The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1908-10-22
TAFT IN THE ISLANDS
Why Mckinley Sent the Judge to
the Philippines.
STRONG, HONEST AND TACTFUL

| ouPTsms 6ShSn AZ Ssll OF DutI'
Proved His Ability as a Nation
5uiIder-A Real AItruist.
In the beginning of our occupation Of
the Philippines the problems there
were military. NOTHING Of civil func-
tions could be essayed until the rebel
lion had been put down. In the midst
of this fhe first Philippine commission
was sent out to look over the situation
"as bearers Of the blessings Of llber-
ating rather than conquering ma.
tiOn," as President Mckinley wrote.
The commissioners decided that it was
bad mess.
| Mr. Mckinley was advised to try to
do nothing by civil power, but to give
military governor full sway This
would have been a fatal error. Any
continuance Of the military govern
ment beyond the time when It's stern
restrictions were required to induce
peace and maintain 1t would still fur
ther have jeOpardized the trust Of the
natives in our good faith. And it had
already been so strained that 1t would
stand no more tension.
The people at home. too, were grow
ing thoroughly out of conceit with "the
little brown brother" Our appetite
had become sated Of military conquest.
Too many long. narrow boxes were
shipped over sea and land for inter
ment in village churchyards. too many
mothers mourned sons. done to death
by bullets or bolo. to support general
conviction in the doctrine Of expan.
sion. We thought we had no prototype
Of Cromer, no giants of colonial admin
istratiOn upon whom Mr.. Mckinley
might call to ''lay the foundations of a
superior civilization, with specific ref
erence to the needs Of the people to be
governed and with definite reference
to the welfare of the Islands, both ma
terlal and moral" as he had put 1t.
There was dearth of men wholly in
harmony with the presidents concep-
tion of what our national duty to the
FilipinOs comprised, who would con-
stantly bear In mind that 1t was liber-
ty they wanted, liberty that they
shoild1 have. as Mr.. Mckinley had
promised. pledcing our faith as ma
tion-liberty, as he wrote. "of the
whole Filipino people and not Of a
decimal fraction Of them, who through
the leadership Of education and prop
erty have acquired domination over
the great mass"
Mr.. Taft had not been thought of. If
his sentiments on the Philippine ques-
ton was known it was patent that he
was neither believer in Mr.. McKin-
ley's policy nor in our ethical right to
be in the islands. Said the president
one day to the then secretary of state
William r. Day. 81 want man who is
strong. honest and tactful. a man of
education and executive ability. man
who is fearless, but conservative. who
will get along with the army people,"
Judge Taft fills the bill If he will
take the job" said Mr.. Day in stroke
Of inspiratiOnal genius. They sent for
Judge Taft. who was then on the su
preme court bench. and told him what
was wanted. He shook his head
II cannot be of use to you there. Mr.
President" he answered. Il didn't
want to take the Philippines. 1t was
mistake" The president regarded
him musingly fer a moment, then.
Nor did | want to take them" said
he. II had to- There was nothing else
to do. We must build a new nation out
there. | want you to help u.s."
Secretary of War Root added his
perSuasions. He showed both sides of
the medal to Judge Taft. Perhaps he
was motived more shrewdly than he
affected. for he descanted upon the diff
fculties Of the task compared with
the cOngenial and relatively easy work
that Judge Taft had upon the bench,
with the almost ultimate certainty of
being elevated to the supreme court
He must fOFego all this, said Mr.. Root.
But what chance offered in the
Philippines to do, to create. to dis
prove the infallabilty of some Of Eng
lands pet theories of colonization. to
bring into being nation. Such argu,
ments turned the tide. Judge Taft ac
cepted one of those duties (which" to
quote him, 'is an entirety and not
fulfilled until 1t is entirely fulfilled"
As he took ship, and always after
ward, there was IN his mind the con-
Guiding paragraph Of the instructions
given him by the president:
"A high and sacred obligation rests
upon the government Of the United
States to give protection for property
and life, civil and religious freedom
and wise, firm and unseltish guidance
In the paths Of peace and prosperity to
all the peoples Of the Philippine Is
lands. charge this commission to
labor for the full performance of this
obligation, which concerns the honor
and conscience of their country, in the
frm hope that through their labors all
the people In the Philippines may come
to look back with gratitude to the day
when. God gave victory to the Ameri.
can arms at Manila and set their land
under the sovereignty and the protec-
tion Of the people of the United States"
Altruistic, perhaps, but Mr.. Taft is
an altruist. 1t needed an altruist to
compass the requirements specified in
the quotation to the letter and pave
the way for the fulfillment of Mr.. Nc
Kinley's ''firm hope" as Mr. Taft has
done
| Tho RoDuhliconS will rnviSa tho far