Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-02-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON LETTER.
IN Interview With Governor Tan, the
New Secretary Of War.
(From our Regular Oorrespondsnt.)
Washington, D. c., Feb. 6.-Gov-
7rnor Taft returned from the Philip
Zines to be Secretary of War, is a god
send to Washington correspondents.
1t isn't every public man who is so &C.
cessible. 1t is not always easy to get
frank expression of opinion from Sec
rotary Hitchcock, Attorney-General
Knox, or Postmaster G eneral Payne;
from Senators Lodge, Beveridge or
Bailey. Some of them are always in
too much hurry and some have stand.
off manner intlmidating to an inter
viewer. The new Secretary is easily
accessible, frankly responsive. and bis
head has not undergone any material
enlargement on account of aceumuIat-
ing donors.
found him at his desk yesterday
and had good talk with him. "They
say you are in favor of independence
for the Filipinos, said your cores
pondent.
neutrality-suspicious.; they are
not flt for Independence at present, I"
be replied.
He was reminded that anti. imperi
alists insist that self government ID a
natural right, like personal freedom,
and that any p eopIe, for instance the
Kaffirs and Hottentots of South Africa,
know their own wants and can govern
tn emselves better than even the wisest
nation can govern them.
Eyes. l know, he said, 1.-THE anti
imperia lists are all at sea about that.
The English and Germans can teach
the savages that civilization is both
profitable and agree able"
"Then you hold. of course, that
Daniel Webster was wrong in opposing
the Mexican War, war of conquest.
He was nicknamed the Mexican for
it by those who know that California
was valuable asset. and insisted that
we had right to steal it,
Eyes, Webster was mistaken in some
things that he said," rejoined the Sec
Rotary. Your persevering correspond
ent produced some memoranda.
"Froude's declaration that free coun-
try cannot govern subject provinces:
Lincoln's, that mo man was eyer good
enough to govern another man without
that mans CONSENT" any sundry
norsels from the Declaration OF Inde.
randence. The Secretary said. II can.
aot enter upon polemIeal discussion
concerning the proper basis of gov.
eminent and the principles which
should control a nation; even If you
nd could settle it, she continued
with laugh, have hardly time to 70
into it.n
Your correspondent explained that
bis reason for bringing up such ques-
tons was that Goveanor Taft had op.
posed the acquisition of the Philip.
pines in tho beginning.
But now" said the Secretary, 1--WE
fsce the status quo, the prevailing con-
ditions, and 1t is only with them can
deal. l have disenGaged myself from
many merchants, promoters, and edi.
tors in the Philippines, who believed
that affairs there should be admins
tered primarily for the profit of Ameri-
cans, and now come home and dnd
myself confronted with the antrim
ptrialists. IL this fair2"
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 prosper.
ty and justice in the Philippines" he
They want to get rich
Some of them insist
hat. as the archipelago belongs to the
Americans, the feelings, ambitions,
md wishes of the natives should not
,e at all regarded or respected. They
lespise them. and frequently insult
md abuse them. Unless their rancor
IAN be allayed, and the hostility of
commercial adventures in the United
states diminished, the solution of the
will be long delayed. The
octrine which we have announced and
triven to realize was .McKinley's; it ,
INVOLVES high moral principle which
his nation is bound to enforce In spite :.
# all obstacles Every law and every i
MEASURE must be construed In the light :
# it. If it will help the Filipinos, it
aust be adopted and executed; if it
ends to the injury of the Filipinos, 1t !
aust be discarded and defeated, whom r
oever else it profits. You have called q
bis a humane policy. 1t is much :
lore than that. It Is a commercially
rise policy. We will never get much v
rofit out of those rich dependencies a
Mess We make ourselves the friends Of :
heir people and abide by the principles :
t justice. Avarice without justice c
I'LL be our ruin, and if We are not just. ii
ur administration in those islands
ill be failure. But do not expect 9
his. / expect that, under Governor q