The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-29

than to have them awaiting an oppor-
tunity for instruction.
have already referred to the danger,
which may come to the principle OF
self government in the United States
from the systematic denial of self-gov-s
eminent to the, Filipinos: AS our Of;
presence in the Philippine islands By
alleging incapacity. in the Filipinos,
they find themselves unconsciously sur
rendering the governmental theories
which we're until recently universally
overlook the influence that these
changed opinions may have upon the
politics Of our own country if colonial
policy is indefinitely continued,
Neither can we ignore the fact that
our prestige as teacher Of the princi-
pies Of republican government must be
law Of force and defend ourselves by
using the arguments employed by kings
and emperors as an excuse for denying
| self;g0vernment to their own people
We cannot preach that governments
+ derive their just powers from the con-
sent Of the governed and at the same
time adopt different principle in
practice. ..r@ - = .'.':%.
| It is worth while also to remember
! that foreign service is more or less de-
moralizing on cur troops. Our soldiers
are good, average men, but all men are
more or less influenced by environment,
and our soldiers cannot be expected to
maintain as high a standard Of morality
when far away from home and the in
fuences Of home, as when their good
purposes are strengthened by the pres
ence Of mothers, sisters and friends.
| The hospital records show the extent
to which our soldiers yield, to the temp.
| tations which surround the post, and
the saloons that follow our army speak
| forcib bly, Of the dangers which attend
| foreign service. Can we afford to sub
| ject the morals of our young men to
| such severe tests unless there is some
national gain commensurate with the
loss9 .z% II. ~. -= S;4 -. r.. :.
i. a..gs.>~> +. !. +. r.. ~......%
= If our nation would at once declare
its intention to treat the Filipinos Hv-
Ing north Of Mindanao as it treated the
! Cubans, and then proceed first, to es-
tabllsh stable government, patterned
after our own; second, to convert that
government into a native government
by the substitution Of Filipino officials
as rapidly as possible;v third, to grant
| independence 10 the F1llp1noS, reSerV-
ing such harbors and naval stations as
may be thought necessary; and, fourth,
to announce its purpose to protect the
Filipinos from outside interferences
while they work out their destiny if
our nation would do this, it would save
trade interests, crafty the just ambi
tion Of the Filipinos for national ex
istence and repeat the moral victory
won to Cuba. -:.
In return for protection from with
: out, the Filipinos would agree, as the
! Cubans did, that.in their dealings with
other nations they would not .embar
rass us. = >: z-s~ . sss.sr
e. The reservations retained could be
converted into cenfers' foT Stheg S seS
sion of American induehee and sAmeri
can ideals, and our nation n OH sSsin
crease its Importance 81 s. real world
power. Unless our rsligion s and8soul
philosophy are entirely wrong, mora
forces are more perm anentts nd ID tn.
end more potent than physical ST orce
and our nation has an opportunity t,
prove that a nation = greatness, Xix