The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-05-04
We Cannot Hold
The Philippines
Continued From First Page.)

am satisfied that at present they are,
with very slight exceptions, utterly ins
capable of understanding or applying the
principles of free republican government
according to American standard and
ideal. More than that, | am satisfied
that they are by heredity incapable OF
understanding or applying these princ1-
Piles. 1t has taken ages to develop from
the best possible material people en-
tirely fit for constitutional freedom.
Many enlightened nations are still un-
equal to that condition.
1t is the high privilege Of America to
inculcate the doctrine of mans capabili-
ty for self government, but we recognize
the limitations and conditions that could
render IL expedient to establish repub-
lican form of government among people
not prepared for it.
Mr. President, We have had some ex-
perience in this country in trying to
train by education an inferior race
race which has never shown any initia-
tive in self government. in the practices
and principles of our constitutional sys-
TEN. For thirty years the negro has
been not only member Of a self-govern-
ing community, but participant in that
Government During that time millions
him and to fit him for the duties and re-
possibilities of American citizenship.
Those who are most familiar with the
result know that he is today but little
better prepared for an intelligent and re-
sEonsible discharge of those duties than
he was in the beginning If he has made
any Improvement or progress in that re-
gard it has been exceedingly slight. The
nd nf
der our constitutional system seem to
he a thing beyond the capacity of his un-
derstanding The defect in his case is
not to he overcome, IS the experience or
the last thirty years shows, by education
or by training, and the reason is OBVIOUS.
Ii is a defect of heredity.
The system of laws which the Taft
Commission has promulgated and is at
temptine to enforce in the Christian and
pacified provinces of the Philippine ar
chipelago was framed in recognition of
the present incapacity of those people
and of their inherent lack OF those quail
ties and virtues without which success
full self government is not possible.
Governor Taft and the Commission
frankly admit this. Their hope and
theory is that these defects may be over
come by training and practical educa-
ton through object lessons in civil gov
eminent In my judgment there is moth
ing to justify this hope either in our own
experience or in history. and the result
will be disappointment and failure.
7 do not desire to enter into any harsh
criticism of the Commission or OF the
government that they have established
there. but do want to say, with refer
ence to the government that they have
established there the I'M American, the
W I'M Republican, the despotic, the arbitra-
w. the tyrannical system of government
that they have established there, and
which | assume they have established
not from choice. but because. from their
knowledge of that country and its people,
they were satisfied they could not be
governed with safety except by arbitrary
methods is strong evidence. and to my
mind conclusive evidence, that those are
not a people to be taken into the body
of our citizenship.
1t is somewhat of a depression from
my purpose, but l want to say in this
connection-because it seems to be the
fit place in which to say it-that l have
no disposition and have not had any dis
position to criticise our army OF occupa-
ton in the Philippines. | have wanted
to believe we'll of our army; | have
wanted to believe that they were con-
Quoting the war there according to the
usages and laws of civilized warfare.
Early in this session. when I heard these
charges of cruelty, Of barbarity. of de-
vastation. and of inhumanity against our
army there, I confess frankly I was not
disposed to believe them, and in private
conversation i repeatedly expressed the
opinion that the American people would
not believe such charges against our
army unless they were established by
tie most indubjitable proof. | even felt
rssentful.
But, Mr.. President. the developments
OF the last few months have dispelled
any doubts about this matter and con-
strained and coerced me to believe
tho Sc charges. At first there was dis
position to deny the horrible practice
known as the water cure. Now nobody
any longer denies that it was practiced,
not sporadically and in individual in
stances, but Systematically and by au-
thority. There is not now any DISPOSE
ton to deny the charge of unnecessary
burning of villages and towns. There is
no denial of the charge of reconcentra-
tion of helpless women and children,
PROBABLY not quite DIS Ddu dS lhc iCSoh-
centrado of the bloody and cruel Weyler,
hut still in most cruel and Objectionable
form.
But, Mr.. President if there were any
doubts about these charges of cruelty.
and barbarity, and inhumanity on the
par. of our army they have all been dis
pelled by an order issued by one in au-
thority, by one who. until recently, has
stood high in the army and in the estima-
ton of the country. by one who had
right to issue orders by one who had
right to demand obedience to his orders,
and obedience to whose orders has been
held sufficient justification for murder
by an American court martial.
That order, Mr.. President, was mill
tary order. a military command, to go
into the island of Samar and there MUIR
der and kill-for it cannot be called by
any other name-every person capable
of bearing arms, beginning almost at
the Grade at the age of TO- and going al
most TO the grave. There is no other or
der recorded. Mr.. President. in all his
tory which parallels this order. except
that of Hercd the King, when he dirt ct
ed that all the children who were in