Bisbee daily review., 1910-06-18
EXPLOITATION OF
THE PHILIPPINES

large TRACTS u rIidi tduuo " TO"
tives and friends of resident civil ser
wants. and to corporations in the Unit
ed States concerning which Repre-
sentative Martin and others have
been agitating in Washington. seem
to be lpon extremely fayorably terms.
According to Mr. Martin some of
these leases are merely options to
acquire in blocks of thousands OF
acres.
Alaska is at least in the family. It
is an American possession by right of
purchase and peopied. so far as it is
inhabited at all chiefly by Americans.
There is no native population that
aspires 70 self-goyernment and in
Dependence. The Philippines. upon
the contrary. are partly occupied by
people whose civilization was pref
IL well established when the island
was discovered by Europeans. and
wholly occupied by a people who
have been promised autonomy. The
United States is pledged to the
policy Of administering the affairs
OF the Philippines for the Filipino.
Upon paper a good deal has been
done in fact But one feature 'os
the programme-and an important
one-is threatened If favorites of
the American civil servants are to
be allowed to get possession of
large tracts OF desirable land az
ridiculously low prices. and if the
Sugar Trust is to be allowed TO
take over large amounts OF sugar
land b. using fictionous names. The
policy Of developing agriculture By
encouraging the small planter, has
been proclaimed. This sort of cN-
pIoitaton is the opposite of that
policy. If court favorites are al
lowed to hog Alaskan jackpOts. it
is an affair between Americans. But
the matter is very different in the
Philippines where the United States
has advertised an altruistic pro
gramme and proposed TO set the
civilized world an example Of gov
eminent without the consent of the
governed, yet for thier benefit. look
ing toward the ultimate granting OF
independence
It is automatic that in republican
countries the people get as good a
brand Of government as they are
entitled 10. If the people make IN
wise choices as TO thier officials. or
submit to an officials unwise or
inscriptions appointments OF sub
ordinates. and suffer i'll results Of
thier bad judgment or complacency,
J is is at least their government
that is robbing them. The Filpinos
are a people ruled by aliens. and
: impotent to prevent frauds II frauds
are attempted by thier rulers. A
J greater people, possessing more en-
:. nghtment, and a great deal more am
, bition. than the islanders. stand
, pledged to give the Filipinos a fair
7 deal Failure to fulfill that pledge
to the letter would put the United
| States in the peculiar position ol
!, practicing imperialism under false
pretenses. to say nothing Of play
ing favorites among Americans.
The Philippines Islands, az a pos
session of the United States. ncsst;
tute a property that seems likely
4 20 cost more in one way OF another
/ than it will ever come to" wher
> the King OF Cambodia. in the comic
lopcra ..Panjandrun," sent his friend:
a IN Sam a white elephant. he did
. not bestow upon that unfortunate
. parsonage a gift more expensive
p as to up-keep and less promisinI
r as a devidend payer than fate be
. slowed upon the United States whei
2. it gave US an archipelago on th
+ other side Of tie Pacific scatere
" over the face Of the waters prett
= nearly from China to Borneo an
a peopled by a heterogeneous 20
g lection Of tribes. civilized hal
n civilized and savage. at loggerhead
u upon al subjects save ore; agreein
only IN common hatred Of II
American invader. How much trea
IS ure and blood the possession Of thes
10 islands might cost this country
or the event Of war with any grei