Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-28
Judge Gray on the Philippines.

1t is difficult to conceive more effective
statement of the American position with re-
gard to the Philippine Islands than that en-
braced In the extract from Judge George
Gray's speech on the subject delivered in
New York in February. 1899 and quoted in
the course of an article printed in yester-
days Star. That speech, it is to be borne
In mind, was delivered shortly after the
ratification of the treaty, in the framing of
which Judge Gray nad borne an important
part. 1t came with the greater force be-
cause of the fact that he had adopted the
view embodied in that instrument reluc-
family. as final and unavoidable necessity.
He was ardent "imperialist,'' as the
word then applied. He was no advo-
cate of the policy of the deliberate &C
QUESTION of distant territory. He was in
tent solely upon proper performance of a
duty forced upon the United States by the
circumstances of warfare, a duty which
could not be evaded with credit to the
American honor or performed in any other
way than that laid down in the treaty Of
Paris
Judge Grays contention in 1899 stands to-
day sound as it did then. The situation
has not changed, save for the better. The
dangers OF insurrectiDn have been passed.
The islands have been pacified. The turbu-
flag of the new sovereignty. and have been
led into ways of prosperity and education
and political enlightenment They have
been given share in their own admins
tration, remarkably large, in truth. in view
OF the long stretch of years marked by
their total exclusion from all political ac-
tivities and their unftness for self-rue
when the Americans assumed the respon-
sibilties of government. In the face of
immense difficulties, some OF them of our
own making some Incidental to any such
enterprise. we have in less than a decade
brought order out of chaos, planted schools
throughout the Islands, fostered industries
opened the polls and given the Filpinos
many guarantees Of our honest intent to
advance them morally, mentally and po-
litically.
If in the face of he difficulties that ex-
listed in 1899. with a hostile force combat
ing the American sovereignty, thousands of
miles from our military bases, with suspf-
cion rife among all he tribes, with intrigue
menacing us in the Philippines and in the
United States. with politicians. seeking to
pervert and distort the issues growing out
Of the new situation. with the American
government struggling with the lack of ex-
perienCed colonial administrators, if in such
case Judge Gray himself a believer in
the poHcy of annexation only by force of
urgent necessity. could utter such optimis-
tic sentiments, it III Dehooves the American
people today. for any purpose or from any
motive. TO speak OF Withdrawing from the
Philippines because forsOoth, they may not
have proved profitable commercial VEN
ture
Tire patriotic words OF Judge Gray, re-
printed yesterday III The Star. stand as a
severe reproof to very advocate of with
drawal from the islands, whatever may be
the proposition advanced as basis for the
readjustment No prepayment of a sale to
the islanders themselves, or to any other
power, can meet the plain, sweeping. con-
vincing statement of the case uttered in
1879 by man who then saw his duty as an
American despite mis- immediate inclinations
and who gave himself to the accomplish
ment of a task which in the assumption ard
In the performance stands at this time to
the infinite credit Of the United States.