The Minneapolis journal., 1904-12-06
THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
What Should Be Done to Make the
Islanders Nearly Independent.

THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
What Should Be Done to Make the
Islanders Nearly Independent.
. In the Philippine islands there has
been during the past year a continua- #
ton OF the steady progress which has
obtained ever since our troops definitely Il
The Philippine people, or, to speak more a
accurately, 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, con-
tain many elements Of good and some
elements which we have a right to hope
stand for progress: At present they
are utterly incapable of existing in III
dependence at all or Of building up a
civilization Of their own. ,t3J
them to rise. higher and higher in
the scale Of civilization and Of
I most earnestly hope that in 4
the end they will be able to stand, il
not entirely alone, yet in some such Il
relation to the United States as Cuba II
now stands. s.-.-$
This end is not yet in. sight, and ii #
may be indefinitely postponed If our
people are foolish enough to turn the /
attention Of the Filipinos away from the
problems of achieving moral and ma
terial prosperity, of working for a
stap snd 1GSdif Foolish 2Rd ahd
trigues for complete Independence for
which they are as yet totally unfit.
On the other hand, our people must
keep steadily before their minds tho
fact that the justification for our stay
in the Philippines must ultimately rest
'' do in the the islands. % I do OF not 0es over j.
look the fact that in the development
of our interests in the Pacific ocean
and along its coasts, the Philippines
have played and will play an
Important part, and that our interests
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
world IS work, and this particular piece
of work has been imposed upon us bN
the results of the war with Spain.
Problem in the East.
The problem presented to. us in tho
Philippine islands is akin to, but not
exactly like, the problems presented to
the other great civilized powers which
have possessions in the orient. There
. are points or resemblance in our work
to the work which is being done by the
French in. Algiers, by the Dutch in Java,
i, by the Russians in Turkestan, by the
Japanese in Formosa; but more distinct-
ly than any of these powers are are en-
deavoring to develop the natives them.
selves so that they shall take an ever
e increasing share in their own govern
t ment, and as far as it is prudent we
$ are already admitting their representa-
Y tives to governmental quality with
j. our own. There are commissioners,
\ Judges, and governors in the islands who
e are Filipinos and who have exactly the
same share in the government OF the
o Americans, while in the lower ranks,
9 of course, the great majority OF the
= public servants are Fillplnos.
i 49, - Elective Lower House, ~
y Within two years we shall be trying
e house in the Philipp!i5ne legislature: II
\ this legislature, and they certainly will
n misuse it if they are misled by foolish
4 persons here at home into starting an
g agitation for their own independence or
t into any factious or improper action. In
y good and will stop for the time being
q all further effort to advance them and
s give them a greater share in their own
il government.
+ + But if they act with wisdom and self
- - restraint, if they show that they. are
e capable of electing a legislature which
n n in its turn Is capable Of taking sane
q and efficient part in the actual work Of
8 government, they can rest assured that
r. a full and increasing measure OF recogn1-
tion will be given them.
Above all they should remember THAI
their prime needs are moral and nous.
trial, not political. It is a good thing
to try the ekpfrment Of gIIiag Ieagar them thin
to give them schools, good roads, rail-
J. roads which will enable them to get
o. their products to market, honest courts.
D. an honest and efficient constabulary.
j. and all that tends to produce ordert
n man, and habits Of intelligent. industry
4 4 and thrift. If they are safeguarded3
!. !. against oppression, and if. their real
n wants, material and spiritual, - arg g
IS studied intellgently and IN Split "a
ID be done them than by any effort to glys
:. a. them political power, Tho this. effort
i may in it's own proper time and place be-
w proper enough.
W Meanwhile our own people should re re'
~ Americans sent to the Philippine islands,
" " not only among the public sery-
ie 1e ants, but among the private individuals l
s- ,s It Is because feel this so deeply thai
81 81 In the administration Of these islands
a. a. have positively refused to permit any
~ ~ discrimination whatsoever for political
- ~ reasons and have insisted that In choos-
u ing the public servants consideration
should be paid solely to the worth OF
the men chosen and to the needs Of the
n islands. - III, Il.
a. public service than we have in the Phil.
Of ippine islands under Governor Wright
TT and his associates. So far as possible
o. these men should be given. a free hand
v and their suggestions should receive the
p hearty backing, both of the executive
as and of the congress. There is need o.
IL, a vigilant and disinterested support OF
to our public servants in the Philippine:
II by good citizens here in the United
lc, States. Unfortunately, hitherto those
ed Of our people here at home who have
ld Il 9 of the Filipinos have in realty beer
~ ~ their worst enemies. This will continue
70 ~ to be the case as long as they strive t.
us us make the Filipinos independent and stol
oy ~, all industrial development of the island'
VI VI by crying out against the laws whIel whIel
NO would bring it on the ground that cap
IJ italists must not g exploit y the islands
ia ia Such proceedings are not only unw1se
IF IF but are most harmful to the Filipinos
,e- who do not need Independence at all
hut who do need good laws, good pub