The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1908-07-17
PHILIPPINE NATURALIZATION.

hills.
PHILIPPINE NATURALIZATION.
What shall we do with the Philippines
Like Eanquo's ghcst. that question will
not down. During this generation no
gagged the attention Of the American peo-
| pie. The great struggle for the Presi-
dency In 1850 ragged around that question
| as paramount issue. The Democrats coli
tended. for reasons with which the coun-
f, try IN familiar. that independence should
be granted 10 the Fflipinos, reserviug Ger
tain important privileges and rights to
this country. What the Republicans stood
| for In that campaign has never been
| clearly or definitely known About all we
| know Is that they opposed the Democratic
what their ultimate policy is with regard
| to the Islands and their people. Nothing
serves better to Illustrate the incompe-
tency OF the Republican party rs con-
| structlve organization than the inde~
clsion and uncertainty with which II sur
| rounds this question. In fact, IL has no
! policy; Il is simply drifting like rud-
derless ship. True, AN insular government
has been established, education promoted.
sanitary conditions improved, and Indus
| trial enterprises In n small way encour-
aged. But all that relates to current and
| necessary administration As long as we
retain Jurisdiction we must administer
| their affairs with decency. The point /
make IL that the Republican party has
/ never uetnlteIy declared ultimate pol
| icy with respect to the islands. There IL
no concensus OF opinion among the Re-
publican leaders on the subject; on the
contrary, they seem to he hopelessly d.
yided. Secretary Taft has declared that
| the United States should retain turisdic-
| ton over the islands ut least until the
| rising generation shall be old enough 20
direct their destiny. He leaves the Inn
precision by what he says that after that
| period the question of Philippine auton-
omy may be considered. Other eminent
| Republicans. like Senator Hale Of Maine
are anxious TO sever our political connec-
ton with them az speedily an possible.
The Chicago convention OF last month did
not outline or foreshadow policy for the
party. All the platform says on the sub
Ject is that insurrecton has been sup
pressed, law established, life and prop
erty made secure. and that education and
practical experience are advancing the
capacity Of the people for government
That, however. at the best. Is only
declaration OF things done. The aggrc-
gated wisdom of the Republican party
massed In the Chicago convention, was
unable to go farther or do better than
that. Upon the all-important question OF
the ultimate disposition OF the islands.
the convention was silent. ! assert with
out fear that the Republican party Is
without q policy In that particular They
are simply drifting. Nevertheless. the
question IS ever present: What shall we
do with the islands,
/ visited the Philippines In 1907. trav-
eled over and became fairly familiar with
them from personal observation. They
are beautiful Islands. with great natural
resources The bulk OF the population.
the Fllpinos. are an amahle. intelligent,
Christian people. IN whose hearts burn
the fires OF an intense patriotism. In
some of the Islands there are tribes,
more or less numerous, who are primitive
and half-civillzed. But the grent MAORI
~ OF the natives, the Fillpinos proper,
are, as have said. not only civilized.
but have been deyOut Christians for cen
turtles. They are the Christian people OF
moment In all the Orient, | do not hest
tate to affirm that the average OF intel
ligence among the Filpinos Is superior to
that OF the people of Cuba, and equal TO
that of the people of Mexico and other
countries TO the south. The Chief Justice
of the Philippine Supreme Court Is ma
tive Filipino, and | was told by some OF
his American associates on the bench,
and by the Governor-Generl OF the
islands, that In dignity OF character and
range OF learning. as well as In native
force and ability, he would grace the SUI
prcmc Court OF the United States, The
Attorney General IL Filipino, and is
one OF the most accomplished young men
have ever met. There are several ma
tivcs on the Supreme bench, and ma
jority OF the trial judges are also FIJI.
pinos. The provincial governments, ana
the governments OF the large munlcipali-
ties outside of Manila, are administered
by the natives. They elect their own
governors, mayors ana other pubic
officials, and conduct their own public
tegrity. They have successful bankers,
merchants. manufacturers, miners, and
the learned professions are adorned by
many men Of high repute That these
people are qualified for self-government l
have no shadow of doubt. ! am not sure
that n government modelled after ours
would be best suited TO their conditions
and temperament. but neither would 1t be
to the japanese or TO others who success
fully maintain governments OF their own
What they most desire above nll other
I q Al tod
that proposition there In practical una
nimity. We are holding these people,
capable of establishing and administering
| a government OF their own, and with an
| impatient desire for such 4 government,
! subject to our Jurisdiction against their
Will and protest. The present status OF
the islands is 40 anomalous as TO DC
and yet not n definite part of our terri
| tory We govern the people, but they do
not enjoy the privileges OF American cll-
zens They are neither home folks nor
foreigners, neither domestic nor alien
and this has been going on for nearly ten
years. | am opposed to holding these
Islands in this way, and opposed 10 this
some rights In the sight of Heaven ana
of honest men. and we ought to give
some answer to them. and we ought to
know what we mean ourselves to do. II
we intend to hold them forever In the
grasp of our stronger hand. then we
ought to say so and end the agony. | need
n crime against our own institutions, our
own ideals and all the high things we
have stood for before the world More
over. as mere vulgar proposition OF
commercial investment, 1t would be
costly mistake. What are we going to
dor My countrymon, what we ought to
do Is to fix n definite date for granting
Independence to the Fllipinos, and then,
as a part OF the scheme, open negotiations
with the leading powers of Europe and
Asia for treaty agreements whereby the
independence of the Islands shall he as
sured by making them neutral territory
not open TO the occupation of any other
nation. as the independence of Switzer--
land has long been secured In Europe, !
have no kind OF doubt that the leading
powers. including Japan, would willingly
enter into conventions OF that character.
Such treaties would remove all fear OF
encroachmcnt from other nations after
the United States had withdrawn. We
ought to declare for some definite and
humane policy of that character and
promptly inaugurate the work of bring
Ing Ii about. But the Republican party,
as now organized, is incapable of dealing
with the question. Its utter failure to
deal with II intclligently demonstrates Its
to grant to the Ftlipinos the boon OF lib
erty for which they SO devoutiy pray,
the work OF developing policy to that
end must be entrusted to some other par
ty To have liberated these generous
and gentle people from Spanish thraldon,
10 have helped them along for years a.
enormous expense, to have established
schools and aided them TO promote indus
trial development, and then finally to
| crown them with the high dignity of ma
tional independence, with protecting
| shields around them. would. all In ALL
constitute one OF the most glorious chap
ters In the history of men. II would lift
| the American republic high up as a beacon
| light among the nations OF the world.
And now ! close this subject by quoting
a significant statement made by Presi-
dent Diaz OF Mexico in March last to
Parsons Magazine:
when the United States gives in
dependence to Cuba and the Philip
| pines" he said, "she will take her
place at the head of the nations, and
all fear and dstrust will disappear
from the American republics"