Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-20

Tense of which against rebels 1t has ex-
pended so much blood and treas sure
Schurman renews 5thex;axsertion that In
1880 speedy Independence was undesired
and impossible. and VI loHhe urges that
independence be Immediately granted be-
cause practicable nddestred.
Why this reversal of attitude? Have the
conditions disappeared which in Schur-
mans opinion in 1899 prohibited inde-
pendence for i geneTtidhAt ieaste
Has the ''undefinedH es American
training which was f1ecede Philippine
independence been EN- by the Fslipinos?
Is there less Of Ignorance and political in
experience" among them, or a reduction of
the multiplicity Of languages" or of the
EMERGENCIES or culturs and-mode of life?
Have the obstacles ELECTROMAGNETIC
been removed? Is there less of poverty,
internal weakness and lack of conference?
Have the ancient rivalries and jealousies"
Of the Visayans, Tagalogs. vicois and Ilo-
canos been obliterated?> Is there a single
military leader now whose government is
acceptable to all? Is there political or
ganization now-for lack Of which in 1899
independence could not be conferred?
There being no Philippine nation In 1899;
Is there one today? Have the masses Of
thO PSop1SJ iuuHIeEeHI lO-tiiS- luSuEESCllOn ia
1899. when the Philippine republic was in
nominal existence and the Fighting force OF
the instruction was strongest. been stirred
to patriotic interest and enthusiasm and
to the development of national sentiment
by the dwindling guerrilla warfare of the
last few years, conducted by men whom
Mr.. Schurman denounces as rebels" ban
dts" men lacking patriotism and fighting
Sh nnfi
others rather than go to work?
A Miraculous Transformation.
Schurman is Of the opinion that this
change Of conditions has been wrought and
he cites as witnesses. In opposition to or in
modification Of the testimony furnished by
himself. Gov. Taft. who testifies to increas-
ing Filipino unification on American lines
and to growing fitness for American self
government through the influences of
peace: and Gen. Chaffee who is summoned
to show Filipino unificatiori on -anti-Amer-
lean lines through the welding influence of
war. These two witnesses are obviously
contradictory. since they represent the Fill
pinos as developing in precisely opposite d.
rections. But the civilian evidence Is
quickly dropped and practically the whole
burden of responsibility for Schurman's
conversion is placed upon the unconscious
Chaffee.
cerned. IL 1t existed in 1899. this conscious
ness of nationality is today so manifest
that Gen. Chaffee has declared or
Is reported to have declared. that the ma
tives of these islands are all traitors to
American sovereignty: an have their hearts
set on independence. = I did not ex-
pect as early as 1902 to learn from the
commanding general that, under the ham
Of md the a & ri ha yxya1d
Ing of these diverse peoples into COM
mon nationality had been eonsummated."
A fact or condition which Schurman
could not discover. and did not discern,
and which Chaffee does not now claim to
see, Schurman insists that Chaffee perceives
and unconsciously asserts. and Schurman
thereupon modestly yields as witness to
Chaffee's superior powers Of perception.
Schurman insists that Chaffee's reports.
like those of Taft. demonstrate his own
contention. whatever their own personal
views In like fashion the public now in
sists that Schurman's reports and speeches,
just reaff1rmed by him. demonstrate the
unsoundness Of his present contention,
whatever his own personal views" He is
used as a witness in spite of himself and
against himself, and his testimony utterly
destroys his conclusion.
The scathing words with which Schur-
man denounces the selfish, bbigands who In
1899 killed the philippine republic" and OBJ
stinately continued guerrilla .hostiities have
already been quoted. 4 Thesel are the men
who have. in Schurman's opinion. conduct
ed the unifying. patriotic war which since
1899 has developed a nation where none be-
fore existed.
schurman's theory is that the spirit of
{,,<o tI,~e 80
ality. which was not created In the war
against Spain In defense of the Filipinos'
lives, their wives and daughters and their
property, which vas not aroused by the
one pitched battle Of the army of the
philippine republic" against the Ameri-
cans, has been brought into being by the
steadily diminishing brigandage OF those
who, according to his own reaff1rmed testi-
mony. murdered the philippine republic
in the spirit of "a selfish and remorseess
tyranny" who turned their weapons
against their own countrymen and enact
ed an unparalleled and "unholy carnival
Of militarism. despotism, brigandage, cruel
ty and wholesale intimidation of peaceful
and unoffending Inhabitants" and whose
Opposition to the establishment Of Amer
lean sovereignty has proceeded not so
much from the patriotism Of the people as
from the selfishness of individuals, from
the lust of military power and oppression
and from the spirit of robbery and bril-
gandage."
Note the scope Of the miracle! Years Of
obstinate struggle in defense Of life and
home and family against military and &C.
clesiastical oppression failed to arouse a
national sentiment and to weld the diverse
Filipinos together. But selfish brigands by
systematic murders and robberies Of their
fellow countrymen have excited In them
the fine, strong spirit" of Filipino nation
atty! The natives were apathetic and In
different when all were united in the COM
mon defense against a foreign oppressor;
but have now been aroused to patriotism
by the burials alive. the flendshly devised
and ruthlessly executed tortures visited
upon them. not by foreign foes, but their
fellow countrymen "the insurgents still in
arms" Thus the exterminators of the
Philippine republic the cold-blooded
murderers Of unonending Filipinos become
the creators Of this spirit Of PhiIfpnine mo-