New-York tribune., 1904-10-31
THE PHILIPPINE PROBIEW
Elements Entering Into 1t and Time
Required to Sotue 1t.
BY Professor Frederick W. Atkinson former sun,zs.
tendenf Of Education Ia tho Philipptnss-


issue and the action Of both Republicans ana De-
oerats in refrainins from reviewing the storv =.
our acquisition OF them. and at the most eenfr,.
their attention upon the one possible phase OF tbs
question open 20 dscussiOn-the speed with whIc,
we can grant the inhabitants larger powers a,
selfgOvernment-Is cause for feeIlnr ~ aa,t-
faction The islands part OF our country.
as nation we have become responsible Tor ths,r
external relations and their Internal admin strarIo
To the world. to the Filipino people and 10 our
selves we have duty to perform. however un
pleasant and unpaiatable IL may be The sxeen-
tive department OF our government took eognizaaca
Of this duty the treaty OF peace uits
Spain was ratified in February 1893: Congress later
recognized our responsibility by prescribing a farm
or government, and sur Supreme Court has estab-
Eshed their status part OF the United States
The problem Is thus larger than any party and
hence even with a change OF party a material
variation from our present policy would not be
possible In facing the situation to-day. Thoughts
Of what might have been will be rather a hin
drance than a help; work the very immensity Of
which Is Just beginning 10 be perceived oy has
been undertaken. without any prospect OF In
mediate. satisfactory completion: but il Is cur
task, and Ee have made encouraging start
II would be well. indeed Il every here az
home could os led 10 Join in the unanimous opinion
OF every American IN the Philippines. OF whatever
party. that democratic principles OF government
must be considerably modified when the people 70
be governed have the racial qualities. traditions
and history Of the FfIpinos Unless there BE- a
unity OF sentiment among the American people an
eagernsss OF spirit TO solve the problem in the
best possible way with the sole view OF the welfare
Of the Filipino. the experiment now iaaugurated
will fail The difficulties OF the problem ws are
only learning TO appreciate until the condi-
tions are better known. then we should suspend
Judgment. and certainly less prone to de-.
structive criticism OF the pioneer serTics now be-
Ing performed.
No amO1nt OF books. magazine articles and Isct-
ures transport the American at home 70 ,ns
Philippines. adequately supply the results OF
practical acquaintance with the islands IL IS
impossible for our legislators in Washington who
have not been the ground realize tEat this
group Is not the United States simply a few
years younger; and thus the talk Of independence in
. the course OF the argument In support Of which
simEarities pointed out between conditions
existing In the Philippines and those ilst be-
fore our Revolutionary War. Is apt 70 De mis-.
leading. Vain speculation without knowledge of
facts Is useless; what did happen IN The Philippines
could not have been prevented from happening.
An experience OF nearly three years n tie Phil
ippines has brought to the conclusion that the
FTlipinos incapable OF seI;-gove-nment: IN
their affairs they managed by few ambitious
! leaders They have not yet cultivated a sense oc
fair play and tolerance for those who differ in
opinion, and yet although the gift Q: setgovern-
ment IN fun measure was rot possible. 10 a degree
1t bestowed by granting practical autonomy
in provincial ard municipal affairs. Ttere
SIX hundred towns In which natives have In the
naain the control over their local affairs
is enjoyed by the residents OF OF correspond
ing size In the United States.
INDEPENDENCE THEIR IDEAL
Independence is a cherished IDEAL Of the FIJI
pinos and that they may ultimately realize this
ideal Is believe the unexpressed purpose Of those
who have undertaken the tuteiage Of these peoples
How Tar removed Is this realization Il 10 beyond
my power predict; the proximity or distance OF
it must remain matter OF opinion Certainly that
these peoples will viii not becoms an hide
pendent nation Is equally cut 0: the question For
come time come the political dependence Of the
islands upon the United sta tes must oe very r7zE
/ Granting independence in any near future Woulo
be great error, result IN SERIOUS nA4H-'
ard In the policy OF not attempting to N the cay
WREN the connection between the two ooanElsS
shall be merely nominal pursuing wise
course The doctrine OF the consent OF tAs gov
erned is indeed included in our scheme OF aoInls-
tratIon In these Islands 70 the tuHest extent 70
which n ever laid claim In the minds OF thoso VINO
hrst propounded it-namely. the granting OF SelF-
government to all who conpetent TO exercise
| II FOR their own beneAt and that Of society Inc
question OF the right OF a higher ciVih1auon y
dominate a lower Is enc capable OF hoch u'''1
zion. the ONLY Justification surely for sueh an eA
! ..,stor of sovereignty Is the material improve
| r,Apt ard the intellectual and moral elevation q
| the weaker race 49,.
The United States Philippine Commissioners naVs
erred IL In any direction. in gtvins 100 s'e~N
municipal affairs II Is an open secfe' '"9' - -
went further in bestowtng local self-soVesnn'9
than the Filipino leaders themselves adN'Se0' "
fact as President Roosevelt expressed II N "e'-
sage they reached the danger po'ht OHlT -
4aed nv our belief that the privilege OF VotIhs - "
I,eeIf an aducativa force IN the state. and thai
constantly increases the sefrespect OF the NoeeE,
can We Justify the establishment or the p'eS'A'
form of civil government IN ths Fhihpp'hs%
rba EyIipino peopIe taken a body are ea'ldfen
and childnke Go not know What - oTS' ~ -
That thew possess Ideals and ideas creates Ai'H
en6 bon. that ultimately they may De able 70 II
s.,tute a rspuhu. u1odsIIsd on the American "'ies
In the ideal spirit OF preparing them 5o' eNS -
or governing themselves finally taeiF Ai"9' -
Guardianship has begun Our pohtea! sN0E - -
NOT been Imposed upon the people 70 any 81 -
extent than was necessary. and oS tne very as
20 our supertorfty OF civilization and GUY Sle4~o-
capacity for Industrial activity "e are 'o"@
exercise over them profound socla4 "'-i1e =
sneakinS Of the future Of this country 'Hs 80
+f,rq 70 he euophasized throughout Is that al oo
Ss ~,ro, the temper we exercise IN the WerN
1rh.cb "a mapped out for US What Is oest 'e' E go
F'irptnos is the foremost consideration arc '',..
desire 10 put their interests nFst rathe'
Cosrer American exploitation has anirnateo In9
United States Philippine Commission u ~ -
legislative and administrative acts =.
Ev accident the United States found Nss" =
the Pbiupptnes Can any one question tho s1
vantage OF the change from spanish oo'4lA'
,o American protectton: First had 20 eoiho
rt.b tbe rife then military commission with tll0
80 80, az o,,-,I government with the dement's
90 American sovereignty; separation o. ehurch aa1
state: division and coordination OF f2ae'AI go
latlve and executive powers. rights O. sS.
writs Of habeas corpus assembly ana s'eS 80 sSoIi,
et-oesttor ~ nbIEatory military service ahS aSd
Fton Of the practiSe Of banshment spain JlS~lS "a
be- CONQUEST here only en-, en- Tss0Gn s Hpea Sefsef
addition just that moral oOhsaton "h''N w.
..,,,v.,.-, 70, sOY V,r. PROBLEM