Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-08-28
LESSONS FROM BcRNEo,

General Leonard Wood has been
down in Borneo studying British meth
DDS Of dependency government. II Is
said that his journey has been profitable
and he has learned much that Is Of
value. The benefit OF his observation Ia
TO be given the Philippines. May his
highest hopes be realized
The government OF the Philippines
thus far has been purely military, with
some notifications here and there This
was but natural for while the islands
came to us by treaty with Spain, with
them there came a great rebellion, one
that had been going on for n number
OF years and which Spain was power
less to put down. The consequence was
that the United States had to conquer
the island, and after the conquest gov
ern them as such, There was nothing
else to be done. But military govern
ment Is naturally repugnant TO the
American people, and the g'sat task
OF those administering affairs In the
Islands has been 10 find substitute for
such government There Is now a COM
mission and civil government, back of
all OF which stands the military, With
out the military, instruction and rebel
lion would very soon supplant what
ever Of civil government there is In the
Islands. TO change all this and make
the Flllpinos truly peaceful and salts
fed is the task of American officials In
the Philippines To aid him in this
matter General Wood went to Borneo
No nation in modern times has been
so successful In the administration of
colonies and dependencies as the Eng
lIsh. Where British subjects have gone
as colonlsts, as In the case OF Austria
La and New Zealand. there has been no
problem. the colonlsts governing them
selves But not 80 IN India and the
Straits settlements There British rul-
ers and administrators CAME in con-
tact with vast population who had
their own civilization ana government
and who have never shown any desire
to adopt and asslmilate British Ideas
OF civilization and government. Yet
they hive been. on the whole. success
ful. Aud why? Very largely because
they have left matters practically as
they found them. not seeking TO make
radical changes. turning things upside
down; they have not sought 70 change
human nature but have proceeded
somewhat on the theory that where ig.
norance is bliss It Is folly TO be wise,
They have guided not driven, but al.
ways within the velvet glove was the
iron hand
Can Americans DO in the Philippines
what the English have done In India
and elsewhere? That they can learn
many valuable lessons from English ex-
perlencc Is undoubtedly true That they
viii is most probable That they VIII
be equally successful remains to ~
proven our aims are different from
what those Of the British have been.
aud this Is an important factor in the
case, The English have been content 10
govern their dependencies henehting
their inhabitants materially but hav-
ing no solicltide for their political adj
vancement Not so with the Ameri,
cans IN the case OF the Fillpinos, Their
great desire Is 10 fl them Tor self
government. 10 lmplant In them Amerl-
can ideals Of citizenship. No harder
task did any people ever set itself II
IS q noble one, hut It's accomplishment,
mus take years perhaps generations
while those who think this great aim
should already have been accomplished,
or be In a fair way TO It's very near
realization, know not the lessons Of his