The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-05-01


sighted people and by all in whom the
legitimate dislike of needless effort ant
worry tends to become an unhealthy
fear of all risk and trouble. But as we
look back we can now see that the ma
tional duty was really plain. We could
not give the islands back to Spain; we
could not see them taken by some other
European power; and least of all could
we turn them over to be scrambled for
by insurgent leaders, most of whom
were but little above the level of bandit
ii.
For the last eighteen months our chief
difficulty has been not to beat the in
surgents in the field-for that was easy
but to grapple with the difficulty
caused by their conduct in visiting
murder and torture upon all the peace
full and friendly natives who were anx-
ious to see our rule made permanent.
Yet under even these circumstances the
administration has seen to it that the
almost intoerable provocation given by
our enemies should not result in their
ill treatment Our army has been
most mercful in its dealings. With
equal wisdom and clemency we have re-
Trained FROM exacting the penalties
which by every principle of military
and international law we had right to
exact from our foes. The record of the
struggle in the Philippines for the last
two years and half Is one which
should make all Americans proud be-
cause of the flrmness and the mercy the
justice and the fearlessness with which
their representatives in the islands have
acted under as trying conditions as
have ever been faced in similar case.
From Lawton to Funston many name
has been added to the honor roll Of the
republic. Moreover, as soon as we be-
gan to get the upperhand of the insur-
gents steps were Immediately taken to
establish a civil government in the is
lands. Here again, as in the choice of
Leonard Wood, the president showed
far-sighted wisdom in selecting out OF
the whole country the man best quail
fled to perform the task in the person of
Judge Taft, whom he made the head of
the commission. 1t Is great and SOL
emn responsibility to frame a new
system of government out of such g
weller Of confusion and to start the
Filipino people on the first stages of
career which we earnestly hope and be-
leve will in the end result in their
showing capacity to stand alone--a ca
pacity which there is no chance OF
their showing save by the patient fol-
lowing out on our part Of the policy on
which we have already embarked The
progress made by Judge Taft and his
associations has been wonderful. There
is no adequate reward which we can
give to men like Judge Taft and Gene
raj Wood for what they have done for
us; but let us at least pay them the
homage of thorough appreciation of
their work. After all, any reward that
we could give them would be but little
compared to the priceless reward of do
ing so well the work itself: for each of
these two men has drawn the highest
prize we have to g9ffeH On this earth
the prize of doing in The best possible
way service that IL of vital impor-
tance to mankind.
In developing these islands it is well
to keep steadily in mind that business
is one of the great levers of civilization.
1t is immensely to the interest of the
people of the islands that their re-
sources should be developed, and there
fore itis to their interests even more
than to ours that our citizens should
develop their industries. The further
fact that 1t Is our duty to see that the
development takes place under condi- !
lions so carefully guarded that no |
wrong may come to the islanders, must |
not blind us to the first great fact, |
which Is the need Of the development
No greater strida sthwards securing
for the islhnd folk can be
taken than to make the conditions such
as to invite business enterprise. But i
In our own intereset and for the sake OF
our own honor we must steadily insist
upon one point. Our public men. the
of our nation, whether
in civil or in military life. whether in
In the colonial service, or In
the army or navy, must understand that
their relations towards the islanders
are those of trustees and that no trus-
zee Is allowed to make any gain because
IF his relations with his ward 1t is to
he advantage both of America and Of
he islands to have any merchant or
climate business enterprise of any
lind in the islands; but no public man
should have any share in such bust
less, and public opinion should not toll
rate for moment such action among
,ur public men. AS for the offenses
hat are at times bound to occur in con-
lectiop with the public service in the
stands, we should on the one hand see
o 1t that the most prompt and severe
punishment is visited upon the Offend
RS; and in the next place we should
emember that it Is simply silly to treat
UGH an offense as in any way a con- .
emnation Of our policy. 1t is exactly
S in private life. 1t Is highly necessa- :
Y to punish with severity any default
ng bank cashier; but to treat such a
efalcation as reason for abandoning
ur banking system would be prepos-
erous. In organizing the new govern
1ent 1t is impossible to prevent an oc-
asional unworthy man from being put
I some position of trust which he may
buse. Probably the best way to pre-
ent 1t Is to give as much power as pos
ible to men like General Wood and
Judge Taft-men whose appointment
y the president has put all Americans
Tho are Jealous of their country's rep
tation deeply In his debt. All that can
e done in addition is both by law and
y the force of public opinion to visit