Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-12
OUTLINED THE POLICY
TAFT TOLD THE FILIPINoS OF
GOVERNMENTS PLANS.
Address at Manila Last Night at
Banquet Given Distinguished Party
by the Natives.

] A banquet given by natives to Sec
| rotary Tafts party at Manila. P. l., last
| night attracted great interest. as it was
| expected that Secretary Taft would outline
| the position of the present administration
| For some time the feeling of the natives
| has been that the administration was de-
| waiting from the Mckinley policy, and as a
| result there has been a noticeable disaffec-
| ton among politicians with the insular
government, and also much unrest.
This attitude was met fearlessly by Sec
rotary Taft, who upheld the administra
ton policy When he finished his ad-
| dress he was loudly applauded He said,
| in part in response to the toast, THE Pres
ent Administration in the Philippines"
"On my part 1t is due you that IL L do
nothing else tonight l should make clear
| the views of the administration upon the
| present and future of the islands
The American people are divided upon
| the question am to discuss into three par
1 ties.
| Issue Carefully Outlined.
There is a considerable number who
| have the real imperialistic idea of extend
! ing the influence of America, by purchase
| and conquest. into the orient, enlarging the
| power of the American government for
! the purpose of controlling the Pacific and
| securing the largest share possible Of the
| oriental trade, yet undeveloped, during the
| next one hundred years.
| There is a second party. and this Is
| much the largest. who regard our taking
| over the islands from Spain after the war
with the gravest reluctance, and who
would have been gratified in the extreme
| If the assumption Of the burden could have
| been avoided.
The Issue has been under consideration
| by this party. and, indeed. by the whole
| American people, and the attitude Of mind
| they now hold respecting the Philippines
| may be stated with some accuracy.
They have come to the conclusion that,
J however reluctant they were to accept the
tate thrown upon them, II Is their duty to
meet the responsibilities imposed upon
| them with promptness. courage and hope.
They believe that they have become the
trustees and protectors of the whole Phil
| ippine people. and must prepare that peo-
pie to maintain the stable government now
there. There is third party, which favors
giving the Islands immediate independence.
This party may be divided into two classes
having different motives.
Self Government the Great Purpose
The first class is anxious to rid the
United States of the burden Of governing
! the Filipinos for the benefit of the United
States. The second class is anxious to rid
the Philippines of the government of the
United States, on the ground that the Fill
ipinos make their own government.
HIS tiIliO par DecH Twice Oeledteu
In an election on that issue.
The second party has for its chief ex-
ponent President Roosevelt. He believes
that IT is the duty of the United States to
prepare the Filipinos for self-government
This will require a generation, and prob
ably longer. and the form of Self-govern-
ment will be left to the individuals who
will control the two nations at that time.
1t follows that the President, and he him
self desires me to say this to the FNlipinos.
feels charged with the duty of proceeding
| on this policy and maintaining the sover-
eighty of the United States here as an in
strument of the gradual education and Gle
walton of the whole of the Filipino people
to a self-governing community.
Must Learn Democracy.
Secretary Taft, in forceful language, said
that the Filipinos who wished to rule this
country must first learn the principles Of
democracy by sending their children to the
common schools before they could invite
the United States to transfer the trust
which had been thrown upon 1t to the
shoulders of the F'ilipinos. To make a self
governing and popular democracy. primary
education, habits of greater industry and
thrift must always be kept, he said, before
the young, patriotic Filipnos.
In number of the provinces" he said,
the people with the greatest difficulty
avoid starvation. Now, this is not due to
the soil unfavorable agricultural condi-
tons All these are easily overcome by the
industry which is manifest in Java and
Japan. The foundation of great nation
| like Japan is in the industry, thrift and In
telligence of the people"
The Secretary affirmed that a popular as
sembly would be formed. If no insurrection
eisted In April. 1907.
The administration policy, he said was
the Philippines for the Filipinos. If the
American officers were not IN sympathy
with the natives, they would be recalled.
Secretary Taft said in conclusion that ii
was the Presidents desire that all must
work for their benefit. Representative Hep
hurn smoke along the same lines.