Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-09-08
TAET's MISSION TO THE PHILIP.
DINEc

PINES.
A writer ON political subjects I'm M
eastern parer is actually quoted ri
length In n suggestion that IL Sec
rotary Taft is going To- Japan on his
tour of the world with an offer &c
Japan of the Philippine Islands, nc
VIII make himself an invinciblc can
didatc for the presidency. That writer
must be quoted only to show the
absurdity OF his contention. or course
the Philippines arc bad bargain for
us: they have cost much and are n
menace to our peace In the Pacific
they are like Il perpetual boil on n
mans body. but like that boil they
can not be cut out and flung away.
We could cut them adrift and allow
any nation to gobblc them up: we
could establish n protoctorate OF n
kind ana let them do their own goo
crning; we could allow them to go
to the dogs, or we could turn them
over to Japan-if Japan really wanted
them. That is. we say we could do
any and all of these things, but as n
matter OF fact we can't.
The adoption of the Paris treaty ir.
r6vocably fastened the Philippines
upon us. That huge blunder was com.
mittcd by the Republican party under
the advice of It's most skilled polite
ians but not It's best statesmen. With
our eyes open and against the pro.
test Of such men MS Senator Iloar of
Massachusetts. Senator Halo OF Maine,
THOMAS =. Reed of Maine. md Sam.
ucl W. Mccall OF Massachusetts. the
Republicans accepted the Philippine
Islands. IL is true they were aided by
Few Democrats. quite number of
whom were induced to vote for the
| ratification of the treaty by William
j. Bryan. but the bald fact remains
that tho Republicans were RESPONSE
Bile. To absolutely turn about face
now is utterly impossible. Not only
Is 1t impossible for the Republicans
party to reverse itself. but the people
OF the United States tried out the issue
In 1900 and In n presidential cleo.
ton endorsed the action OF the party
In acquiring the Philippine Islands. for
the Democrats made that their para.
mount Issue in the campaign.
SO not only the party in power, but
the people have endorsed the pur.
chase; have accepted the fortunes
OF war and the blunder OF peace
making. hut moro than ali that, TAFT
would be the last man to und ar.ll:a
the mission suggested. Taft vii, do
much for Roosevelt. ayai C the co, q
he has accepted the Roosevelt FRO.
gram III all its essentials But II ne
should receive Instructions 10 60 To
Japan and dispose ,t the Philippines
Ills resignation wolld follow lhc re.
ceipt of the order. Taft believe; IN
the Philippines. lie thlrks TINT some.
thing can be made OF them. Patiently
he has lnborcd for years mr. The pco.
pie OF those islands He gave IN n
place on the bench. most congenia,
to him, in order to carry out the policy
OF Mckinley and in order to bring
about the civilization of the islands.
The hardest work of his life and his
best years have been given to tho
philippines. IL anything ever comes
of them thch people OF the islands will
owe 1t to Taft; II is the main pror
OF his presidential boom.
To pile more proof upon this alb.
surd proposition, 1t may be added that
Theodore Roosevelt is about the last
man to take back track in the poIIcy
OF expension and keeping what we
haveDacIuired. 1t may be that a sc.
cret vote of the members OF Congress
would disclose n majority in favor OF
geating rid of tho Philippines rs
quickly as possible, but no such vote
VIII be taken. II 1t should be taken
1t would he vetoed by Roosevelt. To
add a little more 1t may be added
that the people of the United States
whatever they may think of the bar.
gain we made. are not ready 10 cut
and run just yet
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