Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-05-29
OUR PHILIPPINE POLICY.

Senator Hoars Philippine policy as
given 10 Mr.. Walter Wellman, Of the
Chicago Record Herald, is very simple
lie would call together Agulnaldo, Ma
blni, Lopez, and few other leaders in
the war against the United States, and
say to them
1.-THE American nation turns over to
the people OF the Philippines the gov
eminent OF these Islands. You are 70
organize government making II az
representative as may be possible under
the circumstances. Upon YOU deyolves
the task of maintaining law and order.
We Americans viii withdraw our troops
and our authority, retaining only few
soldiers and military and naval sta
ton near Manila for the purpose of aid
ing you In your task. The United
States viii see TO II that no foreign
power interferes with you, II will, for
time, give you aid and counsel Now,
the opportunity, the authority, the re-
sponsibilty, ara youra. Go TO work
and create n Philippine nation"
He thinks that If they were given
an opportunity, they would call a gem
eral election, choose their parliament
and president and establish govern
ment. Then there would be no more
war, no more need Of an army or mill
tary operations Of any sort He can
see no reason why We should not apply
in the Philippines the same methods we
have followed so successfully In Cuba
an ordinance establishing limited suf-
frage, preliminary convention, an
election, d parliament, chief execu-
tive, government all under the guild
ing and friendly hand Of the United
States.
He believes that even the Filipinos
should make some recompense to the
United States for the money expended
on their behalf lnasmuch as we
bought sovereignty with $2O,OOOOOO, and
as we are giving that sovereignty back
to them. they should return the money.
Senator Hoar, in his comparison Of
American treatment OF Cuba 70 that
of the Philippines, forgets one import
ant feature It is this. that Cuba was
not granted Independence, unlil the ISL
and had been under American tutelage
long enough to enable the people to
take up the rein of self-government
with some prospect OF success. Had the
Filipino rebels taken he course the Gu
bans followed, the people Of the Islands
might by this time baye been prepared
for the policy recommended by the
senator But they chose hostility.
Those leaders mentioned are, for
aught We know hostile yet. Can this
country safely entrust the formation Of
a new Philippine government TO enc
mics Of the United states?
There can be no doubt that the Fill
pinos ought TO be gwen 90 understand
that the Americans came to llberate
them. ana that Independence Is the Ill
innate aim OF the occupation; whether
this Independence finally Is TO take
the form Of a government established
on a similar basis 10 that Of Cuba. or
independence as an American sover-
eign state, but at The same time, II
seems necessary not L. leave the island
ers under the impression that they
have conquered this country and COM
PEELED the Americans to withdraw. We
believe this TO be necessary for our
future relations with the natives.
II the Philippines IRE to be treated
as Cuba, the Fillpinos must first sub
NIT to the establishment OF civilized
conditions under American leadership,
as the Cubans ala. Then the time will
come for consideration Of what form Of
government is best suited TO their con-
ditlons,