BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1902-03-05
SAN JUAN, MARCH 5
1dt's Plan For Governing
The PHILIPPINES

The PHILIPPINES.
Speaking for all the members Of the Phi
lippine Commission as well as for b mself.
Governor TAFT, outlined the following plan
for governing the Philippines:
First-A qualified suffrage, with grad
sstion in the English language pr crosses
and knowledge of American institutions was
acquired.
Hecond-Tke institution, within rea
Bonably short time, Of local legislature, to
consist of two bodies, one to be chosen by
vote and the other to be appointlve.
Third-Permissio for the islands TO send
two or three representatives to Washington.
In explanation of this plan Governor Taft
said that to grant independence now would
be to consien the uneducated people Of the
islands, aobo constitute 80 per cent of the
: entire population, to the same servile posi-
ton they held under Spanish rule. They
would be turned over to an absolute oligar-
chy, since they have no idea of civil govern
meEt; many of them do not know tho differ :
ence between independence and dependence,
and education in self government is neces-
sary. to make them capable OF it. He
thought there should be a declaration on the
part of the United States of its intention to
hold the islands indefinitely, with the ud-
dsrstanding that when they are suitable to
such condition quSsi independence may
be given them.
The critics of the administration who
have been clam0ring for declaration OF
purpose by the government have now sohe-
thing to consider in that direction. That
they will like Governor Taffs plan IS not to
BE- expected. Most OF them are for imme
diate indeper dence without regard to con
sequences, OF, as Senator Money says of the
FiiIpinOs: tsLet 'em go to the devil and
take care Of themselves But fully so per
cent. of the American people do no take this
view Of our duty as nation in regard to the
Islands, so that the clamors of the other 10
per cent. need not be considered seriously.
An overwhelming majority of the Amer.
lean people will say Amen and godspeed to
Judge TAFT in the sentiment which he eX-
presses in outlining his plan.
81 did not originally favor the acquisition
Of the Philippines, and / was sorry at the
time that We got them but, now that we
are there, see no other way than to 60 on
and carry out the plan that have su ggest-
ed. / may be Mark Tapley in this matter
bat If I didn't believe that We could bring
these people out regardless Of the fact that
the feat zoe propose is to an extent uuprece
dented; il / did not believe we should sue
ceed in doing what We are undertaking to
do, ! should resign Immediately and come
hCme.n
Judge Taft is neither . "qaittern nor
sss:uttlef,n and in his determination to make
the best Of the situation, to do his utmost to
help his country to solve wisely and success.
fully new problem ferced upon it by the
march OF human progress, he is 10 harmocy
with that irresistible American sentiment
which believes that our nation is great
enough and powerful enough to accomplish
Any task to Which il sets its hand. The
s'antisn do not share this sentiment they
think 1t sav0rs Of {. spresdeagleism ., !. In
g0ism0 and imperialism, but none the less
Il 10 the sentiment shicb is mightiest in the
land and which has carried and will conti-
nue to carry everything before it in both pi :
iitics and government.
Could any plan for the government Of fhe
Philippines be more in accord with plain
common sense than that which Governor
TAFT propeses3 AS he says, he soas himself
An ann-lmperIallst 80 Tar ss acquisition of
the islands was concerned, bat be accepted
the inevitable when the treaty of Paris wss
ratified and this country thus assumed sove-
s1eiEntY over them. He has been in the is-
lands for two years. He has not only studi.
cd their conditions and their people more
closely than sim ss aay other man, b
Ia has undOubtenly visited mora nafts n,