New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-07
The Philippines.

MIR Taft took strong ground against
,,-asa,,, ,ndenendence for the Philippines
He said, in part:
A bill is pending in Congress wh tC,.
reVolutioniZes the carefuily "oIheu ~
scheme OF government under when tns
Philippine Islands are now governed anu nv.
which proposes To render them NrtuaiIy
autonomous at once ana absoIutelS ~
dependent in eight years. Such Plopo-
sal can only be founded on the Assu' W.
tIon that We have now discharged our
trusteeship TO the Filipino people ana our
responsibility for them To the "oriu' anu
that they are now prepared Tor seli -BoF-
eminent as well as national soVeIssh'y;
A thorough and unbiased knowledge OF
the facts clearly shows that these as
sumptions are absolutely without justin
cation. AS TO this, l believe thAt thtIe ~
no substantial difference or opinion
among any OF those who have had Inc
responsibility of facing Philippine prob
lens in the administration or the ISLANDS
and / believe that no one TO whom the
future OF this people Is Responsible con-
Germ can Countenance policy fTaught
with the direst consequences 10 those On
whose behalf II Is ostensibly urged.
If the task We have undertaken u
higher than that assumed by other ma
tions, its accomplishment must demand
even more patience We must not forget
that we found the Filipinos wholly I'M
trained In government. Up 10 our advent
all other experience sought 10 TepTess
rather than encourage political power.
IL takes long time and much experience
10 ingram political habits OF steadiness
and efficiency. Popular self government
ultimately must rest upon common habits
OF thought and upon reasonably devel-
oped public opinion. No such foundations
for self-government. let alone indepen-
dence are now present I'm the Philippine
Islands
our true course is 10 pursue steadily
and courageously the path we have thus
far followed TO guide the F1lipinos into
self-sustalning pursuits; 10 continue the
cultivation OF sound political habits
through education and political practice.
to encourage the diVersification or indus
tries. and TO realize the advantages Of
their Industrial education by conserya-
lively approved cooperative methods. at
once checking tho dangers OF concentrated
wealth and building up sturdy. inde,,
pendent citizenship. We should do all
this with a disinterested endeavor 10 Sc
cure for the Filipinos economic independ-
ence and to NJ them for complete self
government, with the power 10 decide
eventually, according 10 their own largest
good. whether such self-government shall
be accompanied by independence. pres
ent declaration even Of future independ
ence would retard progress by the dissen-
sion and disorder II would arouse. on our
part IT would DO dislngenuous attempt.
under the guise OF comforting a benefit on
tnen, TO reneve ourselves from tne heaVy
and difficult burden which thus far we
have been bravely and consistently sus-
tanning. II would be disguised policy
Of scuttle. II would make the helpless
Filipino the football OF Oriental politics.
under the protection OF a guarantee OF
their Independence. which we would be
powerless 20 enforce.
Conservation was lightly touched. the
President recommending the amendment
Of bills now before Congress so that
water power companies which dam navi-
gable rivers will contribute to the i'm
proyement Of these streams.