The morning journal-courier., 1908-08-20
Thursday. August 20, 1908.
THE CONNECTICUT END OF IT.

THE CONNECTICUT END OF IT.
 There is a difference of opinion be- tween President Roosevelt and Judge Taft over the length of time required to give the residents of the Philippine Islands their political freedom. It is Judge Taft's deliberate Judgment, founded on an extended experience in the Philippines, that at least two gem eratlons are required before our little brown burden will be strong enough to toddle along by itself. Two gen. erations means sixty years. It ia President Roosevelt's Judgment, founded on we know not what, that the trick will be done in twenty years.
 It would be interesting if 1t were worth while, to follow more closely than the mere statement of difference permits, the future of the Flipinos It has always been obnoxious to de- lenders of the constitution to dwell upon the fact that this country main tains a few odd millions of people in subjection, and that under some cir cumstances the constitution does not follow the flag. In the state of Mas sachusetts a whole lot of people have fretted themselves Into a fever over the failure of the government to give the brown men their political free dom, and even here in staid old Con- necticut men have been known to burn the midnight oil while intelec- tually plotting the emancipation of the islands. If we had not held our selves in leash we should have en- listed for the struggle, and consecrat- ed our better natures to the cause. Enlistment and consecration are to souls like ours, meat, drink and in- splration
 The controversy between the presi- dent and his former secretary in this connection has suggested that either one or the other would tell us when the good old state of Connecticut will be ready for self government. We are not brown people and we are not a little people physically; we try to be a burden to the champions of political freedom, and yet we appear to be manner in which we are deprived of the right to govern, we have but to make nasty reference to the way in which the dominant political party does things for us, implying our polt- ical dependence upon greater minds than the majority possess. The con- stitution of the state requires that once in two years the residents and voters shall elect q man to preside over our destinies as governor. That would appear to Imply the assembling of the freemen for conference and an untrammeled choice, It would also suggest that all meet on common ground and that one man weighs as much as another. It certainly implies that within the borders of the state Philippine traditions and practices are unknown and would not be tolerated.
 Now Is. there any material differ ence between the manner in which the distant islanders are governed and Connecticut is governed? If the Phil ippines need a governor President Roosevelt or the president in power finds one. If Connecticut wants a governor the republican machine meets in secret and decides upon him No attempt Is made to ascertain the desire of the people Two years ago no one outside of the republican ma CliHe eNcI luOus Tt Ol NIT, Lllley Ot Waterbury for governor. He had been genial, good mixer and a hospitable host at the national capital But he suited the judgment of the organiza- ton. At that point the glorious flag of freedom stopped and i've are here because we are here" We purpose ly refrain from further discussine Connecticut from the Filipino point of view except to express the hope that after our little brown brothers in the distant islands have secured their political freedom their big white brothers in Connecticut may fare as we'll And then won't we all fee "bully?"
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