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

President Taft speaks with authority
on the Philippines. His own unequalled
experience with the people Of the ISL
andS and their problems of government
and his unquestioned devotion to their
best interests give to the arguments
Of his message a peculiar claim to the
respect and consideration of the coun-
try.
Ii will be said. doubtless. that he is
merely presenting as a matter Of rec
ord the views of an outgoing President
from whose policy the people have
turned away. and the advocates OF the
plan to set the Philippines adrift will
point to the Democratic platform
which favored a pledge of early indie
pendence for the islands.
But when Mr.. Taft speaks of the
Philippines he speaks not as defeat
ed candidate defending Il rejected pol
icy. but as a disinterested statesman
who has done more than any other
man for the advancement and prosper
ity Of the Filipinos. And he speaks TO
people majority OF whom are far
from believing in the course marked
ont by the Democratic platform. In
1900 imperialism" was vital issue
in the campaign. When the campaign
was over "anu-imperlalists' them
selves confessed that they had present
ed their case squarely and the country
had decided against them. This year
the issue was not even generally DIS
cussed. The plank in the Democratic
platform passed unnoticed, and though
Mr.. Wilson wins through the DIVISION
of his opponents a large majority OF
the voters were against him. Ihere
is no warrant. therefore. for saying
that American public opinion favors
setting up an independent Philippine
nation under American guarantees.
Mr. Taft impresslvely points out the
dangers of the pending bill giving al
most immediate autonomy and pledg-
ING full independence in eight years
His review of the progress in INDUS
fry education and self-goyernment I'M
der American control shows n work OF
civilization unexampled in the history
of colonial government Is it all TO De
sacrificed by abandoning the teaching
with the lesson half learned. III re-
snonse TO the demands of impatient
theorists at home and ambitious agi-
tators in the islands? What that Is
worth while could the great BODY or
the Filipinos get through independence
that they do not enjoy now! And what
prospect of managing Il free lndepeu-
dent government unguided by American
leadership would they have with only
8 per cent Of the inhabitants able TO
vote under most liberal franchise laws
with only : per cent Of them reading
tbe puhlic press. with a million Fill
pino children still unreached by the
schools despite their wonderful exten-
sion. with population made up OF
twenty-four tribes and races. many
still in barbarism. speaking a variety OF
languages, and more than 80 per cent
Of the people unable to read or write
Under such conditions real self-govern-
ing ipdependence would he Impossible.
The form Of independence would mere
~ serve an oligarchy OF few leaders,
chiefly from the Tagalog race.
A pledge of independence in eight
years would be the beginning OF IN
trigue. Those who urge 1t say that II
disaster threatens we can retrace our
steps. But they know that this would
open us to the reproach OF breaking
faith. and they know that. no matter
how overwhelming the evidence OF er-
ror. they themselves would be loudest
in proclaiming the obligation Of ma
tional honor to keep the pledge re-
CARELESS Of the injury either to the
FIlipinos or ourselves. The safeguard
against the danger Of unwise pledges
is not to make them. but 10 go on as we
have been doing, giving our unself1sh
aid and guidance to the Filipinos,
making them prosperous and lifting
them for elf-government and leaving
their ultimate destiny to be determined
naturally. Calling the Philippines an
independent nation will not make them
one. and until their Inhabitants are In
reality homogeneous people, equipped
TO sustain themselves, no paper gov
eminent will give them security. nor
would any guarantee on our part be
effective. for the powers Of the world
would not tolerate disorder or inter-
ference with their interests by peoples
whose freedom Of action we pretended
to guarantee while refusing TO e1er-
else restraint on their eXcesses.