Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-01-30
Prof. Schurman Defends the Free
dom of Spaech.

Prof. Schurman Defends the Free
dom of Spsech.
Prof j. G. Schurman of Cornell
University, head of the first Philippine
Commission, whose recent remarks in
u public speech in Boston SO stirred
Gen. Wheaton as to draw from him
the assertion that if uttered in Manila
they would result in his imprisonment,
thus replies to Gen. Wheaton's criti-
cism, in letter to the New York
World:
| said in Boston that if the Christian
Filipinos of Lazon and Nisayas wanted
independence and showed themselves
fit to use it, / believed the American
people would grant it, as our object
in taking the Philippines was purely
humanitarian.
Gen. Wheaton is reported to have
said that in the Philippines men have
been sent to prison for such remarks
as these. If that be true ii is the
saddest and most discouraging truth
that has come to us for long time
from the Philippines. Without free
dom of speech civil government will
never win the support Of the Filipinos.
do not know what Gen. Wheaton
had in mind when he said that my
policy would mean the expenditure of
much treasure and the shedding of
blood like water. for the fact is that
the policy | outlined would put an end
to both these evils.
Gen. Wheaton wants $4,000 soldiers
for five years and then colonial
government based on those which
England and Holland have framed for
Oriental races. But Gen. Wheaton =
communicative chief, President Roose-
welt, said in his message to Congress
far more than any other nation had
were to fit them for government
after the fashion of the really free
nations.
l am with President Roosevelt and
against Gen. Wheaton. And | go
further and say that as the American
people have not yet passed upon the
| question of final Philippine policy,
| it is as proper for me to advocate
eventual Independence as for Gen.
Wheaton to recommend colonial servi-
| tude like that of Java or India.
1t may be added that the policy ad-
vocated by Gen. Wheaton is the policy
pursued by Great Britain with respect
| to the American Colonies, and against
the vigorous protests of the great Earl
| of Chatham and other leading public
men of England at that time. Yet
William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, was
not sent to the Tower of London and
| imprisoned for his utterances. On the
contrary he lived to see his predictions
| justified by the results, and to add to
his protest against Great Britain IS
infamous injustice towards the Ameri-
can Colonies, his almost dying protest
against the final surrender of her fair
possessions on this side of the At
lantic. Pitt was opposed to losing
the American Colonies, but he was
also, from the outset, opposed to the
oppression that drove them to revo.
luton.
1t will also be suggested that the
policy that Gen. Wheaton advocates
has been pursued for nearly four years.
and that little has been accomplished
towards the absolute subiugation o.
the Philippine people, despite tbs
marked disparity in power and re
sources of the contending parties, Anc
as the record shows that in It's Philip
pine operations the great government
of the United States has descended
to the oppression Of patriotic anc
liberty-loving people to tho recognition
of slavery and polygamy in trcatin!
with one of the native chiefs of tn
islands, and, finally, to the adoption
, of the miserable, cowardly and crue
policy of concentration, who can sa
that the moral victory today does no
rest with the people of the Philippine
!, who are still struggling valiantly TO
!, the cause of freedom, and not wit
/ their conquerors and oppressors?
/ Gen. Wheaton's plan has proved
!, miserable failure, and has brought re
: proach and disgrace upon this country
Why not give Prof. Schurman's plan
trial?