New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-26
GoHERyoR TAF7'S FAREWELL.

The circumstances OF Governor Tafts fare
well TO the Philippines were impressive. and
his final words TO the people for whose benefit
he has labored nsparingly should be as salu-
tary as they were judicious. The closing exer-
cises Of ceremony and hospitality gave album
dant evidence of the respect in which he is held
not only by his own counTymen in the Islands,
but by the natives of character and influence
who are Yariously employed in the public ser
vice. Even those elements that have taken
more pains to hinder than to sustain the Gov
ernor were constrained to testify TO the general
excellence Of his administration and the wis
dom Of his parting advice. and all the incidents
OF his last day in Manila were as creditable TO
those whom he was leaving as they doubtless
We're grateful to his feelings.
Judge Taft, as we learn from special G.s
patch TO 1.-The New-York Sum-" felt warranted
in putting on record, as he laid down his au-
thority, an emphatic expression Of his belief in
the actual progress and prospective well being
of the archipelago. Remarking that his reluc-
lance to retire had been lessened by the great
improvement in material and moral conditions
witnessed within the last year. he proceeded
TO say that the situation was now more favor
able than II had ever been heretofore, notwith-
standing the long pestilence and agricultural
depression from which the islands had suffered;
that the various infectious diseases were at last
under control; that ecclesiastical relations had
been arranged Oh a far more desirable basis
and that only few good crops were needed to
insure peace and unexampled prosperity. On
the subject Of the industrial and commercial
outlook however, he took occasion to add that
heavy losses could be avoided only by reduc-
ton Of the tariff, which he pledged himself 30
urge on his return to the United States.
Rut tho ratirinC GOverDOrS tyvo farayvaIY a.
dresses were not wholly devoted TO material
matters. In one Of them he alluded in terms
Of just reproach TO those in the United States
who with little knowledge and a perverted
sense Of patriotism, are eager to bring the
policies of Mckinley and Roosevelt into dis
repute, and he rebuked merchants and news
papers in the islands whose efforts have been
devoted TO the object Of mischievously disparag-
ing instead Of cooperating with the govern
ment- 1t is said that even the opposition press
acknowledges the justice of this censure by ap-
plauding ii. Still more effective perhaps, for
lasting good was the speech which Judge Taft
delivered at a dinner attended by four hun
dred Filpinos. Directly addressing the native
Ofticeholders party leaders and lawyers of po-
litical proclivities who were present, and in
directly the intelligent public so represented he
urged them 10 give over untimely discussion Of
Ine question OF SelI-goVernment or ar least 10
postpone that sort of speculation until village
schools had been built everywhere and filed
with children. He could have given them no
sounder advice in the hour of his departure,
and the spirit of his farewell admonition was
in the highest sense benevolent That it is In
exact conformity with the purpose of the ad-
ministration at Washington is, of course IN
doubted, and we firmly believe that it expresses
the sober. enlightened judgment of the Ameri-
can people.
1t is the disposition and policy Of those to
whom the welfare Of the Filipinos has been
committed TO bestow upon them gradually such
a measure Of authority in the management Of
their local affairs they may become clearly
fit TO exercise. How fast and how far they will
qualify themselves for the onerous privilege
of home rule is question which the future
alone can determine