The Washington times., 1907-10-23
HOLD PHILIPPINES,
IMPROVE THEM
"A. S. Draper
Friends of Dependent
Races Begin Session at
Lake Mohonk.
New York's Commissioner
of Education Talks of ISL
andS' Future.

MOHONK LAKE. N Y. Oct. 25.-In
celebration OF it's twenty-hfth ami
Yersary. the Lake BIohonk Conference
OF the Friends Of the Indian and Other
Dependent Peoples assembled here TO-
day. ane sessions viii continue until
Friday night.
This years session will devote con-
siderable time TO discussion Of the
Philippine Hawaiian. Cuban, and Porto
Rican peoples.
The initial session was devoted 20 the
preliminaries OF organization and listen
ing to the annual address Of President
Andrew s. Draper. who said in part:
Year after year, twenty-five times.
t1e keen interest which the proprietor
Of this estate has had IN all unf0r-
tInate men and women has brought
tEis conference 70 its gracious hospi-
tally in order 70 promote the good OF
the American Indians. Since the war
With Spain for the rescue of Cuba the
discussions Of the conference have eX-
tended to the millions Of people who
came under the sovereignty Of the
United States as the result OF that COLI
nicL We may well begin 10 make the
people or our new dependencies the sub
Ject Of orr most serious discussions ard
OF our aggressive declarations.
Philippine Question.
The Philippine problem has come TO
he the problem Of pressing concern to
y. There are more people in the Philip
pine Islands than IN the State OF New
York-perhaps twenty times more than
the Indian population ever was. TIE
certain It Is a hard matter To have
such mass OF unlettered. semi-sayage.
OF wholly savage people under our flag,
without the possibility Of assimilatiEg
them as we do the millions who come
10 US from other lands, and with soma
inevitable doubts about their ever re-
ing able 10 govern themselves. We are
coming 70 the serious stages OF the ln-
1SeTlaklng, end the problem looms even
Ia ger Lhan at first
1t seems TO me idle 10 discuss
yhether we made a mistake in getting
no philippines upon our hands Thev
ar upon our hands. Tirle spent In
wondering whether We oUght not -
back out Of the responsibility. or or,gbf
.lot 10 sell them, or barter them, or give
ulem away, is time worse than wasted.
Political Privileges.
AS 20 giving political privileges. we
are, Tor obvious reasons, disposed tn On
much further than other great nations
who had to deal with similar questions
Perhaps we may be disposed TO 20 too
Tar These people are not like our
fathers before the American Revolution.
There may be a golden mean between
the extremes Political privileges al
ready conferred are sufficient proof OF
sfa aaf-
exercised. and II the fact that less than
= per cent of the population voted at
the recent and first general election for
a popular assembly. and that those who
die were clamorous for Independence
without approaching its responsibilities.
Is not wholly discoura ging. il certainly
adTonishes us TO hesitate about going
further at once, or about making prom
Uses. 1t IS manifest enough that for
long time self-government must be very
local and simple. and that the posi-
Eillty Of the safe exercise OF sovereignty
by the islands at an early day is quite
out Of the question.
Filipino industries claim the best at
tentiOn Of the government No people
can have a life worth the having unless
they have some understanding Of the
economic. moral, and social value Of
work. And hardly can any people be
expected TO have such an understanding
unless work makes money and IS con-
The industrial problem IN the Philip
pires must. very likely, be always and
necessarily a difficult one It has been
drubly so by reason Of exceptional oc-
c ETrences since they came under our
s Dvereignty II there IS to be any
American aid 20 Filipino industries, Con-
gressional legislature must open the way
for and not hinder It.
In 81 concluding word, the millions
OF Filipinos who have come under our
care will move cut OF the darkness and
into the light more quickly when II Is
fully realized that whether they do
or not depends alike upon themselves
and upon the people OF the United
moral one, and the task upon US is
one OF the world burdens which our
own advance has brought to US; that
legislation which is not framed upon
altruistic lines will not serve any good
purpose for them or for US: that efficient
2 administration must have very special
reference to the things 10 be done. and
expert opinion must have the respect
and the influence which Belongs to It;
aud that over al there must be definite.
responsive. and readable account
ability.
And there is. reason enough to aues-
ton whether IL Is not desirable that
there be an independent Office at Wash
ington which will have specific and
pretty independent charge Of insular
affairs, which will have power to do
things and the right to he listened to.
which will be charged with full knOwl-
edge about dependencies in general and
TIE Philippines in particular. and which
will not only be established upon a
legal footing that win enable &c to be
independent Of ell meanness il il Is
willing to be. but. above all else. will
be under the direct influence of the bet
ter spirit Of the American people"