The Washington times., 1904-08-25
THURSDAY, AUGUST IS. 1904
Again Parker Speaks.


ceeded in convincing Judge Parker
regarding an important point in
Democratic policy, which in the
judges speech Of acceptance was
either overlooked or purposely con-
cealed in a cloud of vapor.
The gold telegram still hangs high
in the adoring memory of the New
York Evening Post" but elsewhere II
has been pretty generally sized up as
a clever bit of political policy pro-
mulgated under the editorial prodding
of the New York Democratic organs,
which scented disaster in the con-
vention's attempt to ignore an impor-
tant issue.
Notwithstanding that the Evening
Post again fell on its knees in wor-
shipful ecstasy before the judges
speech Of acceptance, other journals,
with eyes less blinded than those of
the Evening Post" were nightly
perplexed in regard TO what the judge
really meant by his remarks concern
ing the Philippines.
The Brooklyn Eagle" particularly
"a recent convert to the Democracy
found great difficulty in distinguish
ing wherein the judges policy differed
in essentials from that inaugurated
and consistently pursued by the Re
publicans The Brooklyn Eagle
said as much in burning words, which
cast a shade of gloom over that por-
ton of the party which, deceived by
the quantity of anti-imperialistic
noise. thought that the election could
be won by the infnitesimal number
of anti-imperialistic votes.
The judge remarked in his letter of
acceptance The accident of war
brought the Philippines into our pos
session. and we are not at liberty to
disregard the responsibility which
thus came to us, but that responsible
ity viii be best subseTved by prepar-
ing the islanders as rapidly as pos
sible for self-government and giving
TO them the assurances that it will
come as soon as they are reasonably
prepared for it."
The quarrel came over what the
judge meant by "self-government.'
Did he mean independence or Filipino
government under American super
vision? Did he agree with the Dem
ocratic platform, which says:
I'VE insist that we ought 10 do for
the Filipinos what we have done al
ready for the Cubans, and it is our
duty TO make that promise now, and.
upon suitable guarantees Of protec-
ton to citizens of our own and other
countries resident there at the time
Of our withdrawal, set the Filipino
people upon their feet free and indie
pendent TO work out their own des-
tiny"
The New York World" in COM
menting upon the judges letter, ex-
pressed the general Democratic doubt
regarding the judges real meaning
IN these words:
But what kind of self-government
IS It TO be? Mr.. Roosevelt says: We
have established in the islands a gov
eminent by Americans assisted by
Filipinos We are steadily striving
70 transform this into self-govern-
ment by the FiliDinos assisted by
Americans Is this what Judge Par
ker means? If it is not what he
means ne should have made his posi-
ton perfectly clear. There is yet
time TO do so I'm his letter Of accept
ancc."
Evidently these various comments
and criticisms have at least convinced
Sudge Parker what ne ought TO have
meant. whether he really did mean it
OF not. for in reply 10 q letter inquir-
Ing IF by self-government he did not
intend independence. political and
territorial, the Judge has written:
You are entirely right in assum-
ing that as ! employed the phrase
'self-government.' f. was intended 70
be identical with independence. politi-
cal and territorial After noting the
criticism referred 10 by you, ! am
still unable 10 understand how it can
be said that a people enjoy self-goy-
eminent while another nation may
In any degree whatever control their
action But to take away all possible
opportunity for conjecture, it shall
be made clear in the letter OF ac-
ceptance that l am in hearty accord
with that plank Of the Democratic
platform which advocates treating tho
FilipinOs precisely as we did the
Cubans; and ! also favor making the
promise 20 them now TO take such
action as soon as it can prudently bC
done"
Regardless of what brought ii