New-York tribune., 1904-09-12


form indicated a radical change of policy; the
later utterances indicated continuance of the
present policy. But this caused trouble in their
own ranks; and in a still later although less
formal utterance. the sef-government promise
was recanted. and independence at some future
time was promised in its place. They have oc
cupied three entirely different positions within
fifty days Which is the promise they really in
tend to keep? They do not know their own
minds, and no one tell how long they would
keep Of the same mind should they by any
chance come to a working agreement among
themselves. If such ambiguity affected only the
American people it would not greatly matter.
for the American people can take care Of them
selves. But the Filipinos are in no such condi-
tion. Confidence is with them a plant of slow
growth. They have been taught to trust the
word OF this government because this govern
ment has promised nothing which it did not per-
form If promised independence they will ex-
pect independence not in the remote future for
their descendants, but Immediately for them
selves. If the promise thus made is not imme-
diately fulfilled they will regard it as broken,
and will not again trust to American faith, and
it would be indeed a wicked thing to deceive
them in such fashion. Moreover. even If the
promise We're made to take effect only in the
distant future the Filipinos would be thrown
TO endeavor to fit themselves for moral and ma
terial advancement in the present. they would
abandon all effort at progress and begin fac
tional intrigues for future power.
To promise to give them independence when it
is prudent" to do so, when they are "ft" for
IT, of course implies that they are not fit for 1t
now and that it would be imprudent to give 1t to
them now. But as we must ourselves be the
judges as TO when they become ''ht' and when
it would be prudent" TO keep such promise II
it were made. it necessarily follows that to make
such a promise now would amount to decep-
ton upon the Fiipinos.
WRONG TO DECEIVE FnIPINos.
1t may well be that opponents have no real
intention OF putting their promise into effect If
this is the case, II, In other words, they are in
sincere in the promise they make, It is only
necessary TO say again that it is unwise TO trust
men who are false in one thing to deal with any
thing. The mere consciousness of broken faith
would hamper them in continuing our policy in
the islands; and only by continuing unchanged
this policy can the honor OF the country be
maintained or the interests of the islands sub
served IT. on the other hand. our opponents
came into power and attempted to carry out
their promises to the FIlipinos by giving them
independence. and Withdrawing American con-
troll from the islands, the result would be q
frightful calamity 10 the Filipinos themselves.
and In It's larger aspect would amount to an in
ternational crime. Anarchy would follow, and
the most violent anarchic forces would be
directed partly against the civil government.
partly against all forms OF religious and educa-
tonal civilization. Bloody conflicts would in
evitably ensue In the archipelago. and just as
inevitably the islands would become the prey of
the first power which in its own selfish interest
4oOl- 4Fa fac HeA
OF course. the practical difficulty in adopting
any such course OF action-such a policy OF
scuttle." as President Mckinley called it-would
be found wellnigh insuperable. II it is morally
indefensibls to hold the archipelago as a whole
under our tutelage In the interest OF It's own peo-
pie. then It is morally indefensible to hold any
part Of It In such case what right have we TO
keep coaling station? What right TO keep con-
troll the Moro peoples7 What right 10 pro-
tect the IgorTotes from their oppressors? What
right TO protect the laV-abtdng friends OF Amer
ica in the islands from treachery robbery and
murder? Yet to abandon the island completely
without even retaining coaling station. would
mean TO abandon the position in the competition
for tbs trade OF the Orient which have
Quired during the last six years; and what is far
more important It would mean irreparable dam
age to those who have become the wards of the
nation. To abandon all control over the Moros
would amount to releasing these Moros to prey
upon the Christian Filipinos. civilized semi
civilized, as well as upon the commerce OF other
peoples. The Moros are in large part still IN the
stage Of culture where the occupations OF the
bandit and the pirate are those most highly re-
garded: and IL has not been found practical TO
give them self-government IN the sense that We
have been giving II to the Christian inhabitants
To abandon the Moro country. as our opponents
propose in their platform. would be precisely as
If twenty-five years ago We had withdrawn the
army and the civil agents from within and
around the Indian reservations In the West, at
time when the Sioux and the Apache were stin
the terror OF our settlers. It would be GRIM
inal absurdity; and yet our opponents have
pledged themselves thereto If successful in the
coming election they would either have to break
faith or else to do act which would leave an
indelible stain upon our national reputation for
courage and for good sense.
SPREADING PRINCIPLES OF LIBERTY.
During the last five years more has been done
for the material and moral wellbeng OF the
Filpiros than ever before since the islands first
came within the ken Of civilized man. We have
opened before them vista of orderly develop
ment in their own interest. and not a policy Of
exploitation. Every effort is being made to fit
the islanders for self-government. and they have
already in large measure received 1t, while for
the first time In their history their personal
rights and civil liberties have been guaranteed
They are being educated; they have been given
schools; they have been given libraries; roads
are being built for their use; their health is
being cared for; they have been given courts in
which they receive justice as absolute as it is
In our power to guarantee Their individual
rights to life. liberty and the pursuit OF happi-
ness are now by act of Congress jealously safe
guarded under fhe American flag. and If fhe