Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-07
4 lssuE.

Democratic leaders generally seem 20
have come 10 the conclusion reached
some time since BY Senator Vest Of
Missouri, that It is useless now to dis.
cuss Philippine policy. There are a
few who would like to keep this cues
ton as an issue before the people, but
they are getting little encouragement or
support from their political associates
and undoubtedly WIN soon drop the sub
ject as one u OF which no political
capital Is to be made. The democratic
national congressional committee APP
pears to be giving the Philippines no at
tention and the democratic newspapers
are ignoring ii. Even the Boston anti.
imperialists seem TO have become weary
OF it.
The opponents Of the governments
Philippine policy had derived some en-
enlargement from opinions expressed by
the head Of the first commission sent to
the archipelago. President Schurman Of
Cornell. but his latest utterance affords
them no comfort In an address a few
days ago he said 1t is idle now to dis
cuss the wisdom or the unwisdom of
our acceptance OF SPANS cession Of SOW
ereignty over the archipelago. 1.-THE
fact Of our sovereignty Is lndisputably
established both by the force Of treaty
and the force Of arms" He believed
that the course Of President Roosevelt
and the passage OF the Philippine civil
government bill viii 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
legislative assembly provided for by
congress has voiced the sentiments Of
the Filipinos on the subject and also
demonstrated by wise and prudent use
Of the Legislative powers it enjoys that it
is At to receive a Earger grant Of home
rule" President schurman favors
eventual Independence for the Filipinos
II they shall demonstrate their capacity
for it and he said they can hasten in
dependence. II they wish II, ''by So
berly addressing themselves to the high
task Of participating on equal terms
with Americans in the general govern
ment Of their archipelago. Meanwhile
and till after the Inauguration Of that
Philippine assembly. in 1904, the Philip
pines will disappear as an issue in
American politics"
There is nothing In the situation for
the politicians who have antagonized
the policy Of the party in power. Peace
prevails in the archipelago, the civil
authority is supreme. trade is improv-
ing, there is no complaint on the part Of
the people, the measure passed by IN
gress for the government Of the islands
has been well received by those Fill
pinos who have the intelligence to un-
derstand 1t, there is favorable promise
Of the settlement of the friar question
without friction. The policy pursued
has had results which the great ma
jority Of the American people are well
satisfied with. The falsity Of the
charge Of imperialism has been dem
onstrated by the liberal provisions made
by congress for civil government in the
Philippines, giving the natives partici-
patton in their government. In such
circumstances the wiser and more saga
cious democrats see the expediency Of
abandoning the Philippines as an Issue
in the congressional campaign and 1t is
safe to say that little will be heard Of
~ $1,000.