New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-21
QUESTIONS TO SCHURMAN.
Many Ask about Philippines after
address in Ne1C-ROcheUe.
He ADVOCATES sELF-GOvERNMENT.

He ADVOCATES SELt-GOh EhN VI l. y /.
Some persons n the audience at the New RocheIls
Peoples Forum yesterday took advantage OF tho
opportunity given to them after the address OF
President Schurman. OF Cornell. 20 ask him some
questions regarding the Philippine Islands. Or.
Schurman asserted In his address The True
Elements OF National Greatness" that force right
and ideas the body and soul q the nations
existence.
Il should Ike 70 ask Dr. schurman," said one
man in the audience. which one OF these three
ideas has been applied by this government to ASui-
uaId02 Where IS her.
I am disposed to answer nons Of them" replied
the former president Of the Philippine Commission
'Agunaldo has Withdrawn from the public gaze
voluntarily. but many OF his officers hold important
positions under the government one OF his Cab
met IS chief justice Of the Islands Aguinado has
played the same part in the Philippine struggle
that General Lee took after our Civil War"
DR.. Schurman continued:
It Is our business to prepare the people Of the b,
IndeneudenCe was good for US II Is good Tor tfeHi
would like to see done Tor the Philippines IN rea-
souably longer time. The principles or the Dec
dealings with other nations and other peoples;
There are too many Americans whose fathers alst
free the black race. who now assert that mo UIo
hone Hte 70 ste Porto Rico State don't believe
that the United States is incapable Of governing
provinces. but I do believe that by the Consi l
which the King Of England TIE car Of Russia
ca q Therefore the sooner porto tsllo All, biie
other provinces con be put on the same basis as
the state OF New-Tork. the better.
The Philippines have a population OF seven anu
p half millions Seven millions OF these are Chris
fiaue The other half million are Mahoul,'d h7
and Nforos. The Filipnos are the biggest 'frlS-
tan nation OF Asia They have lVed three nun
drci wears under n Catholic civilization. W i!at
arc W 10 do with them2 -,
There are three things possible: Retain them, as
q colonial province and govern them the way tn'lt
T-rt-l4Dd does India: another way is 20 make them
n territory. / think race prejudice Is TOO strong
for this IL IS hard for AngO-SaXous 70 fTalefnlze
with Asiatics. Another obstacle to terriJorlaI an
reZrtioD e. the tariff. Tariff extension would be
ruiuqls and not advantageous to them. IN. Ihlrd
ALTERNATIVES is apply our ideas 20 them JUST as
coon as they feel themselves responsible Tor gov
comment they should he permitted 10 exercise il.
I have no quarrel with the past. believe "hat
6as been done in the Islands was wise ana eN-
r.siient and I don't believe that any other party
I'D a. been In power. would have adopted 4 ma
ferio1Iv different policy. No better administrator
c,--lf have been given TO the Flhpinos than tlat
30 Governor TAFT. But while ideals and principles
r-fet f times Of emergency be waved aside, there
20 no reason why should abandon them
In referring 20 the Northern Pacific merger Dr.
c,r,,rr,ar r,raised the attitude Of the American
aorlo in waiting sereney while the courts were
dcterypiling the rights o. capital ana the public
'.Tust think Of n nation Of seventy millions OF
reople not selling the sword when their interests
were at stake but calmly waiting for the decision
of the courts, When tho decision finally arrived
the reoole accepted It with equanlmity. There Is
no question OF the majesty Of the law there. he
-,f7 IS n reality