New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-01
FREEDOM FOR FILIPINOS.
PRESIDENT SCHURMAN URGES lNDE-
PENDENCE LIKE THAT OF CUBA IN
ADDRESS ON IDEALS AND DC
TIES OF THE REPUBLIC."

Boston, May 31-The ideals and the Duties
of the Republic the subject Of the address
delivered by Dr. Jacob Gould Schurman. presi-
dent of Cornell University before the delegates
to the thirty fifth convention of the Free Re
ligious Association of America to-day. The
sessions were held in Colonial Theatre, Edwin
D. Mead presiding. In the course of his ad-
dress President Schurman devoted himself
largely to considering the situation in the Phil
, ippines, where he the head of the first COM
mission. In part he said:
No American, l venture 10 assert. would ever
have recommended voluntary departure from this
policy of continentasm which four generations OF
his fathers had pursued with sucn eae4s
quences. which are generally unforeseen and not
result of the war with Spain we found ourselves in
Many Of you u may think otherwise but for my
part wish to say that unless the American peppiS
been Willing to leave the Philippine Islands under
or r ST to %
than aspe m I9r wa there
fore, in my judgment. dictated by the force OF CIT
cumstances to which any other statesman OF apli,
made Substantially the same response. Nor has
the Philippine policy Inherited from his predecessor
for until this year has tile instruction been
SUI tha5 it IS saeed the grsat sSa Issue w
do with the pacfed archipelago, This question
has many aspects. but at present | am looking at
which has hitherto animated and shaped the life
Of our republic Netnng thus far done co 4nI in
politics practical necessities If they are but tenn
porary and recognized temporary. are readily y
recognized principles The Fundamental quesuThn,
present point Of view is this Snail we peT 6
retain the Ph1ppine isiands 40 no sseTiine that
If the nation decides for the permanent re6ento a
IDEAL Of contentasm which to put It modff ira af
he ing
history glorious. If our enforced incursion into
pTepared in abandonng the IDEAL Of
ism for foreign attacks on the Monroe tbs aaId
Of diplomacy and international law So lon long re as
of the World there Ra h Kind Of equity in the
claim of the Monroe Doctrine that America was
fail to recognize VIII it not be much more re- d az
& to keep se Am a5 y, r eehe er
ritorlal possessions in the very zone OF nternaiona
eontinentaiIsm? No graTer issue has confronted
nation since the close Of the Civil war. ~. al,
low them to themselves in t their own wa s
take your time; have guarantees for the rn,
ment of your pledges to Spain and to the "1 }i3
Your army and navy and civil administration: only
let the Fpnos know that When al these arantees
as YOU devised the external defence and inter
h prt 9t the uSans to institute indie
pendent republic Such 6I p pon3n wt
ments OF peace but there will be no peace LOT
refuse 70 believe that the American people vii
W@rid Or In ' the New the PrHepIss of ii9sT5y
Sa n" oFe p had Am9ean sn late
dent Mckinley-a noble spirit whom IL was ny
without being drawn to him by the cores OF az
miration and affection Well President Mckinney
this subject in speech delivered in Chicago just
a6 a h 9se of 4f h6 n the ou nsd
States should increase its territory but that 9R-
and In lofty accents he declared that SPLEEN
did victories would be our eternal shame. and not
OF our original lofty purpose or to the deserton
81 IS These T immortal prnc
pies contained in the Declaration of indie
ers from the consent Of the governed Is the sub
stance ana essence OF them All To violate ms
according to President Mckinley. be our eternal
Al any BATE It Is the Philippine facts Of 1902 and
American peope are noS c ., Cd mon 70 deal FoS
m ny / have no new principle TO adduce NY
cation Of the archipelago: secondly. the political
Organization. with representative institutions OF
and the visayas: and thirdly such ever increasing
might demand. Including Independence when they
wanted and were reasonably fit for independence.
in 1893 the recognition OF Aguinado and his Tagalog
republic SO today when the 65oocoo civilized and
are united and animated by national const
tuition. in facor OF transferring to them. under
such safeguards as the Republican party devised
for the republic Of Cuba. the sovereignty which We
now hold in trust those islands The report OF
the first Philippine Commission states that the
Filpinos who favored American sovereignty looked
forward to ultimate independence. And a govern
ment for the Filipnos said, has chance to
stand unless II is adapted to what they want. and,
not least what they think they entitled to have
and enjoy For my own part ! can say that in all
| have said written about the political
future Of the Filipinos have been guided primarily
by the ideals. aspirations ana conditions of the
Fipinos themselves. Some of my colleagues the
commission were: as is known from their other
writings. thorough mperialistS. But | steadily
fused to recommend the retention OF the archi-
peago the ground of advantage to the United
States, first because I always thought IL would be
a burden rather than benefit (Which is the view
also expressed by Governor Taft), and, second
ly. because such a ground OF American policy
seemed a shameful violation of the principles
of our own government, and brutal outrage
6.50O000 brother men and fellow Christians in Luzon
and the Eisayas.
l repeat then that the fundamental and con-
trolling fact in the Philippine situation of today
is that 65ooooo civilized and Christian Fipinos of
Luzon and the NiSayas have their hearts set
rational independence. We may stop the wagging
of their tongues, but cannot stop the workings
of their hearts and minds. And why should
want to? 1t is all tragic mistake. Why deny the
Fipinos the liberty and independence have all
delighted to confer upon Cubans?