New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-07
TIE PRESIDENT ON THE PHILIPPINES

TIE PRESIDENT on THE PHILIPPINES
II is perfectly evident from the vote at the
recent election that the great majority OF the
American people are We'll satisfied with the pol
icy of the administration toward the Philip
pines. Judge ParkeTs complaints ana his pre-
liosterOus figures awakened no popular re-
Spouse. The avowcd purpose OF the Repubii-
can party not TO complicato the problem by
any promises for the future, but to direct all
the energies of the Filipinos to the imme-
date task Of advancing In Industry order and
civilization, was emphatcally approved. The
President declares what may now be con
sdered the settled doctrine of our people
when he says, in his annual message, Of the
Fpnos:
At present they are utterly incapable Of ex-
Using in independence al all or Of building up
We can help them 10 rise higher and higher
IN the scale OF civilization and OF capacity for
self-government and most earnestly hope that
IN the end they VIII he able to stand If not en-
ltrely alone, yet in some such relation to the
United States as Cuba now stands This end
IL not yet in sight, ana il may be Indefinitely
postponed II our people are foolish enough to
turn the attention OF the Filipinos away from
the problems Of achieving moral and material
prosperity. Of working for stable orderly and
Just government, and toward foolish and dan
geroUs iutrieues for a coTnpIete i777enen5a1ce e.
which they are as yet totally unfit
Perhaps it is too much TO expect a certain
class OF academic agitators to consider any
thing settled. If there was left any reasonable
chance that they could persuade q majority OF
the voters 10 their view, they would have an
excuse for going Oh. But when their prona-
ganda for q promise of speedy independence is
evidently ineffective here, and serves only Ia
make trouble in the Philippines. Is ii unrea son
able 10 ask them 10 cease and join in fastening
Philippine autonomy in the only practical way
they can hasten it, by helping all the Fipinos
70 work faithfully for the success OF the pra-
vailins policy; The President does not sneak
IN his message as partisan, but as the head
of the whole people actuated by the single
purpose of meeting Alright this great national
responsibility. He should have the cordial CO.
operation OF Congress and OF all csizens ire
spectiye OF domestic politics. In his course he
has acted without regard to politics sending
men out TO the Philippines because. and only
because, he thought them the best men he could
find for the work Of civilization II is time for
others 10 lay aside the factous spirit What
ever academic theories anybody NAV hold he
must recognize that, the President Doints
out. the prime needs OF the Filipinos are moral
and industrial, not political. and make the first
duty the establishment OF these our wards on
firm moral and industrial basis
The Presidents specific recommends lions ara
well calculated 10 promote insular civilization
What he says about the need OF industrial do
reiopment and the harm done by those who
would prevent the passage of laws inviting
capital 10 the islands is perfectly true. Nobodv