New-York tribune., 1901-12-04

ateriaI
and efficiency has been attained in the fhiiippie
than ever before in their history
II is No light task for a nation to achieve 'ne
tenperamentaI qualities without whlch ihe in
tions of free government are put an empty M
erv Our people are now successfully goVerhihs
themselves because for more than thous'ih"
,o,rs they have been slowly fitting themselves
sometimes consciously, sometimes unconsciousis'
toward this end. What has taken US thli'S e
erations TO achieve. we cannot expect 10 see ''i
other race accomplish out Of hand, especially "he
large portions of that race start very far Deiiu
tho noint which our ancestors had reached even
thirty generations In dealing with the
nine people must show both patlehce an"
strength forbearance and steadfast resolution our
ain, is high We do desire to do for the island
orc rnereIv what has elsewhere been done for
tropfc peoples by the best foreign govern
ments We hope do for them what has never
before been done for any people Of the tropics-to
make them fit for self-government aiter 'he ia'ho
of the really free nations.
History may safely be challenged 10 Sho"
single instance In which masterful race such as
ours having forced by the exigenc1es OF war
to take possession of alien land, has pehaVeo
70 its inhabitants with the disnterested zeal for
their progress that people have shown In the
phi1inpnes To leave the islands at this unie
would mean that they would fall into weiter Oh
murderous anarchy. Such desertion OF duty on our
part would be a crime against humanity. Inc
character of Governor Taft and of his associates
and subordinates is proof, If such be needed OF
the sincerity of effort to give the islanders
constantly increasing measure of seIf-goVerhIhei''
exactly fast as they show themselves III u
exercise it. Since the civil government was esIdo-
lished not an appointment has been MADE III the
islands with any reference to CONSIDERATIONS % VI
political influence aught else save the fitness
of the and the needs of the service
In our anxiety for the welfare and progress Oh
the Philippines. it may be that here and there we
have gone too rapidly in giving them local self
I is
any has been committed No competent observer.
sincerely desrous of finding out the facts and IN
huenced only by a desire for the welfare OF the
natives can assert that have not gone far
enough We have gone to the very verge of safety
in Fastening the process. To have taken single
step further faster in advance would have oeen
folly and weakness. and might well nave oeen
crime. We extremely anxious that the natives
shall show the power of governing themselves
We anxious first for their sakes. and next De
cause 1t relieves of great burden. There need
be the slightest fear of our not continuing TO
give them all the liberty for which they are fit
sELF-GOvERNMENT
The only fear is lest in our overanxiety give
them n degree of independence for which they are
unfit. thereby inviting reaction and disaster AS
fast there is any reasonable hope that in
given district the people can govern themselves.
self government has been given in that district
There locality fitted for self-government
which has not received It, But it may we'll be that
in certain il will have to be withdrawn be-
cause the inhabitants show themselves UNIT TO
exercise IT; such instances have already occurred
In other words, Is not the slightest chance OF
our failing 10 show sufficiently humanitarian
spirt The danger comes in the opposite direction.
There are still troubles ahead in the islands.
The insurrection has become an affair OF local
handitt and rnarauders. who deserve no higher
regard than the brieands of portions OF the Old
World announcement. direct or indirect. to these
insurrectos stands on the footing as en-
couragement to hostile Indians In the days wren
we still Indian wars Exactly as our aim Is 70
give to the Indian who remains peaceful the fullest
and ampIest consideration, but TO have II nnder-
stood that we will show no weakness II he goes
on the warpath. so must make it evident, unless
we are false own traditions and to the de-
mands OF civilization and humanity that while we
will do everything in power for the Filipino
who is peaceful will take the sternest measures
with the Filipino who follows the path of the in
surrecto and the ladrone-
The heartest praise due large numbers OF
the natives of the islands for their steadfast
loyalty The Macabebes have been conspicuous Tor
their courage and devotion to the flag. recon-
mend that the Secretary OF War be empowered to
take systematic action In the way OF aldihS
those of these men who are crippled In the service
and the families OF those who are killed
The time has come when there should De ad-
durona1 legislation for the Philippines Nothing
better can be the islands than 10 introduce
industrial enterprises. Nothing would beneht them
so much as throwing them open to industrial de-
veIopment The connection between idleness ana
mischief Is proverbal. and the opportunity to do
repaneratIve work is of the surest preVentrVes
Of war. or course, no business man VIII go into
N. PbilIppnes unless It his interest to do
and It Is immensely the interest OF the islands
that he should go In 1t is therefore necessary
that the Congress should pass laws by which the
resources of the islands be developed; so that
franchises Qor limited terms OF years. can oe
granted to companies doing business in them. and
every encoura cement be given to the incoming OF
. business men of every kind.
Not to permit this Is to do a wrong to the
Philippines The franchises must be granted and
the business permitted only under regulations
which will guarantee the islands against any kind
Of improper exploitation But the vast natural
wealth of the islands must be developed, and the
capital willing develop it must be given the op-
portunity The field must be thrown open to IN
dviduaI enterprise which has been the real factor
IN the development Of every region over which our
flag has flown is urgently necessary to enact
suitable laws dealing with general transportation.
mining banking currency, homesteads and the use
md ownership Of the lands and timber. These laws
will give free play Industrial enterprise; and the
commercial development which will surely follow
will afford to the people of the islands the best
proofs of the sincerity of desire to aid them.
TRANSP4CIFIC CABLE.
call YOUR attention most earnestly the cry
ing need of a cable to Hawaii and the Philippines,
tn be continued from the Philippines points in
Asia We should not defer a day longer than
necessary the construction of such a cable. 1t is
dema nded not merely for commercial but for polit
cal and military considerations.
Either the Congress should Immediately provide
eor tho construction of government ca ble or else