Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-12-08
pity or tie c:vilaed world.
The Philippines.

In the Philippine Islands there has been
during the past year a continuation OF
the steady progress which has obtained
ever since. our troops definitely got the
upper hand OF the insurgents. The Phil
ippine people. or. to speak more accur-
ately, the many tribes, and even races.
sundered from one another more or less
| sharply. who go to make up the people
Of the Philippine islands, contain many
elements Of good, and some elements
which we have right to hope stand Tor
progress At present they are utterly
incapable of existing In independence at
all or Of building up q civilization OF
their own. I firmly believe that we can
help them to rise higher and higher in
the scale OF civilization and of capacity
for lf-government, and I most earnest
ly hope that In the end they will be able
to stand, II not entirely alone, yet In
some such relation to the United States
as Cuba now stands This end is not yet
In sight, and It may be indefinitely post
poned 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
a stable. orderly and Just government,
and toward foolish and dangerous In
trigues for complete independence for
On the other hand our people must
keep steadily before their minds the fact
that the justification for our stay In the
Philippines must ultimately rest chiefly
upon the good we are able to do In the
islands. do not overlook the fact that
in the development of our interests in
the Pacific ocean and along It's coasts,
the Philippines have played and will play
an important part, and that our interests |
have been served in more than ono way
by the possession OF the Islands But our
chief reason for continuing to hold them |
must be that we ought In good faith |
to try to do our share Of the worlds |
work, and this particular piece of work |
has been imposed upon US by the results /
OF the war with Spain.
For Elective Government.
Within two years we shall be trying
the experiment Of an elective lower
house in the Philippine legislature. 1t
nay be that the Filipinos will misuse
his legislature. and they certainly will
Misuse 1t If they are mlsled by foolish
persons here at home into starting an
lgitation for their own independence or
nto any factious or improper action. In
UGH case they will do themselves no
.ood and will stop for the time being all
urther effort to advance them and give
hem a greater share in their own gov
rnment. But II they act with wisdom
nd self-restraint, If they show that they
re capable Of electing legislature
vhich 10 its turn is capable of taking q
ane and efficient part in the actual work
government. they can rest assured
hat full and increasing measure of
ecognition will be given them. Above
II. they should remember that their
rime needs are moral and Industrial. not
official. 1t Is a good thing to try the
Experiment. Of giving them a legislature;
ut At Is far better thing to give them
,hools. good roads, railroads which will
lable them to get their products to mar
Of. honest courts. an honest and eflcient
and all that tends to pro-
ice order, peace. fair dealing az betweenIl ,
an and man, and habits Of intelligent
dustry and thrift. II they are safe
larded against oppression. and II their real
ants. material and spiritual. are studied
telligently and In q spirit Of friendly {
much more good will DO done {
EN- than by any effort to give them
'litical power, though this effort may
Its own proper time and place b
oper enough.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.