The river press., 1904-09-28
.PHILIPPlNE PROBLEM
OUR DUTY is PLAIN AND 1T WILL
BE PERFORMED.
United States Will Properly Educate
the. Natives of the Archipelago for
Self-Govcrnmer = A Responsibility
that Will Not Be Shirked.

The problem of the Philippines is how
most thoroughly and quickly to teach the
people of the great archipelago Of the
Pacific government; such self-gov-
!crnlnent as Americans enjoy. first. i'll the
territories, and then in the States Of the
Union.
The cssayists and agitators who arc
weeping and wailing over our new east
crn possessions are the representatives Of
that selfdistrust which weakens individ-
uals and. nations.
''What are we going to do with the
philppines:' shrieks the sentimentalist
of the arm chair and slippers?
I'VE are going to do as we would be
done by answers the sturdy spirit of
American manhood.
but the Phil. .>pines' should be indie
emotion.
| ment.'' is the rejoinder.
The American people are not quit
trrs." Nor are they subject to the emo
tional distress and anucmic apprehen-
sions of hystcrical or sellile persons. We
have plain duty before us in the Phil
irpines NOW. To do our work there to
the best of our present ability is our
task. We can trust the future to the
SONS and daughters of the American ma
! tion.
What il the Revolutionary fathers had
| stopped in the midst of their war for
independence to debate whether their de-
scendants would worthily acquit them
selves in the new liberty to be granted
them? What if the liberators of millions
Of slaves had stayed their God-directed
hands to listen and reply to arguments as
to the fitness of the colored people for
lives as human individuals?
The great forces which rule the uni
verse work by human means. The in
struments are imperfect, but guided by
great ideals man has accomplished Won
ders for his race. The Spanish wal
threw upon the great American republic
all unexpected. even unwelcome, burden
Of responsibility. A vast country, peo
pied like our own, by inhabitants ranging
from high civilization to naked savagery
came into our possession, and with il
came immense responsibility. To shirk
that responsibility is impossibly un-Amer
lean. We have taken it upon us. and we
shall carry it US bravely and hopefully
as it is our custom to carry the trusts
laid upon MS as nation.
TO teach self government there, as w
understand it in the United States, j:
eur task. We are building and opening
free public schools; teaching sanitary sci
cnce and the necessary rules for public
health; showing the way to complete re
ligious freedom and toleration; fighting
savage tribes in remote districts, to pro
tect the lives and property Of all win
live within the borders of our nationa
authority. Such is our work to-day.
Upon the. ancient growth of Spanis|
civilization, in the towns and cities W
!. are enyra fling the new life OF American
, ism. Does anyone doubt the ultimat
effects of such a process, after what ha
, hcen done upon our own continent With
. the last hundred years?
/ The dealing with the natives of the is
ands is a serious and p,lzzling affair, bu
who is better fitted than our nation, nou1
: ished, as it is. by great ideals, for sue
:, a work! The world has come to Sc
that the savage is but man in his chilt
$ hood; that like child he must be PR
: tected, taught, borne with and led int
: the larger life of maturity. In Amer
can life are the elements for the savill
I and civilization of the most remote tribe
e OF the Pacific islands; let us trust on
) selves. and give ear no longer to tt
u uugnries and omens of those who hay
faith neither in God nor man. but wi
Il continually cry out upon all that is don
J. or wished or hoped for by the workers
the world.
70 One thing at time and every day f
+ its work is a good rule in government.
: it Is in the life Of an individual. III
II thing to do with the Philippines is
u help them forward in the world-tO i
II" spire. guide and govern them in accor
!" ance with American ideals and tradition
'e As to the future we can trust futl'
ie Americans and future Filipno--'
!! cans. This is the full extent Of our iEil
rialiSm there.
o. lECT WE E0RCET