The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1902-01-10

y &W
not nc all downcast on account Of the
criticisms of the opposition press of the
country on the stand taken 10y him re-
garding the Filiplnos. The memorable
Interview regarding conditions in the
Islands was given early I'm October, and
that the doctrine euunciated therein
had the true Republican ring has since
been demonstrated by President RO0se-
welt In his message. The president
takes the same ground on which Con-
gresham Weeks firmly planted HID
self two months previous.
In his dealings with the Filipinos
Congressman Weeks believes that "the
greatest good 90 the greatest number
should be the animatlng principle, and
after a careful survey of the situation.
from an uuprejudiced, non-partisan
standpoint. he gave rs his belief, that
the Filipinos, speaking of them rs a
race, are unfit for Self-gOyernment
They are, really, only sayageS, covered
with very thin yeneering Of ciyiliza-
ton.
And President Roosevelt expressed
the same belief I'm his message 10 con-
greSs:
"The only fear is lest in our anxiety
we give them degree OF Independence
for which they are UNFIT. thereby inyit-
ing reaction and disaster. AS fast rs
there is any reasonable hope that IN n
given district, people can govern them
selves self-goyernment has been given
them. There is not "A locality fitted for
self-goyernment which has not received
IL. But IL may well be that In certain
cases il will have 10 be withdrawn be-
cause the inhabitants show themselves
unfit 90 exercise Il such instances have
already occurred. In other words,
there is not the slightest chance of our
failing 90 show q sufficiently human
itarian spirit. The danger comes in the
opposite direction"
Mr. Weeks also said In this interview
that 10 is going too far To trust the ma
tives by placing firearms In their
hands. They are treacherous people
who accept a kindness as an evidence
of weakness and fear. The proper
government for them, therefore, is one
of strength, which they will fear-in
brief. q military government. As TO
the best 10 be done for the islands
President Roosevelt says in his mes
sage:
"In our anxiety for the welfare and
progress of the Philippines, il may be
that here and there we haye gone too
rapidly in giving them local self-gov-
eminent. IL is on this side that our
error, IL any, has been committed. No
competent observer, sincerely DESTROYS
OF finding out the facts and influenced
only by desire for the welfare Of the
natives. can assert that we have not
gone far enough. We have gone 10 the
very verge OF safety IN fastening the
process. To have taken n single stop
farther or faster In advance would
have been folly and weakness, and
might well have been crime. We are
extremely anxious, that the natives
shall show the power Of governing
themselves. We are anxious first for
their sakes, and next, because 10 re-
lieyes us of a great burden. There
need not be the slightest fear OF our not
continuing 20 give them all the liberty
for which they are fit."
As 10 our attitude toward them the
message says we must "show both pa.
thence and strength, forbearance and
resolution. Exactly as our aim is 20
give TO the Indian who remains peace.
| ful the fullest aud amplest considera-
ton, but To have IL understood that we
will show no weakness IL he goes or.
the war path, so we must make IL Ell
dent unless we are false 60 our own
tradition and TO the demands OF civili-
cation and humanity, that while We are
doing everything In our power for the
| Filipino who Is peaceful, We will take
the sternest measures with the Filipino
who follows the path OF the insurrectO
and the ladrone.
Another evidence OF degeneracy on
the part of Congressman Weeks, accord
ing 90 the opposition papers, is his
statement that he thinks IL wrong 20
send our educated and refined young
women TO the Philippines 20 teach In
the schools on the island. Better,
says Mr.. Weeks. employ the discharged
soldiers" There is not I'm the House
OF Representatives n more thorough
student OF the wants Of these people
than Congressman Weeks. His opin-
ions as 90 the Philippines and the Fill
ipinOS was formed only after n careful
painstaking study and investigation
and with clear understanding OF the
fearful responsibility of the United
states as masterful race being com
PEELED by the exigencies Of war 60 taks
possession OF an alien land.
Instead OF an argument % prove his
unntness as n representative OF an en-.
lightened, progressive people, his IDEAS
as 20 our best policy In the Philippines
- prinaa tsoAe evidence nat 10 10 ne.