The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-05-04

what was to be the ultimate purpose, of
the Republican party with reference to
the Philippine Islands.
That is the burning question, not onlv
il this country, but in the Philippines.
And yet when their bill comes in--and |
am not going to discuss its details-it
contains only about six pages with refer
ence to the civil government of the is
lands, although 1t is a bill of a hundred
pages and bears the rather proud title
of "A bill temporarily to provide for the
administration Of the affairs of civil gov
eminent in the Philippine Islands. and
for other purposes" 1t would have been
better If it had been entitled "A bill
for other purposes than the administra-
tiOn of civil government in the Philip
pine Islands"
The only thing in the bill which indi-
Gates in any way the ultimate purpose of
the Republican party with reference to
these islands is that provision of it for
the taking of a census. In the census pro-
vision of the bill we are informed that
this census is to be taken for the pur-
pose of enabling us to ascertain whether
these people are ready and fit and capa-
He of self government. Mr.. President
the majority of the committee we'll knew
the capacity of no people for self-gov-
eminent can be ascertained by censuses,
and when the Republican party contented
itself with providing for a census it
simply put in what We lawyers know in
the court house as a dilatory plea, some
thing to answer the demand of the peo-
pie here and in the Philippines to know
what they proposed to do with these
people and their country.
Mr. President so far the Commission
has confined it's efforts toward estab-
fishing civil government, to organize the
civilized and Christian provinces. 1t has
not established nor attempted to estab-
| lish a government of any sort in the Mo-
| hammedan, or Moro, and uncivilized
provinces, such as the Sulu group and
| Mindanao Although these Moros are
| said to be pacified and the people friendly
| to us, no serious attempt has beer made
| to bring them Under our control. No
| serious effort has been made to stop
| rolygamv or abolish slavery among
them The Sultans are still there. In
deed, some OF the Sultans are said to be
| upon our pay roll. They and their sub
chiefs, datos, are in control. The gov
| eminent which we found there, modelled
after that of Turkey and submitted to by
| Spain because of the fierce and warlike
character of these people, still continues
/ under our sovereignty.
! How long are these abhorrent condi-
lions to continue? What is the remedy?
Tie Commission tells us the remedy is
education AMI training in government
and that it will take generations before
these people will voluntarily give up
/
| capable of self government. Perhaps the
| Commission is correct in its estimates
and predictions, and eventually, after the
| lepse OF generations, these people may
become enlightened freemen, but / do
not believe it. l do not believe these
methods will accomplish these results in
generations or centuries, it, indeed, they
will ever accomplish them.
In the meantime, Mr. President, the
| government which exists in these semi
| barbarous provinces exists by our acqui-
| essence by our sanction and implied con-
| sent 1t is under our flag, under our
| sovereignty. We are responsible for it.
In a large sense it is our government
If We cannot give up the Christian
provinces without violating our national
obligations neither can we give up the
| Moro provinces without violating cur ma
| tional obligations. Our responsibility is
| the same in each case. For myself. |
want to say if every Christian province
and island in the Philippine archir elago
were pacifed and Republican govern
ment established in them and in success
full operation. and they Were in easy ac-
cess instead of 1000 miles away, and
their trade ten times greater than it, is
l had rather see them and their trade
gone from us forever than to have the
American flag, the emblem of our sover-
! eighty, float over and give it's countenance
| to the conditions which exist in the Min
danao and Moro group. or have this
| Government even by acquiesCence, seem
| to sanction such conditions.
MI President. We are told these is
lands came to us rs a result of the war
and that the American people will not
consent to give them up. Perhaps that
| is true. Rut why do we want to keep
! them? Why are we not willing to re-
| linquish them? Are we Influenced by
considerations of duty toward the people
| of the islands? I do not believe that.
nor do I think that anybody else believes
it. l do not believe there is anywhere
among our people disposition to as
|
! dens not already imposed by our national
| obligations. Convince the American peO-
| pie that we are spending from seventy
| five TO one hundred million dollars a
year and sacrificing the lives and health
of our soldiers simply to teach the Fill
pinos the art of Republican government
! to better their material, intellectual, and
moral condition and the demand for the
retention of these islands will cease. We
| will hear no more talk about destiny,
duty and national obligation.
| The truth is, and everybody knows it,
we want these islands for purposes Of
exploitation, for purposes of commercial
advantage. The people have been led to
| believe if we keep them we can coerce
their trade and by one device or another.
| force them to buy our goods; that it
means 10000, 900 more customers for our
mills and factories. and that it opens a
| gateway to the markets of the Orient.
| Such is the general impression, and this
| is largely, if not altogether the inspira-
! tion of whatever sentiment exists in IA
| vor of the retention of these islands. 1t
| is a matter of trade, of markets for
| goods. This, I am sure, is the view taken
of it in my State, and l believe else