchis
must be granted and The business per
mitted only under regulations which
will guarantee the islands against an,
kind Of improper exploitation. But tn
vast natural wealth Of the islands mus
be developed, and the capital willing Z