New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-22
TAFT ON PHILIPPINES.
PLEA AGAINST POLITICS.
american Control Urged Before
Chamber of Commerce.

n.
The Chamber of Commerce helc speciaa
meeting in it's hall. IN Liberty-st, yesterday, to
hear an address by William H Taft the SEQ
retary Of War, on Conditions IN ths Philip
pines There large attendance. and SEQ
retary Tafts address was received with earnest
attention and hearty applause
Among the guests OF the chamber on the occas
sion vera Baron Kentaro Kaneko, Japanese
statesman travelling IN this country; Bishop
Henry c. Potter, Major General Corbtn- Rear
Admiral Erben. James c. Carter, white1aw Reid.
Bishop Coadjutor David II. Greer, Carl SchuES.
Nicholas Murray Butler, John Il Finley. ths
Rev. DR.. W. r. Huntington. St Clair McKeIway-
Alexander E. Orr. the Rev. DR.. Leighton Parlzs~
Colonel Osmun LatrObe. Captain James A. NI0su~
Charles Stewart Smith and Thatcher NJ Adams.
WELCOME By PRESIDENT JEsUP.
Morris K Jesup. president OF the Chamber, In
PRODUCING Secretary Taft, said:
Gentlemen OF the Chamber; You will rsmembsr
that this is an adjourned meeting and that are
here Tor the purpose , OF extending our cordia!
OF War. who has kindly consented to address "a
the Philippine Islands. Do not let forget
interested The Chamber OF Commerce has always
and for TT the 5enea or the people and we DO no;
forget that these seven millions OF F'ilipnOs are
wards. children by adoption. We
DO what for them unseldshly. and want To
know what Is the best 10 do. irrespective OF pol
ttics or anything of that kind; want informa-
tiOn. and you know as well "a do that there is
living American that can give US this infOrna-
ton. unbiased and true. as we'll as our dis
/ am glad that he is here with us 1 am glad that
for a moment We can dwell on other thinss De
us at tirnes as a G,hsnber OF Commerce 70 look on
the rnOrsI-sssss OF life and 20 Know what We "a
out the highest and best instincts or 1hs nation:
you the honorable Secretary OF War tApplause1
SECRETARY TAFT'S ADDRESS.
There was cordial and enthusiastic greeting
to Secretary Taft by the members Of the Cham
ber Mr.. Taft said:
Your president Nr Jesup has been good enough
70 invite to address you / should have declined
but for the opportunity which it gives % bring
70 the attention OF the SOLID business men , or EsW ~
The pe5PIe OF the United States have under their
guidance and control in the Philippines an archi-
pelagO Of three th9Gsand ISLANDS. ne pop4llal&95 &
are Christians and 6e0e00 Moros or other pagan
Moros Is the same as that which England has had
in the government Of the Straits Settlements or
FiIpinos Is a very different problem. and one which
it has fallen 10 the OF the United States only
The attitude Of the American people toward the
There are those who think that the Declaration %
1SnfV over them; 1T there are shoss Who With
out respect the Declaration OF IndePendence be-
ftIe fitb i'm the solution OF the problem by teach
are anxious 10 get rid OF the islands before they
there sre those Who hold that fate Brought thsss
Islands under our control. and that thus 2 duty
were not injured BY the transfer. As friend of
th s c of Who SaSs Ss'G sss
IN the welfare oI the Islands. and w Del osisve Sa.I
ton than 10 assist the people OF the Islands TO.
enable them to secure to themselves the enjoy
ment of civil liberty. (AppIauseJ
RESULT OF THE WAR.
The war with Spain led far away from Cuba,
whose condition was its cause. to these 0sautiful
islands in the Oriental tropics. After Dewsy's
Ti.tIIy within American control there was no sscsps
from the dilemma which was then and thereafter
cept the one which they foo Three SsC courses were
sh6Sid turn the Islands back 70 her But in the
legitimate course OF the campaign we had called
forces with whom the people Of the Islands were
on our part to have delivered them over TO spain,
with the bloody conflict which would Inevitably
Could we have delivered the Islands over 70 tbs
troll and that not always completes, IN from eight
called Of 4guinaidos friends A large majority OF
the delegates had been directly appointed BY him
They formulated and adopted a constitution "a ths
basis of q popular government The constitution
toa of the UHited states that of Ssze9 i snd that
OF the Arsenttne Republic 1t had no llfe- for is
government was despOtic. and oppressive 70 even
a greater degree than the spanish government
ever had been and rssistance 10 fts authOrirv
caused by its dishonesty and oppressive measures
In the provinces in which IL had authority. was
frequent and disturbing The adoption OF the con-
SutCtion at MalOlOs not Indicative OF tho
capacity OF the people to maintain popular self
government. IL represented only acadeuiO
aspiration bv the drafters The result mere
committee work. without the slightest evidence Of
the practical Operativeness OF the Instrument from
previous actual experience in government by tn9
people. The only real government which existed
under AguinaldO that OF the One-man power.
arbitrary and inCOnSderate Of the people WITH
these facts before the United States, submit thac
there was no escape rom the dilemma except tho
acceptance OF a transfer OF the sovereignty of
Spain and the assumption OF political control over
the Filipino people until by proper measures and
pa tent governmental training and experience they
could be given self-gOverning capacity.
NO INJURY TO AMERICANS.
Concerning the objection that this is
business FOR the United States. which will have a
dsmOralizing effect upon the nation. think M
one fs able to point out injury which has thus
far resulted TO the people of the United states
80 faw and order IN the islands during the insur-
Tacfion and the regrettable loss Of life which
cIrrred Certainly thus far show the
hsIefuI effects OF that dreadful spirit oe greed
which the opponents OF the policy so prone 10
sat. IN everything done with respect TO the Phil
fDDincs i challenge them to point out ANYTHING
which has been done to the Philippine Islands.
either Immediately under the sOvernment there
esta ablished. by the United States which savors
IN the least of a selfish OF those Islands for
the benefit either OF the individuals In the United
States of the governments itself The only thing
which be seriously made the basis or stcs
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