Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-20
A CURIOUS PARADOX
Strange Case Of Witness and
Advocate J. G.. SChurman.
FACTS VS.. OPINIONS
WHAT HE SAW AND HEARD DE-
sTRoYs HIS THEORY.
An Advocate of Anti-Imperialism, He
Testifes in the Same Breath
for Imperialism.
NO. /.

of Cornell University. the president also of
the first Philippine commission, is con-
sp1cuous figure. Among the anti-expan-
sion leaders he is doubtless entitled to the
most consideration. He speaks concerning
the Philippines with the authority of one
VINO has seen with his own eyes and heard
with MS own ears, and who consequently
knows-and in this regard he at once at
tracts public attention as striking excep-
ton to the rule Of practical non-acquaint-
ance with the subject which seems to pre-
vail among recent anti-expansion orators
BY virtue of his former official connection
and his present views, Mr.. Schurman has
now become -he oracle Of the anti-imperial-
lists, who reverently quote his words in
public and private discussion
Analysis of Schurman's utterances dis
Closes curious paradox. While he is the
advocate of anti-imperialism he is a wit
ness for imperialism. He went to the Phil
1pp1nes an opponent of the acquisition OF
the archipelago, and he is now an enthu-
siastic advocate Of its abandonment But
his testimony concerning what he saw and
heard in the islands. and his deductions
made on the spot on the basis of his ex-
perlence and personal observation render
him a most effective witness against the
now upholds.
An interesting and significant feature of
the Schurman paradox is the fact that he
recognizes no lack of harmony between the
dual and conflicting personalities of Wit
ness Schurman and Advocate Schurman.
He treats his case as one of the evolution
OF an anti-imperialist whereas 1t Is OBJ
F1ously one of revolution If he had stated
that Wfat he thought and said while COM
missioner In the Philippines was under the
stress, perhaps to some extent uncon-
sclous, Of sense Of official obligation and
responsibility, and that now when he was
released from the governmental yoke and
could think and speak untrammeled in pre-
else accordance with his Individual inclina-
tions he viewed things in a different light.
his position would be readily understood
His imperialistic critics would be dis
armed, and could use against him only in
effectively his repudiated expressions. For
every American has the inalienal right.
frankly admitting a previous mistake, to
change his mind.
But Schurman does nothing Of the sort
On the contrary, he reaffirms vigorously his
testimony concerning the facts and condi-
tions falling under his observation in the
Philippines, and indorses with renewed en-
Pi'e9AS tiiS oouIluueSS OIL lne conclusions
which he expressed two years ago on the
basis Of this personal knowledge Where
his opinions have been altered he attributes
the notifications exclusively to changed
conditions as indicated by the statements
or supposed statements of other men
Under these circumstances the public will
take the liberty Of comparing Schurman's
evidence with that alleged to be furnished
Dy these other ha o{to
forming its own conclusions as a result of
this comparison, even when that conclusion
differs from the one reached by Schurman
himself. The net result of this procedure
Is to indorse Schurman as an honest and
reliable witness and to discredit him as q
logical reasoner upon the evidence in the
case.
There is no purpose Of raking over half
forgotten utterances Of Schurrnan to sus-
tain against him the trifing charge Of
ordinary human inconsistency His case is
unique In single address delivered by
him at Cornell University as late as Janu-
ary, 1902, he makes a complete revolution
like an acrobat who leaps straight upward
In the air and after turning perfect
somersault lands with his feet upon the
precise point from which he started-all
the time protesting that he has not stirred
from his original position for an instant
reversed himself. He begins as an anti
lmperlallst In opinion, he proceeds as an
imperialist in act and thought, he con-
cludes as an anti-imperialist advocate of
"scuttle.' A study of the various positions
assumed by him on this occasion and of his
declarations in each CT his successive atti-
| tudes constitutes in itself a liberal educa-
ton in the varied phases of imperiaist and
anti-imperialist opinion.
Schurman as an Imperalist Witness.
In this address Schurman reaffirms his
opinions Of 1899 concerning the duty and
necessity of maintaining American soy
ereignty; and repeats that he rightly view
ed such sovereignty as an established fact
and would not permit the subject OF inde-
pendence even to be discussed by the in
surgent Filpinos He stigmatizes the Fill
pinos in arms at that time as rebels" In
| fluenced not by patriotism, but selfishness
and the spirit Of brigandage. He declares
that while there was among the educated
Filipinos ian Insignificant fraction of the
| entire population) a desire for ultimate in
| dependence after an indefinite period Of
American tutelage, speedy independence
was impossible and not desired; that there
| was no Filipino nation; that diversity of
| races anu tongues lOFDaQe the Spirit or ma
| tionality; that there was no public opinion
no aspiration among the masses for indie
| penderce. and no interest among them in
| the insurrection.
| American sovereignty over the Philip
! pines having been established by treaty
| was a fact which was no longer open to
discussion by Filipinos in arms. And in
| meetings of the commission with them i
| always ruled that question out of order and
| refused to permit any speaker to debate it, -
/ THE Tagalog insurgents and their Philip
| pine republic did not represent the inhabit-
| ants of the Philippine Islands, but only a
| minority OF them
| For these reasons and also because Aeui-
naldos men were rebels in arms, we insist
ed that the recognition Of American sover-
I eighty was the first condition Of peace"
| THE leaders perceived that under Amert-
| can sovereignty they would enjoy greater
| liberties than they had ever dreamed of un-
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