New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-30

n bis address 10 lie Harvard Law School As
ISOLATION ga Tuesday ex-SecreJary Oluey paid a
sLnguiarlv handsome tribute 20 Secretary Taft.
Ills prediction thar The historians of the future
VIII reckon 1r. TafJs administration of the
philippine Islands as the highest distinction OF
great career and his specific Acknowledgement
Of ,le Justice and sl.lfuness, the tact, latience
AID humanity OF AIr Taft's dealings with the
alien people whom ire governed for nearly three
years formed an ingratiaung Introduction 10
his criticism Of the policy which this country is
pursuing in the government Of its Oriental de-
pendency- It IS agreeable 10 believe that few
Of Mr.. Olney's anu-imperiaIist brethren will
dissent from this estimate but we do not feel
sure that most Of Them viii applaud the frank
ness with which he Indicated q powerful motive.
hitherto unayoWed for their objections 10 our
retention Of the Philippines
In referring 10 an address which Mr.. Taft de-
hYered not long after his return, and more mar
ucularly 10 what he said about the disinter-
eSteCness with which the United States Is seek
Ing TO promote The highest good Of the Fill
pihos' We NentuTed 10 express a fear that selfish
anxiety 70 get nd Of a heavy burden and escaue
the necessity OF solving difficult problems. rather
than a noble sohcitude for the welfare Of those
people, inspired the demand that they sbould no
made free and independent. The response 10
our remarks on that subject did not encourage
US &c expect frank confession that we had dis
cefned The real motive Of the anti-lmperlalist
Propaganda, and it IS consequently somewhat
surprising, as well as gratifying. 10 find this
passage in Dir. Olney's address ut Cambridge:
But the cespot IN our governmental schema "a
~ 10 means he only thing present conditions
invite US 10 look FOR. The orator OF the dav for
example, With q laudabIe frankness which ie-
l1ored any Claim OF benefit TO the people OF t3a
United states from its present Oriental experi-
IheLl' Defended II a few days since on hunianI-
14flan grounds. According 10 him we are rich
enough ard can afford it, and therefore II is orr
ouly 70 sacrihce American lives and American
ueasuTe indefinitely and without stint for the
Saucallon ana elevation CT Fiiipinos ACCORDING
10 american standards. But cut OF opv s1cb
proposition at once issues another legal niJzzle
TOT me modern American lawyeT-to find in the
national Constitution the principle OF altr1lism.
- ma IN a frame OF government declared on us
iacs Dy the people adopting ii 10 be designed Ia
secure me blessings Of liberty 10 ourselves and
our posterlty any authority for purely UhiIan-
tAfoplc enterprlses-any right IN that govern
Aiienl 70 tGrE Itself into missionary to the be-
nlsLleo Tribes OF islands in the South Seas
seven thousand miles from our shores or any
power 10 Tax the tOiling masses Of this country
Tor the benefit Of motley groups OF the brown
people OF the tropics. between whom and the
taxpayers there is absolutely no communitj
either OF interest OF Of sympathy.
II is not or present purpose 10 discuss The
Iropriety or adyisabil.ty OF refusing longer t