The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-09-12

ponents came into power and attempted
10 carry out their promises 10 the Fill
pinos by giving them Independence and
withdrawing American control from the
Islands. the result would be a frightful
calamity TO the Filipinos themselves. and
In Its larger aspect would amount 20 an
international crime. ~
ANARCHY THE RESULT.
Anarchy would follow; and the most
violent anarchic forces would be directed
partly against the civil government, part
ly against all forms or religious and edu-
cational civilization. Bloody conflicts
would inevitably ensue I'm the archipelago,
and just as inevitably the islands would
become the prey OF the first power which
In Its own selfish interest took up the task
We had cravenly abandoned or course
the practical difficulty In adopting any
such course OF action--such q policy OF
scuttle." as President Mckinley called Il
would be found we'll nigh insuperable.
IL II is morally indefensible 10 hold the
archipelago as a whole under our tutelage
In the interest OF it's own people, then II is
morally indefensible TO hold any party OF
IL.
In such case what right have we to
keep a coaling station? What right 10
keep control over the Moro peoples?
What right 10 protect the Igorrotes from
the law-abiding friends OF America in the
islands from treachery. robbery and muir
der? Yet, to abandon the islands COM
pletely, without even retaining a coaling
station, would mean TO abandon the po-
sitfon In the competition for the trade OF
the Orient which we have acquired during
the last six years; and what Is far more
important. II would mean irreparable
damage TO those who have become the
wards OF the nation.
To abandon all control over the Moros
would amount TO releasing these Moros
to prey upon the Christian F1lipinos, civ
ilized or semi-civilised, as we'll as upon
the commerce OF other peoples. The Moros
are I'm large part still in the stage OF
culture where the occupations OF the
bandit and the pirate are those most
highly regarded; and II has been found
practical TO give them self-government in
the sense that we have been giving It
to the Christian inhabitants. To abandon
the Moro country. as our opponents pro-
pose In their platform, would be precise
ly as IL twenty-five years ago we had
withdrawn the army and the civil agents
from within and around the Indian res
ervations In the West, at time when the
Sioux and the Apache were still the ter
ror OF our settlers. 1t would be Grimm
al absurdity; and yet our opponents have
pledged themselves thereto.
would either have to break faith, or else
TO do act which would leave an indelible
stain upon our national reputation for
courage. and for good sense. During the
last five years more has been done for the
material and moral well-being OF the Fill
ipinos than ever before since the islands
first came within the ken OF civilized
man. We have opened before them a
vista OF orderly development in their own
interest. and not policy OF exploitation
FOR THE FILiPINos.
Every effort is being made TO fit the
islanders for self government, and they
have already in large measure received IL,
while for the first time in their history
their personal rights and civil liberties
have been guaranteed. They are being
educated: they have been given schools;
they have been given libraries: roads are
being built for their use; their
health is being cared for; they
have been given courts In
which they receive justice as absolute
as IL II in our power to guarantee. Their
individual rights to life. liberty and the
pursuit OF happiness are now by act OF
congress jealously safesuarded under the
American flag; and IL the protection OF
the flag were withdrawn their rights
would be lost. and the islands would be
plunged back under some form OF vicious
tyranny. We have given them more self
government than they have ever before
had; we are ticking steps TO increase II
still further by providing them with an
elected legislative assembly; and
surely we had better await the
results OF this experimentation II
Is a wholly new experiment In
Asia-before we make promises which
as a nation we might be forced to break,
or which they might interpret one way
and we in another.
IL may be asserted without fear of sue
cessful contradiction that nowhere else in
recent years has there been as fine an
example OF constructive statesmanship
and wise and upright administration as
has been given by the civil authorities,
aided by the army. In the Philippine Is
lands. We have administered them in
the interest of their own people, and the
Filpinos themselves have proflted most
by our presence in the islands; but they
have also been OF very great advantage
to US as a nation.
FOUNDATIONS NOT "sAPPED."
So far from having 'sapped the founda-
tions" of free popular government at
home by the course taken in the Philip
pines. we have been spreading It's knowl-
peoples to whom II had never before been
more than an empty name. our action
represents a great stride forward In
spreading the principles OF orSerly liberty
lost it's gift of benediction In it's worb-
wide journey to their shores" We have
treated the power we have gained as a
solemn obligation. and have used II in
the interest OF mankind; and the peoples
OF the world and especially the weaker
peoples Of tho world. the better of be-
cause OF the position we have assumed.
To retrace our steps would be to give
proof OF an infrm and unstable national
purpose.
Four years ago, In his speech OF aSsSpt-
ance President Mckinley said:
we have been moving In untrfed paths. |
but our steps have been guided by honor
and duty. There will be no turning aside. |
no wavering, no retreat. No blow has !
been struck except for liberty and hu-
ana mono will be. We will per-
form without fear every national and In |
ternational obligation. The Republican |
party was dedicated TO freedom ~ years |
ago II has been the party Of liberty and |
from that hour: not OF pro- |
Nession, but OF performance IT broke the /
shsckles OF 100000 slaves, and made |
hem free, and to the party OF Linco1n-I
has come another supreme opportunity /
which IL has bravely met in the liberia /
Son Of ten millions Of the human family |
from the yoke OF Imperialism In It's |