The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-03
SUNDAY, APRIL 8, 1904.
pHrLnpINr TNprpENpENoE.

The estimabla gentlemen in Boston who for nearly five years have been deciaiming against imperialism appear to have learn ed something. One of their number who had been declaiming as violently as any. finally said he felt like a man waving handkerchief to stop train that had al- ready gone whizzing by. This patriot has now joined with the others and to this number more names have been added, to protest against the retention by this country of the Philippines. These gentle men are circulating a petition for sigma lures the effect of which is to proffer the inhabitants of the archipelago their in- dependence. if not soon. then at a proper time. Apart from any opinion we may of the Philippines, we cannot but regard this movement, backed as 1t is by some very respectable names in the East. South and West. as unfortunate. Unless our ciEll and military authorities have gross- ly deceived us, our authority Is firmly established out there and all but univer- sally recognized The army men we have talked with, men who have spent one, two, three and four years in the Far East. give. it is true. no glowing account ofs our new possessions. They seem to think the islands will be an eneumbrance for a long time, if not forever This is possibly true, but it is no time for the Amercan people to be making promises that it may be found awkward to re- deem, We feel assured the American people have no disposition whatever Ao tyrannize over and oppress the FiIIpinos. They would like to see the natives con- tented and prosperous under our rule. Their condition has already improved immensely and if ever free trade should be established the islands would develop even more rapidly and we ourselves would be greatly benefited. It win be time enough to talk of independence when life and property Is secure every where in the Philippines and when the natives have demonstrated their fitness to under
 take the task of self government. To mt into their heads now. natives of the kind suggested, that we consider them entire ly capable of administering their own af- fairs and that we are anxious to commit the islands to their control. will Insa,v produce new and serious problems. Ev- cry assertion of authority by us will hs looked on as tyranny on the part of our civil or military representatives and our deyout people at home will be expected to countenance the Filipinos fin resistance. It is not mere pride of race that will make us insist that the authority of the United States shall be respected and obeyed. Our pride is involved, but the welfare of the Philippines is also at stake. We cannot now be sure we have in those islands territory and peoples that are fit to become and remain an in- tegral part Of our common country. The time may come when we must trust those races to walk alone; when we ought to do this. To promise them absolute free dom to be enjoyed at a future time Is to encourage discontent and possibly to fo- ment insurrections. One of the reasons we think that all the questions growing out of our new dependencies should wait. is that they will get their best solution under Democratic policies. This is a etNNiu N"O' HPOh "Hich tno Dehocratlc party will strongly appeal to the voters in November. The Democratic party Is not constantly on the make as the Re- publican party is; our party is not bound up in Its fortunes with the fortunes of rich individuals or corporations. Under Democratic rule all our islands and their inhabitants would be governed with a view to bettering the condition of the natives as well as to helping ourselves. Let the Philippines rock along for the present and let us think about the whole matter without being in hurry to de- eide either to free them absolutely or to 60 ahead with a fixed, determined and perpetual control