The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-08-03
SCHURMAN ON PHILIPPINES.
PRESIDENT OF CORNELL TAKES
NEW VIEW OF SITUATION.

Inc 4uSsttOns w men nave Seen so
Much Discussed Now Rest with the
Past-American Sovereignty Is an
Established Fact and the QGestiOn
Is Now to the Future of the
FiIipinOs Under Our Guidance.
Whether They VIII Earn the
Right of Complete SeIf-GOvern-
ment Must BE Determined by
Them.
Chautauqua, N. Y, Aug. 2-The
principal address at the Chautauqua
Schurman of Cornell University on
The Philippine Problem" AS Presi-
dent of the first Philippine commission
and close student of the question
since, President Schurman was in po-
sition to discuss the matter at first
hand. He contended in opening his
address that the question of sover-
eighty and other matters, which had
attracted chief interest and caused so
much discussion, had been definitely
decided and were no longer issues in
the case. American sovereignty over
the Philippines has now been complete
~ established by the results in the
Islands, the action of Congress and
the consent of the Filipinos themselves.
Aguinaldo has been eliminated from
the situation and the Presidents atti-
tude toward the conduct of certain
members of the army in the Philip
pines has met with the seal of public
annrOV91 Tho
the future of the Philippines, not the
past, and their development in the
path of civil self-government which
mas been opened to them by this coun-
try. The results, Mr.. Schurman con-
tended, depend largely upon the Fill
plnos themselves and their ability and
readiness to take advantage of the op.
portunities afforded them.
certainly am satisfied with the
actlon OF the President and Congress
IN regard to Philippine affairs" said
ne. Everything l ask for the Fill
plhos In my Boston speech of January
last, which was severely criticised by
lmperlalists, has been granted to them,
with the exception of gradually in
creaslng home rules eliminating in in
dependence when the Filipinos desired,
and were fit for independence, which
by the very terms of the proposition,
SHOWS luSel1 matter, not for the
present, but for the future.
Il have always attached the greatest
Importance to the grant of a native
legislative assembly. That organiza-
ton gives the $4,000 Christian Fill
plnoS of Luzon and the Visayas an
instrument for the expression of the
sentiments of their nation, and for the
control of their government. The fact
that we have established such leg
lslature refuteS forever the libelous
talk of those Christianized and civil
lied Filipinos being comparable to
Sioux or Apache Indians. 1t recog-
nizes them as a nation, like the Gu
bans, the Venezuelans, or the Chilians
NO such legislature has, apart
from Japan, ever been granted to any
ASlatlc people. The imperialiSts who
wanted US to govern the Philippines
as England governs India, or Holland
governs Java, see instead the Ameri-
can principle of the consent of the
governed embodied in our first organic
law for the Philippines. Even if the
second chamber of the Philippine
Legislature We're entirely American
and suppose it viii not be-no law
can be passed, no appropriation of pub
lie money made, without the equal
concurrence of that legislative assem-
bly, of elected Filpinos.
Il believe that President Roosevelts
attitude toward the Philippine ques-
ton indicated in his first message to
Congress, and in his Arlington speech,
his punishment of army officers who
have been proved guilty of cruelty
toward F'ilipinos, and his constant
support of a liberal and enlightened
Philippine policy in general combined
with the passage by Congress of the
Philippine civil government bill, will
have the effect of eliminating the
Philippines as a political issue for at
least three or four years. Even those
who favor independence cannot raise
the question till that native legisla-
tive assembly has voiced the senti-
ments of the F'ilDinos on the subject,
and also demonstrated by wise and
prudent use of the legislative powers
it enjoys that it is fit to receive a
larger grant of home rule.
I'VE have planted government with
the consent of the governed in Asia.
The Philippines are thus not a colony,
but an incipient sister commonwealth
The colonizing nations of Europe
pooh-pooh our experiment. Heaven
grant it may be a case of liberty en-
tightening the world. Certainly the
grain of mustard seed will grow. Ger
tainly the Filipinos will in time insist
that the principle of the consent of the
governed receive a broader and fuller
application. But I repeat that their
destiny is now in their own hands
Their friends in America can do moth
ing but support their efforts The Fill
pinos may, however, take confidence
from the fact that the promise and
potency of every political good is con-
tanned in that principle of the consent
of the governed which has, germnally
at least, been extended to them.