Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-05-23
THE PHILIPPINES QUESTION.


The speech OF Senator Hoar Of Mas
sachusetts, synopsis of which ap-
peared In the News Of Thursday
evening. was listened TO with close at
tentioD by members Of both the great
political parties, In the galleries ana
on the floor Of the Senate. His address
occupied two hours and half, and at
the close the applause was so great,
that the presiding officer interposed
with the rule forblddlng such demon
STATIONS.
The long experience and undoubted
sincerity OF the venerable Senator en-
title his views to a respectful hearing
and close consideration. They were
expressed, too, without those violent
and extreme denunciations that have
caused so much excitement, In other
speeches delivered on the same side OF
the subject. But looking at them In u
critical but disinterested light, we must
say that some OF his conclusions APP
pear to be based upon an Insecure
foundation.
We cannot regard the Cuban and
Philippine questions as either Identical
or parallel The United States entered
upon the war with Spain for the pur-
pose Of lberating Cuba, and with the
ayowed intention Of giving that island
the independence which has been Sc
cured to 1t. The Philippine Islands
fell into the possession OF the United
States as a consequence Of that war
II would have been very poor. poll
icy on the part OF this government. at
ter the Spanish war was ended, 10 leave
those islands either open TO the grasp
OF any European power or TO inter-
necine hostilItles for conquest and m.
pine by the most powerful and fero-
clous of the different tribes in that mr.
chipelago, The situation was new to
this republic. A new policy therefore
had 10 be inaugurated. Even the most
vehement advocates OF liberty for the
Fllipinos had to admit that our troops
could not be safely withdrawn, until "a
stable government was established In
the islands.
The conflict between certain tribes
Of the natives and the United States,
was precipitated By hostllties on the
part Of the former. and whether they
were caused by a misunderstanding OF
the purpose of this government or from
the spirit which had prompted resist
ance TO Spain for several generations,
II became absolutely necessary TO vim
dleate the authority of the United
States, and to compel submission TO
regulations for the establishment OF law
and order. All this constitutes an es-
sential difference between conditions
In the Philippines and those In Cuba.
The Monroe doctrine TO which Sena-
tor Hoar alluded was maintained. as
he admits, in the course pursued by
this government as to Spanish rule In
Cuba. That island is intimately asso-
clated with this republic and may be
fairly considered as American soil. The
Philippines are remote from this con-
tinent and occupy very different po-
sitlon, geographically and politically.
The Monroe theory was enunciated IN
reference TO the American continent. |
and forbade the intrusion Of European
powers on this domain. II has no ref |
erence to such questions as that which |
was evolved from the spanish-AmeH-
can war. The eloquence Of the Senator
on this point Is couched In brilliant an
tlthlses which sound well IN declama-
ton, but they fan to impress the ana
lytical mind eager for the truth IL
the Monroe doctrine was, az he de-
clarcs, indicated IN Cuba. Il does not
follow, in view OF the differences IN the
situation. that it has been violated In
the Philippines.
The idea that the principles enunciat-
ed in the Declaration Of independence
are to be cast aside by the American
people. Il the measure for ciyil gov
eminent IN the Philippines becomes o
law. we cannot but regard az far
fetched and falacious The very pur-
pose In view Ia the substitution OF the
'.vli in place Of the military authority
n those islands Is to pave the way for
he prevalence Of those very principles
which some good men and wise poll
lcians seem TO believe are TO be tram
led upon. II is for their ultimate
riunph that these preparatory steps
re undertaken Their immediate en-
oymcnt must be predicatcd upon pres
mt fitness. and capability to exercise
he rights aud liberties involved there
n.
No rational persons would contend |
hat the Indians, on American soilwere
apable OF enjoying the liberties held
% IA that sacred instrument. The Fill
olnos. It Is true. are, many OF them,
iuch farther advanced IN the scale Of
utilization than the aborlgines Of this
ontinent But there are IN the archi-
clsgo hordes Of serni-barbarians, unfit
present for that freedom aud self }
overnment which is desirable Tor all
ations. These win doubtless come to
EN- in time and the civil government Z
be established under the flag OF the {
nited states is designed to '-"d them / !