The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-02-21
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY Fl, 1902
TAFT POINTS H WAY.

Gratis who have read Governor Taft
that to let the Philippines go to tn
devil would be the proper and correc
method for this country to pursue il
regard to them. The governor, i
will be observed, is outspoken in ref
erence to the manner in which he
formerly regarded the question of the
was opposed to it, but since we have
them he favors keeping them and has
confidence in the nations ability tc
carry out it's plans Of reclamation
and regeneration. He admits that the
task we have assumed is a hard one
and without precedent, but for al
that he is sanguine as to the future
and believes that only patience and
time are required to crown the under.
taking with success.
The fact that the islanders have
been for centuries under the inf1u.
'ence Uf the Christian religion causes
him to consider them in a different
light than the other Malay races and
with the spread of education and the
>civilizing and %elevating influences of
American institutions to guide and
'contrM them he believes the dawn of
ihflter times is not far off. He shows
his faith by his works, declaring that
if he did not firmly believe that event
ually we should succeed in accomplish
ing what we have undertaken he
would resign at once and return
to the islands. Governor Taft is show
ing himself possessed of the right
spirit and the position he assumes is
in marked contrast to that Of the dem
ocrats and other little Americans. He
sees the difficulties with which we
have to contend, but is too loyal and
patriotic to turn his back and quit
the field. No n better than he I'M
derstands the conditions existing in
the islands and no one more fully than
he appreciates the magnitude of our
self imposed task of regeneration. but
with the sublime faith of a patriot in
the Justice of American laws and the
righteousness of our undertaking he is
willing that we shall proceed and
bring to the as yet benighted ones in
those far off islands the blessings of
own institutions and fit them for
participation in the affairs of govern
ment. Because this canot be done in
a dav, a month or ever a year he is
unwilling that we shall quit the field
and permit chaos and anarchy to take
the place of law and order and with
<~cowardly mien retreat and confess to
the world our inability to carry. out
what we have attempted. He recog-
niZes the duty we owe to the world
and avs we shall discharge that duty,
regardless of the cost and the opposi-
ton we encounter at home.
In the replies and suggestions of
Governor Taft the democrats who are
so fond Of asking what Lincoln would
do were he president may take their
answer. Lincoln was never known to
turn his back. He faced every crisis
that arose. and proved himself an
American under all emergencies. He
would not shirk the present responsi-
bility and accept democratic advice.
He would not withdraw our troops
from the islands and give the Filipinos
independence when they are not in a
condition to govern themselves,
neither would he deny the protection
to life and property which we guaran-
teed to give when by treaty we assum-
ed sovereignty over the archipelago.
He would do as Governor Taft de-
clares we must do-make the best of
existing conditions and continue the
work we have undertaken, conscious
that in the end the right will prevail
and that only justice and liberty are
possible wherever the American flag
floats.