The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-03-20

NJ to a statement of opinion
by President Schurman.
of Cornell university, on
the duty of the United States with ref
erence to the Philippines. 1t has inter-
est from the fact that it's author not
only is one of the men whose opinions
on any subject are entitled to weight,
but also because, as the chairman Of
the first Philippine commission, he has
had exceptional opportunities for form
ing an accurate opinion in this matter.
1t may seem presumptuous to differ
in opinion from Il man so well quail
fed as he is to speak with authority
on this subject; but we detect what
impress us as at least two flaws in
DIR. Schurman's line of argument. The
first of these is his statement that the
development of American trade with
the Philippine archipelago and the i'm
provement of the opportunities of in
dividual Americans in that archipelago
do not depend and would not be pro-
NOTED by American sovereignty. This,
on its face, looks unreasonable. Ameri-
would mean the full protection of every
American right there. This would not
necessarily mean the sacrifice of any
native right or foreign right; but it
would mean that American capital
could invest itself in lawful Philippine
developments with thorough assurance
of projections; and that American en-
terprise, when it had worked out prob
lens in the islands to the advantage
of both natives and those exhibiting it,
would be free from. petty annoyance
and confiscatory eXactions. The Amer
lean flag would mean in the Philip
pines just what it means in Porto Rico
law. order and fair play That would
be to the manifest advantage of all
concerned
The'second point of weakness which
we View in DR.. Schurmans argument
is his endeavor to promise ultimate in
dependence to Il people who have not
yet laid down their arms. 1t is use
less to parley with the man who holds
a pistol at your head. In parts of the
Philippines armed resistance to even
that degree of supervisory and educa-
tlonal American authority which Dr.
SchuIman admits is now necessary in
the Philippines, and which the logic of
his admissions shows will likely he nee
cssary for Il great many years to come,
continues not. perhaps, so forcefully
AS in former months, but still strong
enough to require the services of IA
large army of occupation which has
its hands full chasing and capturing
predatory guerilla BANDS and breaking
up tendencies toward resistance in
mass Now if the matter of independ-
cnce is concededly something not to be
effective until IL remote and indefinite
time in the future, why complicate the
difficulties of the present with it's pre-
mature consideration? A homely old
saw recommends one hurdle ut a time;
whereas, DR.. Schurman impresses us
as wishing to leap them all at once,
beginning with the one furthest off.
The fundamental error i'm his whole
article is lack of faith in the underly-
ing fairness and righteousness of the
American people. Their sons and
daughters in the generation when this
now academic problem of the final dis
position of the Philippines shall be-
come vital can safely be trusted to do
what is right, Any attempt TO tie their
hands now would be both inexpedient
and also, in all probability, Intellectual.
We do not expect, and we certainly do
not wish, to live to see the day when
The American flag shall be hauled down
from where Dewey and Merritt hoisted
it, to make way for any other emblem
either now in existence or yet unborn.
When the Filipinos become better ac-
quainted with 1t we have no doubt that
they will learn to feel the same way.