The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-27

charlOtS. The conquerorS OF the fnlllp-
pines, wherever they marched-and they
marched only 10 conquer-opened the
schoolhouse. hill and plain. and invited
the conquered to enter and learn the holy
lesson of American peace.
Spanish administration in the Philippines
was relic of by-gone ages, resting upon
the inertia Of the Orient. and fortified by
ideas and practices prevailing when kings
ruled by divine right and men were but
vassals TO an overload Our boys marched
across the Philippines, and this mummy
Of the dark centuries crumbled into dust.
The music which filled the air at Lexington
and Yorktown. but which all the world did
not catch. was reproduced. in strange
land and among a strange people. but with
a volume great that all the world was
compelled TO hear. And, again, II might
be said, as was said of the guns at Con-
cord:
:" Twas this shot shook the feudal tower,
And shattered slavery's chains as well,
On the skys dome as on a bell.
Its echo struck the worlds great hour"
Second, the establishment of civil govern
ment This has been accomplished to a de-
gree hitherto unknown, in brief a time.
In the annals of history.
The central government is located at
Manila Its powers are exercised oy four
executive departments, namely: Interior,
commerce and police, finance, justice and
public institutions, resembling in character
the administrative departments at Wash
ington. AT the head of each of these de-
partments is a member of the Philippine
commission, composed of five Americans
and three Filipinos appointed by the
President. Under the existing law of Con-
gresS, two years after the completion of
the census, now being compiled, the legisia-
tive power is to be vested In legislature,
consisting of two houses-the Philippine
Commission and the Philippine Assembly,
the latter house to be elected by the in
habitants of the island.
The powers of the judicial branch are
exercised by a Supreme Court, composed
OF seven members, appointed by the Presi-
dent, three of whom natives of the
Islands. The courts of first instance and
courts inferior thereto are presided over
by judges appointed by the commission.
OF the presiding judges of the courts of
first instance fifteen are Americans and six
are natives. OF the minor courts nearly
every judge is native.
But they say to us that we are too slow
In comforting freedom upon the Filipinos
How ridiculous such an assertion in the
| light OF events. Never before in human his
| tory has power been so freely bestowed.
Freedom for any people Is not bequest,
1t Is conquest, and if it required a thou
sand years of training and discipline to
| bring the all-conquering Anglo-Saxon to
| the present heights of civilization, how
| could 1t be expected that these Malays, at
| one bound, should reach this elevated
| plane? 1t must be done by growth, by de-
velopment, by education. by contact with
superior races. by evolution; and, as basis
| for future growth, we are preparing their
] environment for the development of a
| mighty people.
We have expended millions in the i'm
4
| tablishment OF schools: millions in the con-
| struction Of highways; millions in prepar-
Ing for the exploitation of their marvellous
| natural resources. In every province there
| Is peace, and the methods of peace are be-
| ing everywhere employed. The constabu-
larry established In every municipality and
of Filipinos. and. wherever they have shown
! themselves competent for self-government,
self-government has been bestowed upon
| them. Under our beneficient tutelage they
| DrOgrGSS
than the republic Of South America In the
whole century Of their freedom. We are
sleeps. and will ultimately bring them to
the exalted heights of Christian civili-
| cation.
Third the settlement of the vexed ques-
tons relating to the friar lands and lis ad-
justment to the satisfaction of our govern
ment and the great church whose interests
| were involved.
| Gentlemen, we frequently have it thrust
| at US. as If 1t were final and conclusive.
tina: the Philippines do not pay. But in
| reply 1 assert that the time has not yet
arrived for the determination of that mat
ter. We do not now know. 1t is true that,
| up to this time. we have expended much
and received nothing, but at the same time.
| 1t must not be forgotten that our govern
! ment there is self-sustaining. Aside from
| the cost of maintaining our troops there
and that sum is constantly decreasng-we
| have not expended a single dollar in those
| islands in two years. Never in the history
| of colonization have outlying possessions
been so soon rendered self-supporting. with
the machinery of government in full opera
ton. Therefore we cannot say, with any
| d, gree of fairness, that those islands do not
fpay. What would be thought of a garden
| er who, having plowed and narrowed and
planted his land, should forthwith turn
around and pillow ii all up again because IL
lad not paid. Mr.. Chairman, we must wait
| for the harvest time before we can give an
honest answer to that question
Battle for Markets.
But they will pay. Aside from the dis
charge of duty, which always pays, they
will give us rich returns. Gentlemen OF
the convention, nations are no longer bat
Ting for thrones. but for markets. What
is the cause of all this uneasiness and rest
lessness among European nations to-day
Why have Germany, France, England anc
Russia been charging their spheres of in
fiuence'' in the Orient? Why have the.
been watching each other with eagle eye
in their efforts to obtain special concession.
from China? What is the factor that /.
really at the bottom of the present con
flict between Russia and Japan? Markets
gentlemen. markets; the world is fighting
for markets. Upon the ability of natior
TO sell its surplus products depend thu
people and even the stability of its insti
tutions. In this great contest of world
powers is our country to be a silent on
of the Orient, the future market of tn,
world? Not if we have any regard fo
the coming welfare of our Nation. w,
ought to dominate its commerce and con
troll its traffic, and we can do ii withou
shedding a drop of blood if we simply TAX,
advantage of our opportunities. The ORR
ent is the greatest market in the world
to-day All nations realize this and ar,
seeking to enter ii, to control it. Siberia
China and Australia form a semi-circle
and the Philippines lie in the center of it
making Manila natural distributin.
point for the commerce of half the popu
lation of the world. We can be MASTER
of the traffic of eight hundred million
| people who live across the Pacific, ant
whose trade is ours by right of position
sisted upon maintaining the integrity o
| China and preventing it's ACKNOWLEDGMENT
1t was with this view that he insisted upol
and secured recognition of the open-doo
| policy in that country-two of the maste
diplomatic strokes of our history. w
have already Jared well in this trade. Gu
| imports from Asia and Oceanica increase,
from $155, 1000 in 1891, to $l62, 100000 il
In 1901, or over so per cent, while the tota
imports increased but 10 per cent. Our ex
| ports to those same countries increase,
from $4,000 900 in 1884, to Sis, 900 0Oc in 1901
an increase of $50 per cent, while the tota
exports increased but 80 per cent.
The countries grouped around Manil;
| are now buying over $l00,0O000O worth O
merchandise every month. and their pur
chases are composed of precisely the good
which the United States has TO SELL TIL
volume of the Eastern trade is almost be
| yond computation. The commerce of tn
| countries commercially adjacent to Mania
adding together their imports and exports
| reaches the fabulous sum of $3.50 SO on
| annually, or $7100DO0 for every da-