Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-06-16
THE FUTURE OF
THE PHILIPPINES

Speaking of the possibility of ulti-
mate independence for the Philip
pines the New York Tribune says that
'at every stage the Republicans have
kept the ultimate disposition of the
Islands an open question"
This is statement of fact In the
highest degree creditabe to the Re-
publican party and in 1t lies rebuke
to those Democrats and socalled an
ti-imperialists, who have contended
that the Republicans are waging a
war of pure conquest against the
Philippines. and that, from solely sell
fish motives they intend to place the
islands under subjection to the United
States as an imperial possession.
Some of these Democrats and anti
! lmperialsts were indignant when the
supreme court of the United States
decided that congress possessed the
power to place the islands In so dis
tinct position relative to this coun-
try that the constitution would not
extend over them.
But the position maintained by
the Republican party and in the deci-
sion of the supreme court lies the
hope of ultimate Philippine independ-
ence. We do not believe that Repub-
lcans are any more desirous OF gov
erning subject colonies or imperial
possessions than the Democrats are.
but they recognize the duty which lies
before this country and they intend
to discharge 1t fully and completely.
The Republican party has kept the
question of Independence open and
has refused to extend the constitution
over the archipelago. BY so doing 1t
has prevented that complete absorp-
tion which, once accomplished, could
not be destroyed without a violation
of fundamental American rights
Every well informed man must ad-
NIT that there Is no power under the
constitution by which state could
be expelled from the union and its
people derived of the rights and priv
ileges of American citizenship. The
only way In which that could be
achieved would be by an act OF revo-
lution. Hence. II the constitution had
been extended over the Philippines, as
some OF the Democrats demanded, II
could never be withdrawn against the
Will or without the consent OF the
people of those islands Only by de-
nying the Filipinos the rights of
American citizenship at this stage has
the way been left open to turn them
loose and give them independence un-
der a government and flag OF their
own at some future date
In this the Republican party has
placed the nation under debt OF
gratitude which can never be dis
charged. 1t has by keeping the ques-
tion Of the ultimate disposition of the
Islands open rendered possible the
achievement at some future time of
the independence of the Phil
lppines for which the anti
imperlalists" have clamored, but whic
by their benighted course would have
been forever defeated.
The Republican party has thus vim
dicated Itself as the party OF wisdom
and far-reaching insight into the frl-
ture. Even II it should be claimed
that all these phases OF the problem
were not clearly discerned at the out
set, the fact remains to the credit Of
the Republicans that they refused to
take an unnecessary and possibly.
compromising step. By proceeding
with the caution and deliberation
which We're so characteristic OF Presi-
dent Mckinley's whole Official life,
they avoided the blunders into which
the Democrats under the leadership
Of Mr.. Bryan would irretrievably have
fallen. With like caution they pro-
eeeded In framing the bill for the civil
government of the islands, and we can
not doubt that in. this they also will
be vindicated by the verdict of his
tory and the development of events
Denver Republican.