Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-12-04

selves. sometimes consciously. sometimes
unconsciOusIy. toward this end. what
has taken us thirty generations to achieve
We cannot expect to see another race ac-
complain out Of hand. especially when
| large portions of that race start very far
behind 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 steadfast resolution. 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 governments. We hope to do
for them what has never before been done
for any people Of the tropcS-to make
them fit for self government after tho
fashion OF the really free nations.
History may safely be challenged to
show a single instance in which a master
full race such as ours. having been forced
by the exigencies OF war to take possess
sion of an alien land. has behaved to its
inhabitants with the disinterested zeal for
their progress that our people have shown
in the philippines. To leave the islands a
this time would mean :hat they would
fall into welter of murderous anarchy.
Such a desertion Of duty on our part
would be crime, against humanity. The
chara cter Of Governor Taft and of his as
sociates and subordirates is a proof. II
such be needed. Of the sincerity of our
effort TO give the islanders a constantly
increasing measure of self government
exactly as fast as they show themselves
fit to exercise it.. Since the civil govern
ment was established not an appointment
has been made in the islands with any
reference to considerations OF political in
fluence or TO auEht else save the fitness
Of the man and the needs OF the service.
Policy of Local Self Government
In our anxiety for the welfare ana
progress OF the Philippines it may be that
here and there we have gone too rapidly
in giving them local self government 1T
is on this side that our error, IL any.
has been committed. No competent OH
server sincerely desirous OF finding on:
the facts and influenced only by Il de-
sire for the welfare of the natives can
assert that We have not gone far enough.
We hnNe gone 10 the very verge of safety
in Fastening The process. To have taken
Il single step farther OF faster in advance
Hould have been folly ANA weakness and
might well have been crime. We are ex-
tremely anxious that the natives sha
show the power Of governing themselves.
We ate anxious first for their sak-s and
next hecause it relieves Us OF a great bur
den. There need not be the slightest fear
Of oar not continuing TO give them al. the
liberty for which they are tit.
The only fear is lest in our overanxirtv
We give Them Il degree OF Independence
for which thry are unfit. thereby inviting
reaction and disaster. As fast as there is
any asonable hope that in given dis
trict the people can govern themselves
self government has been given IN that
district. There is not a locality fitted for
self government which has not received
ii. But it nlaN wen be that in certain
cases it will have to be withdrawn he
cause The inhabitants show themselves
unit 10 exercise it. Such instances have
already occurred. In other words there
is not the slightest chance of our failing;
10 show 4 sufficiently humanitarian spirit.
The danger comes in the opposite direc-
ton.
There are still troubles ahead in the is-
lands. The insurrectiou has become an
affair OF local banditti and mara uders
who deserve no higher regard than the
hrigands OF portions OF the Old world.
Encourasement direct or Indirect. To-
these inSurrectos stands on the same foot
ing as encouragement TO hostile Indians
in the days when We still had Indian
wars. Exactly i'm is to give t.
the Indian who remains peaceful the
fullest and amplest consideration. but to
have it understood that We will show no
weakness II 10 goes on the warpath. 80
we must make it evident. unless We are
false TO our own traditions and TO the de-
mands 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 Fill
pino who follows the path OF the insurrec-
TO and the Iadrone.
The heartest praise is due to large
numbers Of the natives OF the islands for
their steadfast loyalty. The Mscabebes
have been conspicuous for their courage
and devotion to the flag. ! recommend
that the secretary of war be empowered
to take some systematic action in the
q = 80
are crippled in the service and the fam-
lies of those who are killed.
Philippine LeEislation.
The time has come when there should
be additional legislation for the Philip
pines. Nothing better can be done for the
islands than TO introduce industrial enter
prises- Nothing would benefit them SO
much as throwing them open to indus
trial development. The connection be.
tween idleness and mischief is proverbial.
and the opportunity to do remunerative
work is one OF the surest preventives OF
war OF course no business man will go
into the Philippines unless it is to his in
terest to do so, and 1t is immensely to the
interest OF the islands that he should 90
in. 1t is therefore necessary that the
congress should pass laws by which the
resources Of the islands can be developed
so that franchises tfor limited terms OF
business in them and every encourage
ment be given to the incoming Of business
men of every kind.
Not TO permit this is to do n wrong 70
the Philippines. The franchises must be
granted and the business permitted only
under rrsUia tions which will guarantee
the islands against any kind OF improper
eXploita tion. But the vast natural wealth
of the Islands must he developed and the
capita willing TO develop it must be given
the opportunity. The field must he thrown
open TO individual enterprise, which has
been the real factor in the development Of
every region over which our flag has
flown. lt is urgently necessary TO enact
suitable laws dealing with general trans
portation. mining. banking. currency
honestrads and the Use and ownership Of
the lands and timber. These laws will give
free play to industrial enterprise and the
commercial development which win surely
follow viii afford TO the people of the
isia nds the best proofs OF the sincerity Of
Our desire to aid them.
| call your attention most earnestly to
the CRYING tIe-d Of a ca BILE to Hawaii and
the Philippines. TO be continued from the
Philippines to points in Asia. We should
not defer d day longer than necessary the
construction OF such a cable II is de-
manded not merely for commercial, but