Smyrna times., 1908-10-21
erial ana moral" as he had put it.

~ Gnu mural, as ne mad put 1t.
mere was dearth of men wholly in
harmony with the presidents concep-
tIoh OF what our national duty to the
FIilIlhos comprised, who would con-
stantly bear in mind that it was liber-
" they wanted, liberty that they
should have. as Mr.. Mckinley had
promised, pledelng our faith as a ma
tlon-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 a domination over
the great mass'
MI Taft had not been thought of. If
MS 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 a man who is
strong, honest and tactful. a man of
education and executive ability. a man
who is fearless. but conservative. who
VIII 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
Il 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 for a moment, then.
Nor did | want to take them" said
he. Il had to. There was nothing els
TO do. We must build a new nation out
there. | want you to help us"
Secretary Of War Root added his
pPrSuaSi0ns. He showed both sides c.
the medal to Judge Taft. Perhaps he
was motivcd more shrewGly than he
affected. for he dcscantnd upon the Gif
fcu.ticS sc the task compared wit,
the con~cni"l and relatively easy wcrl
that JUC~c Taft had upon the bench
with the almost ultimate certainty Or
bein.r Cicy,.vd to tie sC""a.lc court
tIe must fote-o all this. said Nj Root
But What Il chance crSovcd in t!c
Philippines to do to create. II Cis
rrove t&a ilr3llIhi'ity Of some IF !.nc
lands pct theories Cf Col~ni"atian. I
bring into being a nation. Such arcu
mcnts turned the tiGc. .Iud~c TAFT az
ccpted one CT those duties (which" tC
quote him, lis an entirety and no.
fulfilled until it is entirely fulfilled"
AS lie took ship. and always after
ward, there was in his mind the con
Guiding paragraph Of the instruction.
given him by the president:
"a high and sacred obligation rest.
upon the government Of the United
| States to give protection for property
and life, civil and religious freedom
| and wise. firm and unselish guidance
in the paths of peace and prosperity to
all the peoples Of the Philippine Is
lands. l charge this commits sion t.
labor for the full performan- G Of this
obligation. which concerns the horror
and conscience Of their country, in I'll
firm hope that through their labors g
the people in the Philippines may come
to look back with gratitude to the da-
when God gave victory to the Ame"i
can arms at Manila and set their lant
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 tC
compass the requirements specified il
the quotation to the letter and pave
the way for the fulfllment of Mr.. Nc
Kinley's firm hope" as Mr.. Taft has
done.