Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-12-04
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.
The Policy Of Holding Them Has
Been Vlndicated.

On July 4 Jast. on the one hundred and
twenty-sixth anniversary of the declara-
ton Of our independence, peace and am
nesty were promulgated in the Philip
pine Islands. Some trouble has since
from time to time threatened with
the Mohammedan Moros, but with the
late discretionary Flipinos the war
has entirely ceased. Civil government
has now been introduced. Not only does
each Filipino enjoy such rights to life,
liberty and the pursuit OF happiness as
he has never before known during the
recorded history OF the Islands, but the
people taken as whole now enjoy
measure OF self-gOvernment greater than
that granted to any other 0rientals by
any foreign power and greater than that
enjoyed by any other orientas under
their own governments, save the Japan
ese alone. We have not gone too far in
granting these rights of liberty and self
government; but we have certainly gone
to the limit that in the interests Of the
Philippine people themselves 1t was wise
or just to go. To hurry matters, to go
faster than wesare now going, would en-
tail calamity on the people OF the Is
lands. No policy ever entered into. BY
the American people has indicated IT.
self In more signal manner than the pol
ley OF holding the Philippines. The tri-
uhPH VI ObA athSt apVVo ah Wv ~
umph of our laws and principles has
come sooner than we had any right to
expect. Too much praise cannot be
given to the army for what It has done
In the Philippines, both in warfare and
from an administrative standpoint in
preparing the way for civil government:
and similar credit belongs to the civil
authorities for the way In which they
have planted the seeds Of self-govern-
yunut In tho ground thuu m ada randy for
them. The courage, the unfinching en-
durance the high solderly efficiency,
and the general kind-heartedness and
humanity of our troops have been strik-
ingly manifested. There now remain only
some 1900 troops in the Islands. All told.
over 100000 have been sent there. or
course, there have been individual In
stances of wrongdoing. among them:
They warred under fearful difficulties Of
climate and surroundings; and under the
strain of the terrible provocatlons which
they continually receive from their. foes,
occasional instances Of cruel retaliation
occurred. Every effort has been made
to prevent such cruelties. and finally
these efforts h We been completely sue
cessfu. Every effort has also been made
to detect and punish the wrongdoers.
After making all allowance TOR these
misdeeds, 1t remains true that few in
deed have been the instances In which
war has been waged by civilized power
against semi-civilized and barbarous
forces where there has been so little
wrongdoing by the victors as In the Phil
ippine islands. On the other hand, the
amount Of difficult. important and be-
neicent work which has been done Is
well-ngh incalculable.
Taking the work Of the army and the
OWL authorities together, 1t may be ques-
toned whether anywhere else in modern
times the world has seen better exam
pie OF real constructive craftsmanship
than our people have given In the Phil
ppine Islands. High praise should also
be given those FiRpnos, IN the aggre-
gate very numerous, who have accepted
the new conditions and Joined with our
representatives to work with hearty
good will for the welfare Of the Islands.
urgently call your attention to the need
Of passing bill providing for general
staff and for the reorganization Of the sup
ply departments on the lines Of the bill
proposed by the secretary Of war last year.
from West Point they probably .stard
above their compeers In any other military
service. Every effort should be made, by
training, by reward of merit, by scrutiny
into their careers and capacity, to keep
them Of the same high relative excellence
throughout their ca.%sr=.
Inc National U0as~.
The measure providing for the reorgani-
Iation of the militia system and for secur-
ing the highest efficiency In the national
guard, which has already passed the house,
should receive prompt attention and ac-
tion, 1t is of great importance that the re-
latlon Of the national guard to the militia
and volunteer forces of the United States
should be defined. and that In place of our
present obsolete laws a practical and eff
tclent system should be adopted.