Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-22

remain absolute and unchallenged. Despite
certain selfish influences now strongly at
people steadfastly bent upon doing alb
solute justice to the Filipino people.
Meantime American experience, energy
and administrative capacity are engaged in
political advancement of the Fiipinos and
preparing them to take in the worlds work
their proper place when the time comes.
was anna zed at the results already wrought
by our educational efforts, and particularly
by our trade and industrial schools. Under
the Spanish regime the idea was inculcated
that labor Is unworthy man of parts and
of family.
To-day the trade schools are taxed to
their capacity and are unable to meet the
demands of young men Of the best blood
of learning trades. We are improving the
health of the islands. With experimental
farms and stock farms we are multiplying
the agricultural resources. Through our
carefully made surveys of the soil, the veg
etation the mineral and timber resources,
we are acquiring vast mass OF informa-
ton OF the utmost Importance We are
building roads, both railroads and high
ways, with the result Of encouraging agri
culture and commerce to an extent that no.
body would believe possible without per-
sonal investigation of the facts upon the
spot. Space would fail me to recount spe-
officially the ways in which the industry Of
the people is being encouraged and their
commercial facilities multiplied.
What We Must Do.
when we shall have advanced to the
point of doing them the simple Justice of
giving them the American market for their
chief exports in place of the Spanish mar
kets which we forcefully took away from
them. we shall have given a convincing
proof. first Of our desire to be just to the
Filiptnos. and secondly of our capacity to
be wise in our mutual interests.
=
ter about which men will differ To sell
the Islands to some power such as Japan
or Germany. which would exploit them for
self-advantage and never intend to do
anything with them except to use them as
pawn In a great international chess
game. would consist with neither the dig
nifty, the honor nor the advantage of the
United States. Nor do believe that under
Vacate the islands and leave them to their
own devices without further provisions
touching the maintenance of their national
independence and the preservation of do
nestle order. 1t ia perhaps unnecessary for
me to add that under no circumstances am
in favor of their indefinite retention as q
dependency Of the United States.
''One thing which impresses the consci-
entious traveller in the Philippine Islands
If he have time, as did, to 60 into the in
terror Of several of the different islands, Is
the variety and magnitude of their re-
sources. every one of them in its relative
infancy Of development. There is no doubt
that the precious metals exist in the islands
In great quantities and accessible local
tiles. The timber resources are magnifi-
cent and varied. The Island Of Mndoro
for example. is largely a forest Of the finest
building and furniture woods to be found
on the globe. The culture of the cocoanut
palm and that Of hemp is susceptible Of
enormous and profitable extension
Our government Is making experiments
with cotton which lead to the belief that
that great staple can be successfully culti-
waited on a tremendous scale in several of
the islands There Is no reason why coffee,
as soon as certain experiments which prom
ise success are completed in relation to the
treatment OF a certain parasite Indigenous
to the Islands. should not be made an in
dustry Of colossal proportions Fruits and
grains can also be grown in different To-
calities with great success.
with the maintenance of peaceful con-
ditions. the development Of roads, the open
Ing OF markets to which the Filipino people
are Justly entitled and the establishment
OF adequate banking conveniences the in
dustrial development of the Philippine Is
lands is likely to amaze the world within
the next few years" N, M