The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-09-28
Wright Is Right.

Judge Parker probably knows VINO
General Luke Wright is. He probably
knows that he was the democratic mem
Der of the Philippine commission; that
when Judge Taft was brought home to
be secretary of war, General Wright
was selected! by the president to sue
coed Mr.. Taft as governor general of
the Philippines. He probably knows
that Mr. Wright is an ex-confederate
soldier, an ex-attorney general of Ten
nossee; that he has long been regarded |
as one Of the ablest lawyers OF the
south, and an influential and consistent
democrat.
Lake Wright enlisted at the age of
Is and fought thru the war on the con-
fedcrate side. Something of his cour-
age and fidelity to duty was shown
when he directed the affairs of a little
band of brave men who remained in
Memphis to combat the yellow fever
scourge which ragged in that city in
1878. In 1896 he entered politics to
fight Bryan and populism, and when
the war with Spain broke out he. sent
three sons to the front, one in the navy
and two in the Tennessee volunteers.
Luke Wright seems to be a man
who's. statements ought to command
more than ordinary consideration. In
letter recently received by the presl-
deaf, General Wright, governor general
of the Philippines, says:
The effect Of the continued discussion
as to the capacity of the Filipino Tor
self-goVernment and his immediate or
ultimate independently is having its erect
here and makes our task more difficult
than it otherwise would be. The less a
man is equipped with intelligence and
| those qualities which make for good cltl-
zenship the more easily can he be per
| suaded that he Is the possessor OF all
| these qualities. These people have their
full share of ambition and vanity, and
they also have their full share of reck-
less, half formed characters who are
ready for intrigue in any direction Whlch
promises them profit or power. 1t is this
class which has largely given force and
direction to the Aglipayan movement and
has recruited it's ranks from the ignorant
and dangerous elements.
In this general connection I may say
to you as a matter Of information that
the agitation in the United States for
! Filipino independence and the spoken
and written utterances of prominent men
there are all brought here and pub
lished in the native newspapers and are
being made the text for editorials insist
ing that the Filipino people are now
ready to become an independent nation
The effect of all this is distinctly injuri-
ous It's tendency is to restore the lnf1u-
ence of the old instruction leaders and
to make them active in preaching the olu
propaganda. This, in turn, has the effec'
of demoralizing and weakening the more
conservative and thoughtful Fillplnos
who fear that if they speak out as they
really think they would be considered inc
enemies of their people and lose thell
prestige with them. Those of the more
prominent and best educated, and who
naturally have their ambitions, are In
clined to join in the general cry.
This accords fully with the testimony
of Judge Taft, who has uttered Wig
orous protest against the action of thu
democratic party in making a promise
Of Filipino independence an issue O.
} the campaign.
Nevertheless, Judge Parker in his let
ter of acceptance, issued no longer ag
, than Monday, Endorses the platform o
his party which declares in favor o
making a promise of independence t
| Gu0 L LII uO"s cu.tSO l. Gu ANoA NAi'
B cusses the matter, and argues that to q
so would be to stimulate the Filipino
to prepare themselves by education an
III other ways for the exercise of sell
D. government.
l. The rank inconsistency of demandin
Is that the Filipino, who knows nothin
a. of self government and who has no Of
ID iect lesson before him, shall be e.
~ trusted with all the responsibilities (
le self government, while denying ar
sh participation whatever in the COVER
IN ment to the negro, who has grown I
IN under conditions where his opportur
al ties for learning the art of self-gover
he ment are vastly superior to those OF tt
st Filipino, may be passed over, and tt
is demand for self-government for tt
e. Filipino, made for purely political pr
poses, may be set over against tn
in clear and disinterested, unpolitical tt
he timony of the governor Of the Phil
he pines, who, if he had any political
at terests to serve whatever, would natl
ial ally wish to testify on the other SIC
This testimony, however, is uninf
to enced by political considerations a
he prompted purely by a knowledge of t
I'd. situation and actual experience as
lat what this 1lischievous agitation IN {
lie country is likely to produce in
it islands. $50: ..., -
lis The independent reader will wei
E. Judge Parker's theories and the q
ok larations of his party, dictated by
for exigencies of the political situati
nd along with the statements of Gene
WRIGHT and accord each his due me
is ure Of Importance and value.
tri-
, s+ Judge Parker is out for gold and Un
de- Gasway has just declared for a prote
tn i've tariff Both wings of the democr;
IRE party now have the pleasure OF see
nd. their pet issues hit on the neck witt