Milford chronicle., 1904-09-09
PHILIPPINE PROBLEM
OUR DUTY IS PLAIN AND IT WILL
BE PERFORMED.
United States Will Properly Educate
the Natives of the Archipelago for
Se1f-GOvernment A Responsibility
that Will Not Be Shirlced.

The problem Of the Philippines is how
most thoroughly and quickly to teach the
people of the great archipelago of the
! Pacific self-government; such self-gov-
ernment as Americans enjoy, first, in the
| territories, and then in the States Of the
| Union.
The essayists and agitatOrs who are
weeping and waiing over our new east
crn possessions are the representatives, Of
that self-distrust which weakens individ-
uals and nations.
What are we going to do with the
| Philippines?" shrieks the sentimentalist
of the arm chair and slippers!
I'VE are going to do as we would be
done by" answers the sturdy spirit Of
American manhood.
But the Philippines should be inde-
pendent" moans a voice choked with
emotion.
I'VE are teaching them self-govern-
ment," is the rejoinder.
The American people are not quit
ters." Nor are they subject to the emo
ti0nal distress and anaemic apprehen-
sions Of hysterical or senile persons. We
have a plain duty before us in the Phil
ippines NOW. To do our work there to
the best of our present ability is our
task. We can trust the future to the
sons and daughters of the American ma
ton.
What if the Revolutionary fathers had
stopped in the midst of their war for
independence to debate whether their de-
scendants would worthily acquit them
selves in the new liberty to be granted
them? What if the liberators of millions
OF slaves had stayed their God-directed
hands to listen and reply to arguments as
TO the fitness of the colored people for
lives as human individuals?
The great forces which rule the uni
verse work by human means. The in
struments are imperfect but guided by
great ideals man has accomplished won
ders for his race. The Spanish war
threw upon the great American republic |
an unexpected. even unwelcome. burden |
of responsibility. A vast country, peo- |
pied like our own, 10y inhabitants ranging |
from high civilization to naked savagery, |
came into our possession, and with it |
came immense responsibility. To shirk |
that responsibility is impoSsibly un-Amer-
lean. We have taken it upon us, and we
shall carry it as bravely and hopefully |
as it is our custom 70 carry the trusts
laid upon us as a nation.
To teach seif-government there. as we
understand it in the United States. is
our task. We are building and opening
free public schools; teaching sanitary sci
ence and the necessary rules for public
health; showing the way to complete re-
igious freedom and toleration; fighting
savage tribes in remote districts, to pro-
-ect the lives and property of all who
i've within the borders of our national
authority. Such is our work to-day.
Upon the ancient growth of Spanish
in the towns and cities we
ire engrafting the new life of American
sm. Does anyone doubt the ultimate
fleets Of such a process, after what has
'een done upon our own continent within
he last hundred years?
The dealing with the natives of the isl
inds is a serious and puzzling affair, hut
7ho is better fitted than our nation, nolr-
shed, as it is, by great ideals, for such
work? The world has come to see
hat the savage is but man in his child
lood; that like a child he must be pro-
ected, taught, borne with and led into
ne larger NE or maturity. In Ameri- |
an life are the elements for the saving
nd civilization of the most remote tribes
# the Pacific islands; let us trust our
elves, and give ear no longer to the
uguries and omens of those who have
aith neither in God nor man, but who
ontinUally cry out upon all that is done.
r wished or hoped for by the workers of
he world.
One thing at time and every day for
IS work, is a good rule in government as
is in the life of an individual. The
hing to do with the Philippines is to
elp them forward in the world-to in
pire, guide and govern them in accord
nee with American ideals and traditions
Is to the future we can trust future !
americans and future Filipino-Ameri- ,
ans. This is the full extent of our impe-
alism there.