East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-01-04
outlcck's Review Of the
Philippine Question

Rniiippine question appears IN the
current number of the Outlook:
Mt. Ireland. In his interesting and
valuable article on american Ad.
rninistration in the Philippine Is
hands," contributed to this Issue OF
the Outlook. thus defines his point OF
view: 'That he (the Filipino) can re-
main in his present geographical en-
vtronment, free from the constant
overnight of a non-troplcal race, and
ye; Become, even In the course OF
ages, "a creature OF schools. ballot
boxes. and free political institutions,
Is beyond any flight Of imagination
which ls checked by the smallest
knowledge of tropical life"
/! Sometime self-governine.
That Is not the American point of
view, The American believes that ev-
>efy race OF man In every land and in
every, climate can become In time "a
creature OF schools, ballot boxes. and
free political institutions" That Is
more than a political opinion bred in
the school OF experiences: Il Is more
than q political conviction born with
the birth OF the nation: II Is a spiritu-
al faith. 1t Is the secret of the Amer
lean spirit of humanity. OF its open
door TO the foreigner. of its war for
the emancipation OF the slave. OF the
enthusiasm which has made It the
progressive and prosperous nation
that Il is.
rS A. ovax taaa. f,tth ,r r,an ~
ceases TO be American, For the loss
of that faith would be more than any
conceivable change In Its laws or its
constitution. 1t would be q change in
the spiritual fiber of the people them
selves
That the American administration
m the Philippines has been accom-
panied by serious mistakes no one
would be quicker to admit than some
of those who have been conducting
that administration.
That the system OF taxation needs
radical change Is recognized by the
Philippine commission and by them
urged upon congress. That the Is
landers need good roads and generous
expenditures for that purpose is rec
ognized by the recent action OF the
United States senate,
That the school system should
make more adequate provision for in
dustrial education is very probable.
That the expenditures may be re-
duced is possible: though 1t must not
be forgotten that 1t costs more to
make a people self-governing than 1t
does to govern them.
Education Necessary.
But no arguments can change the
conviction of the American people
that expenditures for an education
which makes men add more to the
wealth of a community than expendi-
lures which make roads. irrigating
systems, forest conservancy. and good
market places. -
No arguments can shake their faith
that II is possible to make of the Fill
pino people a people of schools. bal
lot boxes, and free political institu-
tions. II this Is an ideal of imagina-
ton, 1t is one to the realization of
which the American people have
committed themselves, and from their
8Cil-dpBOHlbCu letoh tic OuhAOoh uUt1
not believe any arguments derived
from the experience of the past will
induce them to draw back.
Ever since American sovereignty
has been established in the islands It
has been used with one end kept con-
stantly in view. namely. the develop
'ment of a elf-governing community
cut of people who have neither by
inheritance nor training a present ap-
titude for self-government.
American Mission Outlined.
This is the reason why America
pledged her national credit in order
to purchase the lands from the friars
and overthrow the ecclesiastical and
economic servitude which was fatal
to seIf-government; why she devoted
the energies of her army officers.
even before the insurrection was yet
over, to establish a system of public
education which experience has shown
to be essential to self-government:
why she is reluctant to allow Ameri-
can capitalists to become large land
owners, because she wishes to reserve
the public lands for the Filipinos;
why she is reluctant to admit the
Chinese, because she fears the disas-
trouB effect OF their competition on
the less efficient native laboring pop
ulation: why she has organized con-
fessedly complicated and expensive
system of government, because only
by allowing the Filipinos to manage.
and IL need be mismanage, their town
affairs, and to have some voice in
their provincial and general govern
ment, though this involves temporar-
lily both poorer and more expensive
administration, can the Filipinos be
taught to govern themselves.
No doubt England has governed
subject peoples admirably. and the
Crown colony Is simpler and cheap
er form Of government that the one
we have adopted in the Philippines
No doubt, too, under such an auto
cratic form OF government the is
lands would be developed more rap
idly.
Development, Not Exploiting.
But America is attempting to de-
velop. not the islands, but the is