The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-12

I SELIIeTS, nOTne-TIlaKeTS, WHOSE
| announcement is a traditional feature
| in Americas national policy. Do our
/ opponents grudge the fifty millions paid
for the Panama canal? Do they in
| tend to cut down the pensions to the
| veterans of the civil war? Do they
| intend to put a stop to the irrigation
| polfcy2 or to the permanent census
bureau? or to the. immigration in
rural free delivery? Do they intend
to cut down the navy? or the Alaskan
telegraph SYSTEM Do they intend to
dismantle our coast fortificat;ons? If
there is to be a real and substantial
cutting down in national expenditures
~ must be in such matters as these.
me department of agriculture has
done service of incalculable value to
the farmers of this country in many
dlnerent lines Do our opponents wish
70 cut down the money for this ser
wee? They can do it only by destroy
ing the usefulness of the service itself
The Public Service.
The public work of the United States
has never been conducted with a high
er degree of honesty and efficiency
than at the present time; and a special
NEED of praise belongs to those off,
Gals responsible for the PHILIPPINES
and Porto Rico, where the administra-
ions have been models of their kind
VI course wrong has occasionally &C.
CURED, but it has been relentlessly
stamped out We have known no mar
ty in dealing with offenders, and have
hunted down without mercy every
wrong-doer in the service of the nation
whom 1t was possible by the utmost
vigilance to detect; for the public SER
want who betrays his trust and the pri-
Vate individual who debauches him
stand as the worst of criminals be-
cause their crimes are crimes against
the entire community. and not only
against this generation but against the
generations that are yet to be-
Our opponents promise independ-
ence to the Philippine Islands Here
again we are confronted by the fact
that their irreconcilable differences of
opinion among themselves, their
proved inability to create a construc-
tive policy when in power. and their
readiness, for the sake of momentary
principles upon which they have in
sisted as essential, conspire to puzzle
us as to whether they do or do not in
tend in good faith to carry out this
the government. In their platform
they declare for independence, APP
parently-for their language is a lit
tie obscure-without qualification as to
time is an absurdity. for we have
neither right nor power to bind our
successors when it is impossible to
foretell the conditions which may con-
front them; while if there is any prin-
cfple involved in the matter, it is just
as wrong to deny independence for a
few years as to deny it for an indefi-
mite period But in later and equally
official utterances by our opponents
the term Self-government was SubSti-
tuted for independence; the words
used being so chosen that in their nat
ural construction they described pre-
cisely the policy now being carried on.
The language of the platform indi-
Gated a radical change of policy; the
later utterances Indicated a continu
ance of the present policy. But this
caused trouble in heir own ranks; |
and in a still later although less for
promise was recanted, and independ-
ence at some future time was promised
in its place They have occupied three
different positions within fifty !
days. Which is the promise they real
ly intend to keep? They do not know |
their own minds; and no one can tell
how long they would keep of the same |
mind, should they by any chance come
to working agreement among them |
selves. If such ambiguity affected only |
the American people n would not so
greatly matter; for the American peo- |
pie can take care of themselves. But
the FilipinoS are in no such condition.
is with them a plant of
slow growth. They have been taught
to trust the word of this government
because this government has promised
nothing which ii did not perform. If
promised independence they will ex-
pect independence; not in the remote |
for their descendants. but i'm
mediately, for themselves. If the
promise thus made is not Immediately |
fulfilled they will regard it as broken,
and will not again trust to American
faith; and it would be indeed wicked |
thing to deceive them in such fashion.
Moreover, even if the promise were
made to take effect only in the distant
future. the Filipinos would be thrown
into confusion thereby. Instead OF con-
tinuing to endeavor to fit themselves
for moral and material advancement in
the present, they would abandon all
effort at progress and begin fractional
ntrigues for future power.
POLICY of ScuttIe."
To promise to give them independence
when it is prudent to do so, or when
they are fit for it. of course implies
that it would be imprudent to give it to
them now. But as we must ourselves be
the judges to when they become ''fit,'
and when it would be prudent" to keep
such a promise if it were made, it neces-
Sc now would amount to a deception up
1t may be well that our opponents have
INTO effect. If this is the case, if, IN
other words. they are insincere in TIE
10 say again that it is unwise to trust
men who are false in one thing to deal
If broken faith would hamper them in
our policy in the islands; and
)nly by continuing unchanged this policy
IAN the honor of the country be main
aimed, or the interests of the islands sub
served If, on the other hand, our op-
OonentS came into power and attempted
% carry out their promises to the Filipi-
los by giving them independence, and
American control from the
Stands, the result would be a frightful
to the Filipinos themselves. and
n its larger aspect would amount to an
International crime Anarchy would fol-
ow, and the most violent anarchic forces
would be directed partly against the civil
government. forms |
'eligious and educational civilization.
Bloody conflicts would inevitably ensue in I
he archipelago, and just as inevitably
he islands would become the prey of the
irst power which in it's own selfish in