The Irish standard., 1903-02-14
Not Single Man in the Archipelago is
in Favor of Establishing
Yankee Colony.
The Idea of independence is the Fixed
Determination of all the
Little Brown Men.

ence; the question is, what are we
to do with it?
This Is the supreme and all-import-
ant Philippine problem. And it is
now coming to stand out clearly be-
fore the mind Of the American people
uncomplicated with cognate questions,
which in recent years have stirred
mems passions and distracted their
judgments. The storms are past and
the curtain now rises serenely upon
the third and closing act of our short
Philippine drama. The American peo-
pie were divided over the policy of
taking the Philippine Islands from
Spain. They were divided, a second
time. over the proposal to turn the
archipelago over to Aguinaldo and the
Philippine republic. do not know
how the gentlemen in this audience,
or even the speakers on this platform
thought and voted on these issues.
The issues themselves are, however,
buried, and there is now no profit in
reviving them. Perhaps, however,
you will permit me to recall my own
position. 1 opposed taking the Philip
pines from Spain, feeling strongly
that we were not called upon to recti-
fy the tyrannies of Asia. But having
taken them, opposed turning them
over to Aguinaldo on the ground that
u speak of the year 1899, when our
commission made it's official report)
Aguinaldo did not represent the Phil
ippine nation, to whom 1 thought the
archipelago belonged. But while the
American people were divided on
these two opening phases of the Phil.
fppine question, cannot persuade my
self that they will be divided on the
final issue which now confronts us
the policy Of dealing with the Filipin-
os as we have dealt with the Cubans
and granting them speedy independ-
ence.
What else can we do? There is but
one alternative. 1t is the use of force
to keep the Filipinos in subjection.
/ Now, as temporary expedient, force
may be justifiable; but as permanent
policy it is the feeblest and most un.
certain thing in the world, while of
all instruments it is the most odious,
the most revolving, and the most
Calling to the spirits on whom it is
exercised. BY force the Filipinos may
be worried and harassed; but force
will not mitigate or destroy their un-
conquerable love of independence
Nor could I possibly be convinced that
the American people desire to break
the spirit Of the Filipinos. for it is
the same spirit that has made Amer
lea.
But men ask in incredulity: Shall
we give up the Philippines Have
we, then, swallowed them up? 1 had
thought we. were holding them as
guardians during the political pupilage
of the Filipinos. Shall a trustee give
up the child's property when the child
becomes of age? But really this ques.
ton: Shall we give up the Philip
pines? betrays a curious state Of
mind, which we must probe little
deeper. Which is the more important.
the Filipinos or the Philippines? OF
course, persons, you answer, and not
property. Very well, then, the ques-
tion was wrongly put. 1t is not, Sha"
we give up the Philippines? but, Shall
we give up the Filipinos? Are we.
then, holding the Filipinos in bond
age? II so. undoubtedly we should let
them go forth free men. Hence is the
true state of the case: The Philip
pines belong to the Filipinos; we
hold the islands as guardians and
trustees pending the political pupilage
of the Filipinos; when they set up
for themselves they will resume title
to their property, and it is our duty
at the earliest possible moment to
grant them their independence. Shall
we give up the Filipinos? Why, as.
suredly we shall. just as we give up
our children when they are capable
of caring for themselves.