The Teton peak., 1904-09-08
PHILIPPINE PROBLEM
OUR DUTY lS PLAIN AND " WILL
BE PERFORMED
United States Will Properly Educate
the Natives Of the Archipelago ioT
elf-Goyerume ent "A Responsibility
that Will Not Be Shirked.

The problem Of the Philippines is how
most thoroughly and quickly to teacn tns
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 wailing over our new east
ern possessions are the representatives OF
that self-distrust which weakens indlvid-
uals and nations.
"What are We going to do with the
Philippines p shrieks the sentimentaiist
Of the arm chair and slippers?
1--WE are going to do as we would be
done by" answers the sturdy spirit OF
American manhood.
"But the Philippines should be inde-
pendentv' moans q voice choked with
| emotion.
1--WE are teaching them sslf-govsrn-
ment," Is the rejoinder.
The American people are not quit
ters." Nor are they subject to the emo
tional 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 IL 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
them7 What IL 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, by inhabitants ranging
from high civilization to naked savagery,
came into our possession, and with il
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 10 our custom to carry the trusts
laid upon us as a nation.
To teach self-government there, as WI
understand it in the United States, il
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
ligious freedom and toleration; fighting
savage tribes In remote districts, to pro
tect the lives and property Of all who
live within the borders of our nationa
authority. Such is our work to-day.
Upon the ancient growth of Spanish
civilization. in the towns and cities W,
are engrafting the new life of American
ism. Does anyone doubt the ultimat,
effects Of such a process, after what ha.
heen done upon our own continent within
the last hundred years7
The dealing with the natives of the isl
nnds is serious and puzzling affair, bu
who is better fitted than our nation, nour
ished, as it is, by great ideals, for sucl
work? The world has come to Sc,
that the savage is but man in his child
hood; that like a child he must be pro
tected. taught, borne with and led int,
the larger life of maturity. In Ameri
can life are the elements for the savin,
and civilization of the most remote tribe
of the Pacific islands; let us trust our
selves, and give ear no longer to tn
auguries and omens of those who hav
faith neither in God nor man. but wh
continually cry out upon all that is done
or wished or hoped for by the workers o
the world.
One thing at a time and every day 70
its work, is a good rule in government, a
it 10 In the life Of an individual. Th
. , thing to do with the Philippines Is t
. help them forward in the world-to in
: spire. guide and govern them in accord
ance with American ideals and tradition.
AS to the future we can trust futur
Americans and future Filipino-Amer
cans. This is the full extent Of our imp,
rialism there.