New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-07
PROGRESS IN PHILIPPINES.

ing the last year a continuation OF the STEADY
progress which has obtained ever since our
troops definitely got the upper hand or the IN
surgents The Philippine people. or, to speak
mere accurately, the many tribes, ana even
races. sundered from one another more or less
sharply who go to make up the people of the
Philippine Islands, contain many elements of
good, and some elements which we have right
TO hope stand for progress: AT present me
inhabitants Of the Philippines are utterly
incapable Of existing in independence at
al or OF building up a civilization or their
own. I firmly believe that we can help them 10
rise higher and higher IN the scale OF clNllza,
ton and of capacity for self-goVernment' ana
I most earnestly hope that in the end they will
be able TO stand, If not entirely alone, YET IN
some such relation to the United States as CUBA
now stands. This end is not yet in sight, ana
IL may be indefinitely postponed II our pkope
are foolish enough to turn the attention OF the
Filipinos away from the problems OF achleVlhg
moral and material prosperity, Of working Tor
stable. orderly and Just goNernInetI, anu
foolish and dangerous intrigues for complete
Independence for which they are as yet totaiIy
unfit. .s
ilv before their minds the fact that the justi-
fication for our stay in the PhlIlpplnes must
ultimately rest chiefly upon the good we are
otIa ~ 40 in tba islands / do not overlook the
fact that IN the development OF our interests
IN the Pacific ocean and along its coasts the
Philippines have played and will play an lnpoF-
1ant part, and that our interests nave oeeh
served in more than one way by the posses
sion Of the islands. But our chief reason for
continuing to hold them must be that we oughI
IN good faith 20 try TO do our share OF the
worlds work, and this particular piece OF work
has been imposed upon US by the results OF
the war with Spain The problem presented TO
us in the Philippine Islands IS akin TO- but not
exactly like the problems presented TO the
other great civilized powers which have pos
sessions in the Orient. There are points or re-
sen1blance in our work to the work which is
being done by the British in India and Egypt,
by the French in Algiers, by the Dutch IN Java,
by the Russians IN Turkestan, by the japanese
in Forrnosa; but more distinctly than any of
these powers are endeaYoring 70 develop
the natives themselves, so that they shall take
an ever increasing share in their own govern
ment. and as far as is prudent we are already
admitting their representatives 10 a govern
mental equality with our own. mere are COM
missioners, judges ana Governors IN the lslahds
who FiipinOs and who have exactly the
same share in the government OF the Islands
have their colleagues who are Americans,
while IN the lower ranks of course, the great
majority Of the public servants are F1ipinos.
Within TWO years We shall be trying the ex-
pertinent Of an elective lower house in the
Philippine Legislature. Il may be that the Fill
uinos will misuse this legislature, and they GER
iainly will misuse il if :hey are misled by fool
ish persons here at home into starting an aglta-
ton for their independence or into any
factious or improper action. In such case they
will do themselves no good, and will stop for
the time being all further effort TO advance
them and give them a greater share In their own
government But If they act with wisdom ana
self-restraint. If they show that they are capa-
bic Of eleCting legislature which in its turn is
capable Cf taxing sane ana ehClent part III
the actual work Of government they can rest
assured that 4 full and increasing measure Of
recognition WIZ be given them Above all, they
should remember that their prime needs are
moral and industrial, not political. It is good
thing TO Try the experiment Of giving them
legislature; but it is far better thing TO give
them schools good roads railroads which Will
enable them 10 get their products to market
honest courts, an honest and efficient consta bu-
laTy, and all that tends TO produce order, peace,
fair dealing as between man and man, and
habits Of intelligent industry and thrift If they
are safeguaTded against oppression and If their
real wants, material and spiritual are studied
lltelhgehtly and IN spirit of friendly SYM
Pauly' nuch more good viii be done them than
py any effort 10 give them political power,
though this effort may In its own proper time
and place be proper enough.
Meanwhile our own people should remember
tnat there IS need for the highest standard Of
cohduct among thu Americans sent to the Philip
pine Islands, not only among the public ser
wants, but among the private individuals who 20
70 them Il is because I feel this SO deeply that
IN the administration of these islands I haze
positively refused to permit any discrimina ton
Whatsoever for political reasons and have ir-
sisted that in choosing the public servants con-
sideration should be paid solely TO the worth OF
the men chosen and 10 the needs of the islands
There Is no higher body of men in our public
service IMAM We have in the Philippine Islands
under Governor Wright and his associates Sc
Tar as possible these men should be given a free
rama ana tfelL suggestions should receive the
Eearty backing both OF the Executive and of the
congress: There IS need of vigilant and dis
interested support Of our public servants in The
Philippines by good citizens here in the United
States Unfortunately. hitherto those OF our
people here at home who have specialIv cai1roei
70 be the champions Of the Filipinos have il
reality been their worst enemies. This Will con.
thUe TO be the case as long as thew strive Il
1L4C i 4l-S4i4JH lICeteildert. ana stop all
cuslrlai development Of the islands by cryine
out against the laws which would bring ii az
the ground that capitalists must not exploit
the islands Such proceedings are not only un
wise, but are most harmful to the Filipinos
who co not need Independence at all but who q,
neeo good laws, good public servants and tn
Industrial development that can only come if III,
investment OF American and foreign capital II
the Islands Is favored in al legitimate WAYS
Every measure taken concerning the isIs M
should be taken primarily with a view TO thel
advantage We should certainly give then
lower tariff rates on their exports 10 the United
States If this IS not done il viii be a wrong II
extend our shipping laws 10 them. I earnestl,