Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-28
Congress and the Philippines.

Congress cannot aQJOufu WltHout passing
the Philippines tariff bill and salve its con-
science by pointing to the emergency ap-
preparation Of 100000 and the enactment
of the currency law for the islands. Those
measures are aids Of course, in the restora-
ton of prosperity to the archipelago, but
they do not touch the vital spot in the sit
uation. The emergency appropriation will
merely help to tide part Of the people
over their Immediate difficulties by giving
them work on public improvements. But
100000 among the 100000 people OF
the islands is little more than the tradition
al drop in the bucket 80 widespread Is the
distress and 30 insistent are the needs OF
the inhabitants. The currency legislation
affords the basis for stable business condi-
lions when those conditions are evolved out
of revived trade And thus everything goes
back to the necessity to infuse life into
trade and to start going once more the
thwarted industries of the islands, which for
months have been awaiting the quickening
touch of fair tariff legislation
The Presidents message to Congress on
this subject should produce a prompt re-
suit, and yet conditions at the Capitol do not
warrant a confident expectation that 1t will
do so. The houses are tied up In ugly
snarls over one question and another and
apart ITOm til0 VI Iic hibPRahCS
tariff legislation there are serious obstacles
to It's passage. In the Senate the obstinacy
Of those few men who hope to defeat the
canal treaty Is seriously choking the leg
islative channels. while In the House the
fillbuster of the democrats on a contested
election case has wasted much precious
time.
So serious are the conditions In the Phil
ippines, indeed that without reference to
other parts Of the urgent legislative pro-
gram, which are threatened with defeat In
this Congress the President would be jusd-
fled in summoning the houses In extra ses-
sion to enact this law alone. 1t would be
outrageous If the United States. in the full
light Of knowledge that the people of our de-
tendency are in danger Of starvation, their
industries in danger of Generalization and
ruin, their hard-won allegiance to the new
sovereignty threatened now neglects it's
duty and leisurely permits the months to
pass without action to relieve these con-
ditions
The United States has undertaken the
task of administering the affairs Of the
Philippines Islands presumably in spirit
OF justice and generosity and good faith. 1t
has already done much toward putting those
people on higher plane of civilization. It
AdS given tHelu SCuOOlS Wuoi0 DelOT6 tLey
were without means of sef-improvement.
1t has given them honest administrators in
the place Of rascals. 1t has practically re-
moved the most serious cause Of popular dis
content, the great religious societies which
Slapped their strength. 1t has instituted
public works for the development Of the
islands and the encouragement Of their in
dustries Thus far its work has been ex-
cellent, worthy of world praise. But to
stop now. leaving the islands without fair
market, the Industries choked into a state
of profitless over-production. the people
deprived OF normal employment. would be
to omit the keystone of the great structure
of American sovereignty and menace the
whole work with ruin.
1t Is due to the country's honor and to
its material welfare, and the security of its
soldiers and the happiness of the parents,
wives and children of the men who are sta
toned there in the archipelago that this
simple act of Justice be done to the Fill
plnos. the omission Of which, 1t may with
out exaggeration be feared. Is likely to fos-
ter spirit of revolt and to precipitate anew
the tedious, costly, deadly work Of pacifica-
tion. In this eleventh hour. with many
interests clamoring for recognition In both
houses. with partisan and fractional feeling
running high. there is no palmer duty than
thu enactulant OF this bill