The Washington times., 1904-06-29
OLNEY SCORES TAFT'S
PHILIPPINE POLICY
He Asks What Place Despotism Has in
the American Political
System.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass, June erich
ard Olney, Secretary of State under
President Cleveland, spoke at the dinner
of the Harvard Law School Association
at the Harvard Union yesterday, and
presented for the consideration of the
American lawyer some interesting prob
lens of present day government
Before the dinner, Secretary Of War
Taft had delivered an address in San
ders Theater in which he defended the
Administrations policy in the Philippines.
Secretary Taft had said that the Philip
pines were not yet fit for self-govern-
ment and that it was the duty Of the
United States to rule the islands until
their people were worthy Of indepen-
dence
Mr.. Olney said that upon the Ameri-
can lawyer, ''steeped in the doctrine
and traditions of the past. the inquiry
forces itself what place has despOtism-
even the most benevolent and most in
telligent-in our American political sys-
TEN, and where, by searching, shall we
find it?" The speaker then took up
Taft's recent defense Of the Philippine
policy. saying in part:
According TO him, we are rich enough
and can afford it. and. therefore, il is
our duty 10 sacrifice American lives and
American treasure indefinitely and with
ton of FilipinOs according to American
standards.
But out Of any such proposition at
once issues another legal puzzle for the
modern American lawyer 70 find in the
national Constitution any right in the
Government 10 turn itself into a mis-
siOnary TO the benighted tribes Of ISL
ands in the South Seas 1000 miles from
our shores; or any power 20 tax the
tOiling masses of this country for the
benefit of motley groups Of the brown
people of the tropics.
Strong Depressing Weak.
Again. international law being part
of American law and the equality Of
nations inter Sc without regard to size
or strength, being the very basis Of all
international law, still another search
is needed TO find in American law any
right in a strong nation to appropriate
the sovereignty or territory of a weak
nation, either in the name Of collective
civiliza ton or in any other name or on
any pretext whatsoever.
And. II the doctrine be indicated is
not a rule which is good 7or nations
good also for the individuals. and why
may not the lives and property of
weaker and inferior citizens in any COM
munity be rightfully appropriated for
the benefit Of the stronger and supe-
riOT2
again, must not our national code be
most carefully Intercepted for some
symptom of the doctrine that the end
sanCtifies the means and that TO get
there by short cuts or paths unprovided
or forbidden Is anything else than sheer
laWlessness and usurpatiOn2
Again, have times and men so
changed that paternalism supersedes
indiyiduaiism and that we are 10 look
with favor on an ever widening field Of
public activity and an ever narrowing
field of private enterprise?
Again, has the State become so weak
and so limited in function and the Gen
eral Government so strong and so per-
Yasive that the latter now counts as
the chief factor in the life Of the Ameri-
can citizen that the State comes second
in his interests and affections. and that
the sphere Of local government Is
seriously CurtailedI
1T is imperative that the lawyers Of
the day should give these questions.
say whether there is a break with all
our past which ought TO be and is to Re
perpetuated; whether American princi-
pies as embodied in American constitu-
tions and State papers, once deemed
models Of wisdom and inspirations 10
humanity the world over, are now to be
relegated 20 the limbo Of Anticipated
superstitions; whether the flag shall
symbolic the ideas and the ideals Of
the great Americans who are Identified
with all that Is most glorious in our past
history or shall stand for the theories
Of the new guides and teachers of the
present hour