Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-10-30


In the beginning of our dccrnation 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 the first Philippine commission
was sent out to look over the situation
'as bearers of the blessings Of liber-
ating rather than conquering ma
ton" as President Mckinley wrote.
The commissioners decided that II 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 fatal error. Any
continuance of the military govern
ment beyond the time when its stern
restrictions were required to induce
peace and maintain it would still fur
Their have jeopardized the trust of the
natives in our good faith. And it had
already been so strained that it would
stand no more tension.
The people at home, too, were grow
ing thoroughly out of conceit with "the
had become stated 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
1stration 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
terial and moral" as he had put it.
There was dearth of men wholly in
harmony with the presidents concep
ton 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
should have, as Mr. Mckinley had
promised, pledelng our faith as a ma
tion-libertN as he wrote, "of the
whole Filipino people and not Of a
decimal fraction of them. who through
erty have acquired a domination over
the great mass"
Mr.. Taft had not been thought Of. If
his sentiments on the Philippine ques-
tion was known it was patent that he
was neither a 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. 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 a stroke
of inspirational genius. They sent for
Judge Taft, who was then on the SUI
preme court bench. and told him what
was wanted. He shook his head.
81 cannot be of use to you there. Mr.
President" he answered. 81 didn't
want to take the Philippines. 1t was
mistake" The president regarded
him musingly for moment, then
Nor did l want to take them" said
he 81 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 h
affected for he descanted upon the diff
hculties of the task compared Will
the congenial and relatively easy worl
that Judge Taft had upon the bench
with the almost ultimate certainty o
being elevated to the supreme court
He must forego all this, said Mr.. Root
But what a chance offered In tn
Philippines to do. to create To dis
prove the infallability of some of Eng
lands pet theories of colonization, t
bring into being a nation. Such argu
ments turned the tide. Judge Taft &C
cepted one of those duties (which" t
quote him, sis an entirety and no
fulfilled until it is entirely fulfilled"
AS he 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 Unite
States to give protection for propert
and life. civil and religious freedoI
and wise. firm and unselfsh guldanc
in the paths of peace and prosperity
all the peoples of the Philippine Il
lands. | charge this commission
labor for the full performance of tn
obligation. which concerns the hone
and conscience Of their country, in IL
firm hope that through their labors a
the people in the Philippines may con
TO look back with gratitude to the da
when God gave victory to the Amer
tan arms at Manila and set their lar
under the sovereignty and the prote
tion of the people of the United States
Altruistic nerhans hut Mr. Taft