The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-11
!, The SeHU AN IDEA

=. IN his aQQTe eSS' DetoTe Lne 1SaIioAoi Aauut
cational Association yesterday President
j.. G. schurman of Cornell university
treated the subject of education In the
Philippines very broadly. He considered
it both in the narrower sense as system
and: in the broader sense as the general
enlightenment of a whole people. Il. K
> While the spaniards- did littlez for the
Filipinos inhproviding them with an ef-i
fective educational system, they did much
for them in a general educational sense
by Christianizing them. Being Christians
and being, therefore, to some degree, at
least. inbued with European civilization,
the outcome of the task undertakes by
.thes Americans Is not matched by the
problem of any other western nation con-
cerned IN the development of the orient
We have, to start with, a Christian people
with type Of social organization crudely
lem; too, we have adopted a theory that
is as different from that of other great
nations as our problem is different. We
have steadfastly refused to take the ad-s
vice Of Dutch, French and English colonial.
administrators and have gone ahead with
the Introduction of our own ideas and our
own institutions into the Philippines. Our
confidence that we can successfully intro
duce democratic institutions into the Phil
ippines has amazed our critics, friendly
and unfriendly. But one of them, Arch1-
bald Co1quohoun, has at least admitted
that if there is no precedent in our favor
there is none against us. We are making
a unique experiment in the Philippines.
We are boldly attempting to introduce
democracy into The orient.
Il The American school system as well as
all other peculiar American institutions
that are transplanted to the Philippines
will work toward this end. It could not
Ebe otherwise. Ourselves being democratic
and Believing in the rule Gof the people
we cannot keep from teaching our ideas
to other peoples, and, most powerfully OF
all, to people that for the time being IS
under our control. President Schurman is
right in foreseeing wonderful changes in
the Philippines as the result of the whole
sale introduction. of up-to-date learning
and methods of learning. The FiHpinos
may be 1modernized and Americanized
with wonderful rapidity. < # - .~
But that modernization and American
'ization will not make for aScontinuation
Of the present political status Of the Phil
ippines,. President schurman thinks. It
will make for absolutely. American meth
DDS Of government,-and that means inclu-
sion in the American body polite or ma
tional independence with the latter prob,
able. -, A. A.. = - =. II .4-sS% = ~ /.
The Journal = has deep sympathy
with President schurman's views. It is
not possible for the United States to
hold another nation in vassalage. If the
Filipinos-rneaning the Tagals, Visayans
and a few other tribes Of about the same
status, and leaving <the rest Of the. in.
habitants; of the Philippines in some such
category as, our American Indians-are or
are becoming real nation they must map
our their own destiny. At present we
must look upon ourselves as their guar
dians, as holding the sovereignty in trust
b for them, while preparing them to exer-
Cl6e IudC SONSACASlIy.t-. w . II1oSIs 1oOh LOl
ward-it would be unWise to set an exact
time--to the approach of the day when
we shall invite the Filipinost to- choose
their own road. 1t is probable that they
will choose either, to Incorporate them
selves intos the American nation, thus
completely escaping the odium that at
taches to the colonial condition, or be-
come a free and independent nation. It is
possible that they might elect to remain
in some such relationship to uss as that
Canada has to England. But whatever the
ultimate status lit will be one that the
Filipino people, ennancipated by American
arms, assisted and taught by American
strength and wisdom, shall freely elect.
With an Indictment to be faced some
people would hurry back and demand an