The daily sentinel., 1908-10-20

an experiment in imperialism, II is
an experiment, and novel one. in
preparing for self-government an un-
developed people who had for nearly
four hundred years been under the
domination of a medieval monarchy.
| Mr.. Taft points out that the great
majority of Filipinos appreciate that
| independence would not be a pless
| ing to them in the absence Of II pro-
| tectorate.
81 think it may be truthfully stat
ed" he says. that the Filipinos gen
orally feel that what we are doing
| there is not brake upon their lcgi-
innate aspirations, but an impulse TO
their growth and development along
safe and sensible lines"
Mr.. Bryan thus begins his article;
Honesty requires that our policy
regarding the Philippine Islands be
announced The Filipinos have a
right to know; other nations are on
titled to the information; and our
own position would be strengthened
by a declaration of the nations pur-
pose. So long as there is doubt there
will be discussion; so long rs there
is uncertainty the Filipinos will sus-
pect the worst, other nations will ac-
cuse us of insincerity. ana our own
people will be embarrassed i'll the
advocacy of the principles of gov
ernment which we apply here and re-
fuse to apply in the Philippines A
! republic cannot hold colonies, for a
Colonial government rests lpon
force. while in "a republic the gov
ernment rests upon the consent OF
the government. To say that the
: Filipinos have no right to vnicc in
their own government and in the
shaping of their own destiny raises d
question as to mans inalienablJ
rights, and the citizens of free
country cannot afford to raise suct
a question"
Mr.. Bryan tersely says then thai
improvement in the Islands does moi
mean that a better policy might mo-
have brought greater improvement
He declares the experiment in i'm
perialism to have been an expensive
one and he charges the increase il
1 army and navy expenditures to moth
ing that has happened in the United
4 States to make them necessary bu
to the foreign dangers connected
with the possession of the Philip
pines.
Suppose" he says, that JapaI
4 wants the Philippine Islands-al
though there is no reason to believ'
] that she would we not be in
\ better position to defend the Island
I if they were Independent? If th'
Filipinos were in charge of their owl
, government they could have an arm.
/. and arms and ammunition. We. a
protector, could supply what the.
needed. and train the soldiers. Th
/ Filipinos would be willing to figh
for independence, and when we re
I member how stubbornly they resistet
us, we can appreciate the aid the
|. would render us If any other natio
should attempt to enforce sovereign
!. ty over them. By reserving coalini
stations and naval bases. we woult
have all the advantages that we have
now, without the disadvantages o
our present position. And then, too
there is the likelihood, if not the Ger
tainty, that we could secure the neu
. tralization of the Islands by agree
ment, and thus relieve ourselves
from all expense or care"
Mr.. Bryan protests that the Dem
ocratic policy does not contemplate
Immediate withdrawal from the Is
lands. but an immediate announce
ment of the nations policy"
Mrs. Egan enumerates the achieve
ments of America in the. Islands
Roads. lighthouse service, sanitation
. hospitals, a medical college for Fill
ipino students and schools for al
grades of pupils are detailed
Material prosperity in the Phil
ippines." adds Mrs. Egan, has KEEP
pace with progress along other lines
The most important problem which
: confronted the pioneers of develop
ment, as it did the teachers in the
= agricultural and trade schools, wa!