New-York tribune., 1903-01-05

THE DESTINY or IHE fHfifffiNEH.
The destiny OF the Philippines mas Tor the
last four years been much mooied topic
Scarcely had the United States acquired those
islands when men began 10 ask What viii ii 10
with them? Not only long range and rapid fire
Sentimentalists of the Edward Atkinson ana
Ervinc Wmslow type but some practical men
of affairs. are giving their attention to seeing
visions ..afay in de Ewigkcit. president
Schurman of Cornell University. for example
who has been a government commissioner Ill
the Philippines is making the remote destiny
of those islands, rather than their present con-
diiion the burden of his frequent prophecies.
Apparently it is little TO him that we have III
so short time established there the best gov
erEnent the islands have ever had. with civil
Service which advanced Civil Service reform
declare TO be actually better than that
which we have here at home. Present duties
and present achievements are largely over
looked and attention is fixed upon the fasclnat-
ing question whether are going to make
States of the Philippines and have New-1ork
and New-England governed by Tagal Senators
and Moro Representatives at Washington or
are going te turn them out in absolute Inde-
pendence to govern themselves after the ap-
proved Malay fashion.
To all who are given 10 such speculation we
commend ny -hk- tihSh NsitA''N
in 'Macmllans Magazine" for December some
salient portions of which we reprint on the
eighth mage The writer is man who knows
particularly well what he is writing about.
His successful experience as an administrator
in the Malay Peninsula has given him
keen insight into Oriental manners and needs
and a Just appreciation of Oriental capabilities.
His recognition of the evil done by the half
sentimental half-treasonahe propaganda of
"anti-imperialist' pamphleteers in the Philip
pines corroborates what we have often urged
in these columns. His reminder of the differ
ence in civic capacity we might say in human
nature. between East Indians and Anglo-SaX-
ons is just and pertinent. His statement that
native rule in those countries means anarchy,
oppression. misery bloodshed and hideous
tale of wrong" is simple rehearsal of facts
of history Nor is he reasonably to be chal-
lenged when he concludes that We're the re-
straining presence of the European withdrawn
India would quickly relapse into the state of
horror which it knew of old. We have only
10 recall the fierce hatreds which exist among
Tagals. Visayans. Macabebes and Moros to
have suggested 10 us with convincing clearness
what "Filipino independence" or at any
time within the measurable future, would too
surely mean.
pleasing theory that the Filipnos will soon be
fitted for independence as biased upon hope
which has for It's foundation single his
'torical precedent in Asia. q hope which. in
deed. runs counter to every deduction that can
''be drawn from Oriental history" That. if we
accept his views true must do away with
all visions of Filipino Statehood In this Union
visions which in any circumstances should
never have been and should never hereafter be
cherished 10y any rational mind. With scarcely
less force does it inhibit us from setting them
up in an independence which would mean an
archy. What then? We are turned back 10
the white mans burden 1t is quite true as
Mr. Clifford says. that the government of
brown race is a task which does not easily
''ft into place amidst the theories, principles
practices and institutions of republican COM
immunity" We have never had any illusions
on that score, nor have we regarded the acquisi-
ton of and responsibility for the Philippines
as other than a burden thrust upon us with
out our seeking and without will. but which
could not refuse without cowardice and
cannot lay down without dishonor.
The task is not an easy one. 1t may seem to
some an incongruous one. Yet after all. it is
one which we have been performing for more
than hundred years in other directions. and
which manhood and honor forbid us to despair
of performing in the Philippines. What is
essential. however, is to keep Our own minds
free from illusions and to refrain from encour-
aging illusions In the Filipino mind. We
must" said Jacques Cartier, respect the fut-
ure.- We should at least respect it sufficiently
TO refrain from attempting TO discount it upon
insufficient knowledge and insufficient means
What may happen some day iD the Philippines
we know not. What we do know is that there
is enough happening there at the present time
and enough that needs to be done there at the
present time, 10 occupy ali the attention this
country can give TO those islands and to en-
ploy all the energy it can exert upon them.
The quaint old maxim, ''Do the next thing" is
10 be commended TO those who are impatiently
seeking to peep into the far future and see
what is in store for Oriental possessions.
IL is not by sentimental dreaming of the things
that may be, but by practical working at the
things that are that the destiny of the Philip
pines is TO be determined.
THE METRIC SYSTEM
Z bo IN oh of tha Arap