The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-06-27
Commencement.
Continued from Page IL

May the blessings of God be with
you throughout your entire life.
THE POLICY OF THE U. 8. IN THE
PHILIPPINES.
BY FRANK L. STAN D0NNRLLY.
Since the capture of the Philip
pines by the United States, the
Question, what disposal shall be
made of them? has been perplexing
the minds of our foremost states.
men.
The Philippines were discovered
by Spanish voyagers and named
for Philip the Second. On May 1st
80, Admiral Dewey, under orders,
captured Manila, and the islands
were formally brought under con-
troll of the United States. Since
that time they have been constant
source of debate in congress-, and
the question that mas arisen is:
What policy must the United States
pursue in dealing with them?
She must pursue policy of JUS
tice and honor, in order that no blot
mar the fair fame she has thus far
acquired and maintained. Now,
what would be just disposition of
the Philippines? Would annexa-
ton be just and beneficial to the in
habitants, or would it be the more
honorable course to throw them
upon their own resources, to let
them toddle about as a child
learning to walk alone, to stagger,
to fall, and eventually be picked up
by some European nations?
The first course certainly would
not do. 1t would in no wise bene
fit the United States, for, as it is, she
receives 81 per cent of the exports
from the Philippines against Sc per
cent received by all other countries.
On the other hand, not one Filipino
out of every six favors dependence
upon the United States. Their pass
word is independence or annihila.
tlon-naking it necessary to main
tain large standing army. Such
atrocities as the water cure, and
other horrible fortunes would be
be used; by cruel means they might
be forced into unwilling submis-
sion. Would it be honorable to
win by these methods? Would the
boosted American integrity remain
intact?
The Philippines would in the end
be overcome; but,in subduing them,
the United States would lose the
one thing necessary to all great and
good men, necessary to all great
and good nations; i. e., character.
Losing character, our glorious ma
ton would go downtown from
her lofty position of honor and in
tegrity to position recognized by
none of the virtue-loving nations.
1t is ever so. Eschines was talent
ed; his Grafton against the crown
ing Of Demosthenes was mastery
production, delivered with effect.
Indeed, so great we're it's merits
that, when he afterwards, as an ex-
lie, delivered it before a Rhodian
audience, they were astonished that
it had not won for him his cause.
1t fell upon his former hearers like
chilling blast because he was the
hireling of Phillip-therefore with
out character. Napoleon swept
like destroying angel over almost
the entire eastern world. evincing
splendid military genus. The be-
wildered nations gazed in silence
while he turned, according to his
fancy, all to success. But, though
he could oppose the hidden plans
OF opposing generals, he could see
only one road to immortality
path through battlefelds and
marshes wet with human gore; a
path along whose length the wild
ow's wall made music for his
marching hosts. He is fallen; over
his tomb no mourner weep. Talent,
genius, power, he had: Character
he had not.
But, that our glorious country
may have both influence and un-
ending praise, let her inspire the
admiration Of all nations and hold
it by the purity of her character
She can do this in no better way
than by an honorable solution of
the problem before her.
We may readily see that annexa-
ton would not be a good plan, and
the immediate recognition of the
independence OF the Philippines is
impracticable. The people have
had no experience in law-making
and government-building. More
over, they have an inefficient school