Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-02-14

lively declared by Mckinney, ana ttoo',
and Roosevelt and Taft, has been and
Is to promote the good of the Filipino
people; to mplant among race who had
no knowledge of free institutions the
blessings and benefits chat We believe
arise therefrom: TO develop the Islands.
not for our own benefit but for the bene-
At of the inhabitants thereof; to bring
10 them. so far as conditions warrant,
institutions that have proved to he of the
highest advantage to us and to all other
people who have enjoyed like institutions;
to train the people in the arts of civilian
ton and to lift them mp to higher ideals
ard to a higher type OF social order 1t
has been said by Mr.. Benjamin Kidd In
Control Of tho Tropics" that There
never has been and there never will he.
within any time with which we are
practically concerned. such thing rs
good government. in the European sense,
IT. the tropics, by the natives OF those
regions. ........The tropics will not be
developed by the natives Themselves,
We have undertaken the problem Of
proving that. however true Mr.. KIDD s
statements may he ~ to the past. there
Is no hard and fast rule as TO the
future.
If good government has never before
been developed among and for the people
OF the tropics, our reply is that no othcr
nation has ever devoted itself to such
lofty ideal. Such n mission as we have
assumed is altruistc 20 the highest de-
gree and II we are successful, we snail
demonstrate not merely that n govern
ment is able to have its actions controlled
ny tho most lo,,y sentiments Of henero-
Hence and good will to those less fortunate
than themselves. but also that free inst-
tutions are, with suitable notifications,
fitted for free men the world over. mo-
ment's glance at what We have under
taken in the Philippine islands shows the
marvellous contrast with what has been
ATTEMPTED in other tropical or oriental
countries where the primary purpose has
! been to exploit the countries and their
| inha bitants. and to obtain from them he
greatest advantages possible for the ru.~
ing people. We have devoted ourselves
| to the establishment of schools through
out the islands; 10 tho Introduction or
over thousand American teachers for
the purpose of teaching the English Ian
guage. and teaching the Filipinos how TO
teach: to the building of school houses {;
to the organization Of a civil service more
rigid and more thorough than prevails in
the United States or any state thereof; I"
the promotion of santa tons, bringing
about a reduction OF nearly one-half In the
death rate of the city of Manila; 10 the
thorough investigation of the methods Of
determination OF diseases Of animals, that
have played tremendous havoc in the in
dustries OF the islands; to scientific work
tending to the promotion Of the industrial
prosperity OF the people; to reform In
the currency; to reorganization or the
judiciary and legal procedure, such that
justice Is administered as promptly. hon
estly and economically as In any State in
our Union: to the building OF roads and
bridges; to the settlement of land titles
to ending long standing agrarian Difficult
ties by the purchase of land belonging
to the religious bodies and the sale or
lease thereof to the tenants or occupants
to reforms in taxation. whereby multi
tude of petty taxes which fell upon the
poor and the weak have been removed
and the burden transferred largely to TO-
bacco and alcoholic products: to the in
PRODUCTION OF new railroads and the i'm
provement of inter-island transported ION
by water; to the organization of munich
pal provincial and central governments
such that the element OF local autonomy
in the arts of government TO diffusing =
common language. with which to unite al
parts of the archipelago together: q
tea ching the people how to maintain gooC
order: TO keeping the government solven
and able to pay its own expenses. No
where in all history has there ever beer
such another attempt It is unique. I
stands out by itself. However far W.
may fall short of complete achievement
1t is a glorious thing to have set such AZ
example to the world. and to have dc
voted ourselves Loyalty 10 the lofty idea
Of lifting people from the lower level
10 the higher, and to fitting them to take
their place among the civilized people o
the earth.
There are those who think that W.
should turn back and drop the task which
we have assumed; that we should let on
hands fall by our sides anu see the worl
that we have undertaken tumble int,
fragments. Judgments will differ as I,
' whether wo ought to have attempted thi
giants task; but we have attempted !.
and entered upon II, and have alread,
made tremendous Roadway. The question
i Is not. therefore. ought We to have en-
tered upon this work. but, having entere
upon 1t. under circumstances that wer
practically compulsory. shall We abandon
S all that has been done and leave n peopl
absolutely unframed in the arts OF gov
eminent to undo what has been accom-
j pished. and to engage in dissensons an
civil wars and retrogressional? Niue
4 might be said as to the justice q
l. of the Mexican War. or the wisdom q
: the annexation of Hawaii. or the pur
= chase Of Alaska; but we fought the Mex
= can var; we annexed Hawaii and W
Q purchased Alaska Those events hav
: become history. and SO has our acuuis
e ton OF the Philippines and our assumptio
d of great duty toward them W
y destroyed the only government III
II Filtpinos had ever known; they ha
t absolutely no experience or education {
g training in the arts Of self govern men
n The duty was imposed upon us Of protec
t ing them against themselves and OF su,
: plying something better TO take the plas
It or the government that we had destroye,
e We assumed the position of trustees.
9. guardians, to those people. II we are Sc
l. appointed guardians, We still have a
l. stunned the office with all it's responsible
e ties and duties Having driven out Il
= only guardians the F'llipIros had. We a.
= not justified in leaving them. untrain.
l. as they are, in helpness condition.
Al quarrel with and fight and rob o,
Z another.
Is The great lack OF the Filipino Peep