Rocky Ford enterprise., 1904-09-23
PHILIPPINE PROBLEM
OUR DUTY 10 PLAIN AND " WILL
BE PERFORMED.
United States VIII Properly Kducsts
the Natives Of the Archipelago for
scif.0overnment A Responsibility
that VIII Not he shirksd.

The problem of the Philippines IL how
most thoroughly and quickly to teach the
people OF the great archipelago OF the
Pacific self.government; such self-gov'
crnment as Americans enjoy. first. In the
territories. and then In the States OF the
Union.
The essayIsts aud agitators who are
weeping and waiting over our new east
ern possessions are the representatives OF
that self-distruxt which weakens individ-
unis aud nations.
What arc we going TO do with the
Philippines!'' shrieks the sentimentaiist
OF the arm chair aud sllppersI
I'VE are going TO do as We would be
done by" answers the sturdy spirit OF
American manhood.
"But the Philippines should be inde'
pendent" moans a voice choked with
emotion.
1--WE are teaching them xclf.govern'
ment." IL the rejoinder.
The American people nre not quit
ters." Nor are they subject to the emo
tional distress and annemic apprehen'
sions OF hystcricnl or senile persons We
have plain duty before us In the Phil
ippines NOW. To do our work there To
the best Of our present ability II our
sons and daughters Of the. American ma
tion.
What II the Revolutionary fathers had
stopped In the midst Of their war for
Independence to debate whether their de-
sccndants wouh worthily acquit them.
selves In the new liberty TO be granted
themf What II the iIbcrators OF millions
Of slaves had stayed their God-directcti
l,ands to listen and reply to arguments a.
to tho fitness Of tho colorcd people for
lives as human individuals?
The great forces which rule tho uni.
verso work by human means. The In.
struments arc imperfect, but guided By
great ideals man has accomplished won
ders for his race. The Spanish war
threw upon tho great American republic
an unexpected. cvcn uuwelcome. burden
Of responsibility. A vast country. peo-
pied like our own. by inhabitants ranging
from high civilization to naked savasery.
came Into our possession. and with u
came immense responsibility. To shirk
that responsibility IL impossibiy un.Amcr-
lean. We have takcu Il upon US. and We
shall carry II ns braveiy and hopefully
as ie 10 our custom 10 carry the trusts
laid upon US as q nation.
To teach self. government there. A. we
understand Il Ia tho United States. 's
our task. We are building and opening
free public schools: teaching sanitary SCI
encs and the necessary rules for public
health: showing the way to complete re-
liyious freedom and toicratioa: 6ghtius
savage tribes In remote districts. to pro-
tect the lives and property Of all who
live within the borders Of our national
authority. Such II our work to-day.
Upon the ancient growth of Spanish
rIs vaef fx.rS In uhu .
arc suErafting the new life Of American.
Ism. Docs anyone doubt the ultimate
effects OF such q process. after what has
lecn done upon our own continent within
the last hundred ycars3
The dealing with the natives Of the isi-
ands IL a serious aud pursiinr amair. but
who is better fitted than our nation. nour-
ished. as Il IL. By great ideals. for such
a workf The world has cone to SEQ
that the savage IL but man In his child.
hood: that like a child he must be pro-
tected. taught. borne with and led into
the larger life Of maturity. In Amcri-
can life arc the elements for the savins
aud civilization of the most remote tribes
Of tho Pacific islands: let ms trust our
selves. and give ear no longer TO the
Rugurics and omcns Of those who have
faith neither IN God nor man. but who
continually cry out upon all that Is done.
or wished or hoped for By the workers Of
the world.
One thing at time and every day for
It's work. IL good rule In government. a.
Il IL In tho life Of ~. Individual. The
thing TO do with the Philippines IL to
help them forward In tho worid-ie In.
.pire. guide and govern them In Accord
ancc with American ideals and traditions.
As to the future VIC can trust future
Americans and future Fiiipino.Amcri.
cans. This Is the full extent Of our impe-
rialism there.