The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-02-10
TAFT ON The PHILIPPINES.
Giving His Views of the Conditions
in Our Island Possessions.

returned from the PhItlpp1neS 20 De
Secretary of War, is a godsend to
Washington correspondents. It isn't
every public man who is 80 accessible.
It is not always easy to get frank
expression of opinion from Secretary
Hitchcock, Attorney General Knox,
or Postmaster General Payne; from
Senators Lodge, Beveridge or Bailey.
Some of them are always in too. much
hurry and some have stand-of man
ner intimidating to an interviewer.
The new Secretary is easily accessible,
frankly responsive, and his head has
not undergone any material enlarge
ment ON account Of accumulated
honors.
found him at his desk yesterday
and had good talk with him. 'They
say you are in favor of Independence
for the Filipinos, saio your CORES
pondent.
Protection-protection, they are
not fit for independence ct present, "
he replied.
He was reminded that anti-imperial-
lists insist that self-government is a
natural right, like personal freedom,
and that any people, for instance the
Kafirs and Hottentots of South Africa,
know their Own wants and can govern
themselves better than even the wisest
nation can govern them.
eyes, I know" be said, "the anti
imperialists are all at sea about that.
The English and Germans can teach
the savages that civilization is both
'sThen you hold, of course. that
Daniel Webster was wrong in opposing
the Mexican War, war Of conquest.
He vas nick named the Mexican
for it by those who know that Califor-
MIA was valuable asset, and insisted
that we had a right to steal it,
Yes, Webster was mistaken in some
things that he said,'' rejoined the
Secretary. Your persevering cores
pondent produced some memoranda.
ssFroude's declaration that "a free
country cannot govern subject pro-
vinces::' - Lincoln's, thatE no man was
ever good enough to govern another
man without that mans CONSENT and
sundry morsels from the Declaration
OF Independence. The Secretary said,
's'I cannot enter upon polemical dis
cusssion concerning the proper basis of
government and the principles which
should control nation; even if you
and I could settle it. /" be continued
With a laugh, 81 have hardly time to
go into it."
Your correspondent explained that
his reason for bringing up such ques-
tions was that Governor Taft bad op-
posed the acquisition of the Philip
pines in the beginning.
.sBut now,' said the Secretary" We
face the status quo, the prevailing con-
ditions, and it is only with them that
{ can deal. I have disengaged myself
from many merchants, promoters, and
editors in the Philippines, who believ-
ed that affairs there should be admin
istered primarily for the profit Of
Americans, and now come home and
find myself confronted with the anti
imperialists. Is this fair?"
Your correspondent inquired how
far the hostility Of these promoters
went IN opposition to his humane shib-
boleth, 1.-The Philippines for the Fill
pinos. -
"They delay the triumph Of pros
perity and justice in the Philippines, :"
he answered. "They want to get rich
Immediately. Some of them insist
that, as the archipelago belongs to the
Americans, the feelings, ambitions,
and wishes of the natives should not
be at all regarded or respected. They
despise them, and frequently insult
and abuse them. Unless their rancor
can be allayed, and the hostility of
commercial adventures in the United
States diminished, the solution Of the
problem will be long delayed. The
doctrine which we have announced
and striyen to realize was McKinley's
it involves a high moral principle
which this nation is bound to enforce
in spite Of al obstacles. Every Law
and every measure must be construed
in the light of it. If it wils help the
Filipinos. it must be adopted and ex-
ecuted; if it tends to the injury OF the
Filipinos. it must be discarded and
defeated, wbornsoever else it profits.
You have called this humane policy.
It is much more than that. 1t is q
commercially wise policy. We will
never get much profit out of those rich
dependencies unless We make our
selves the-friends of their people and
abide by the principles of justice.
Avarice without justice will be our
ruin, and if We are not just, our ad-
ministration in those islands will be a
failure. But I do not expect this. |
expect that, under Governor Luke
Wright all schemes for loot will be
abandoned and justice Will be so firm
ly established and dispensed that tie
people will unanimously request our
continued protection and prefer our
government to their own.
''You ask about sanitary conditions
I am a living testimonial to the health
fulness of the Philippines. - With a
comprehensive gesture he displayed
his three hundred pounds of avoir-
dupois. Manila is the bealthiest city
in all the tropics. An American who
respects the laws of hygiene, does not
persist in hard labor too many hours
in day, let's hot liquors alone, exer-
cises enough to keep his liver active,
and generally takes care Of himself,
may live there as comfortably as here.