The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-05-25
OUR POLICY TOWARD THE PHIL
lPPlNES.

delivered by Mr.. Morris Smith, one
of the graduates of the class of 1906
at the commencement Monday night:
In the year 1920. Magellan, a ia
nous explorer discovered a large
group of islands off the coast of China.
They were annexed to the Spanish
dominions and we're called the Philip
pine islands. in honor of Philip the
Second of Spain.
| These islands were captured by the
English in 1852. but were returned 10
Spain for the sum of 100000 pounds.
Since that time Spain has had COM
plete control until in 1898 they were
taken by Admiral Dewey, provis-
ional government instituted and for
NAL possession taken by the United
States. We had no end of trouble in
subduing the natives, and in fact, We
have net completely subdued them.
Governments have been organized in
nearly all of the provinces, but who
are the officers OF these governments?
They are Americans who have gone
over to the Philippines TO make for
tune out of the ignorant natives. The
system OF government in the Philip
pines is very similar TO the carpet bag
gers in the south between the years
1868 and 1876.
We have taken possession of these
islands and are using them as large
field for graft. What voice in the gov
eminent of the Philippines have the
natives? The English school teacher
has gone TO the islands and given some
of the natives a fair education, but
there are very few of the natives who
have given some of the natives a
fair education, but there are very few
of the natives who have sufficient
knowledge OF the English language TO
enter the civil service of the govern
ment of the Philippines. SO d very
large majority of the officers in the
civil service of the islands are Ameri-
cans who are either retired soldiers
or men who have gone there to sim
ply get all they can out of the United
States government. If we read the re-
ports from the different districts in
|
all signed by Americans. We never
see a Filipino mentioned as a govern
or of province, even though the same
province is his home and the home of
his forefathers. We have simply gone
to the Philippines. have taken COM
plete possession of chem and have shut
them out from all representation in
their own government. But neverthe-
less we call ourselves liberty-loying
Americans.
Foundation of Our Government.
| On what principle did our govern
ment have its origin? Was it not as
Hon. Ben Tilllman said in the senate.
on the principle that colonies govern
ed from abroad Arbitrarily is tyranny,
and we have returned To the policy
lof England which our fathers over
threw at Yorktown. Is il right. after
we have become a great nation. TO de-
fend a principle which we had TO over
throw before We could become indie
pendent?
Improvements.
! Since our government has taken
charge of the islands it has made Won
derful improvements on them. Many
millions have been spent on improv-
ing Manila and the other cities of the
islands. The rivers, harbors and means
OF communication have been improved
wonderfully But what benefits are We
going to derive form the vast sum
expended in the Philippines?
Think what great improvements
the great amount of money that we
have invested in the Philippines.
With the amount of money that is
made-not their salaries-by the gov
errors of a few of those provides dur
ing one year we could build a fine
building for Ocala. But instead of Civ
ing Ocala a government building and
one that would do credit TO any city.
our government eXpends millions and
millions of dollars on a government
for the nine million Malays in the
Philippines. and builds fine govern
ment buildings in which 10 carry on
| the gOvernn ent
| w = can iOph dIlN W mere anu see
where the money that is being wasted
on the Philippines could do vast
amount IF good. The Philippines are
supposed 20 be a wealthy group Of
islands and indeed they are great pro-
dueers Of wealth in the form of rice
and other prod1cts But are we going
to continue 10 take. the wealth Of the
ISLANDERS from Them and use II for
our own gcoi. and are We going 10
put IA tariff on their products and com
pei them to pay and then tell them
I that we are taxing them for thei-
benefit. Do they think thar the tariff
! is for their benefit? No. For what
benefit could they receive from uS--a
! people who are compelling them u
support a government in which they
have very little or no represc atation.
/ Is this right?
! BENEFITS.
/ We bought the Philippines IN order
that we might have a eoaling station
for Otlp fleets on tho way "a rho Ear