The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-22
ENGLISH TO Be THEIR TONGUE.
GOT.-GEN. SMITH TELLS FILL
PINOS NOW TO WIN GOAL.
Policy n America IL the Evolution OF q
Government BY Americans Assisted
nv FtIipinOs Into q Government Of
E1IiplnOs Assisted by Americana

P0IFN ~ tNuUeEtCh ~ Aho ENUluNhOn OF ~
Government by Americans Assisted
nv ~FtIipInOs Into a Government Of
FiriplnOs Assisted by Americana
The text Of the inaugural address OF Gen.
James F. Smith, the e Governor-Genera
Of the Philippines, arrived here yesterday
with accounts of his enthusiastic reception
by Filiplnos and Americans. These are
parts Of the address:
Never before in the history Of the world
was there a nation with greater power than
the I uited States to work its will on a helpless
peopi,. and never before In the history Of
the world. as this record shows. did a nation
more fully, more conservatively and more
humanely use the strength which was hers.
In the beginning she announced that she
had assumed sovereignty over the Philip
pines. not to enrich herself, but to beneht
the peoples for whom the chance of war
had made her responsible, and from the
beginning to this hour she has never departed
from the policy thus voluntarily marked
out a. her rule OF action.
The holding Of the Philippines, not for
selfish exploitation. regardless Of the rights
OF the people who resided in them. but as
q sacred trust for the benefit OF those Tor
whose well being the nation became respon-
sihle, the establishment OF q government not
for our satisfaction or for the expression Of
our theoretical views, but for the happiness,
pence and prosperity Of the Filipino people.
the evolution of a government by Americans
assisted by Filipinos into a government
Of Filipinos assisted by Americans, and the
education and preparation or the people for
popular self-government. was the broad
policy Of President Mckinley, Of Gov. Taft.
Of Governor-Genera Wright and Of Gov
srnor-General Ide.
II is the policy Of President Roosevelt.
and will he the policy OF the administration
which makes its initial bow to-day to the
people Of the Philippines. II ia the policy
which will leave me Filipino race happy
and contented in the realization Of its homes
and ideals-hopes and ideals rarely attained.
rarely enjoyed. save through blood and
tears.
II the great mass Of the Filipino people
were educated and instructed there would
he less difficulty in dealing with abuses,
whether committed by peace officers or other
officials, Indeed, with such a consumma-
ton achieved abuses would be reduced to a
minimum, since few would dare Cypress where
oil would know their rights and dare defend
them.
And so we come TO education, which after
oil is said and done is the base and founda-
ton upon which must rest every cherished
hope and beloved ideal OF the Filipino race.
Without 10 popular self-government is i'm
possible; without IL nationality Ia a dream.
Education will give to the Filipino a common
language-English. the tongue OF
the tongue which vies with French as the
language OF diplomacy. II will furnish a
common means OF communication to Tagalog
and Visayan. Pampangan and Pangasinan,
Blcol and ~llocano, and bring about among the
peoples of the islands, now divided and sep
aTafAd nv half ma MANY dialacTa M fhara
are provinces. that union Of action and that
community OF thought 30 necessary to stable
government.
The system of instruction which devotes
Itself exclusively to the cultivation OF the
mind and gives no attention to the training
OF the eye and the land is inadequate and
forces into clerical e~mployments and pro-
fessions for which they are untitled many
young men who. il given a fair chance, might
become excellent mechanics and artisans.
Instruction in the useful arts and trades
will therefore receive special consideration
in the Philippines and an earnest endeavor
will be made to give to every province and
ultimately to every municipality at least one
trade school, completely equipped for the
giving Of instruction in trade and inlustri"
work.
The question Of the Independence OF the
islands is one which can only be determined
by the American Government and is one
therefore with which the insular govern
ment has no concern save in so far as the
prosperity and welfare OF the islands may
be affected by any untimely agitation of the
matter. Unless indep endence is to be granted
Immediately, and l surmise that IL will not
be. IL seems to me that a good deal OF valu-
able time and energy Is lost by able men
which might be more probably employed
In perfecting the existing government and
In restoring commercial confidence and In
6ustrial prosperity.
Personally / doubt sincerely whether in
dependence will prove q panacea for all ills
10 which a people may fall heir. Indeed
II the experience of Russia counts for any
thing, and l think IL does. a people may be
linden endent and still be the most unhappy,
the most downtrodden. the most oppressed
Of all the world. And Cuba. has her new
found Independence and nationality. fought
for. bled for for more than thirty years,
given her good government and her people
peace and content? Were Cuba at the gate
way Of China it is extremely doubtful II she
would be permitted to gather wisdom from
further experience.
To me il has always seemed that independ-
ence without the force, without the means
10 maintain 10, lie not worth the having; that
the indep endence which exists by common
consent will be az durable as the interests
which made consent possible, and that In
dependence without good government is as
deceivinR as the mirage which promises
green slopes, shady trees and bubbling
springs, and leaves the trusting traveller 20
die Of thirst on the blistering desert sands.