The Washington herald., 1912-03-02
CHINESE AND F1ItPINos.
Interesting Question Involved In
R-eoxnitton Of Chinese RepubIie.

Interesting Question lnroiNed N
R-eognitton of Chinese Republic.
From the New York Tribune.
Shall we make trouble for ourselves IL
the Philippines u ultimately We recog-
nize a Chinese republic? A valued cor
respondent. who has studied the question
in both countries, predicts that We shall
make much real trouble. We can no
lonRey maintain our claim to administer
the Islands until their people are fitted
for elf-sovernment. for
How can we without srultifying our
selves admit that what is good Tor the
ignorant heather mass OF China Is be-
yond the reach Of the more intelligent
Christian natives of the Islands? Ana
we will again pay the price IN treasure
and blood OF good Americans TO main
tain a policy which faint-hearted ad-
ministration has admitted is all wrong
This argument would be more nearly
conclusive II 1t were sustained by the
facts and IL We we're free TO act upon
it, We are not. IL the republic In
China. now recognized by the imperial
dynasty itself and presided over by the
former imperial premier. meets no check
OF a serious nature. the United states
will have TO recognize It. We may not
like il. We may think IL will end In
chaos We may dread its influence on
the minds Of the Filipinos. We may see
in II a portent Of further fighting in the
islands, with Inevitable cost in treasure
and blood OF good Americans" But we
shall have no choice. We must deal with
The only government existing in China
and that now is, and is likely to continue
r-eN
we were free TO refuse recognition OF
republic In China it might be more losi-
cal and consistent to do 50, but II would
not do us any good in the Islands. II
would only embitter such opposition as
is there. The discontented would say
that we were against freedom and equal
ity everywhere. except on our own soil,
and our professed Intention ultimately 10
grant them to the Ftipinos would out
be made to appear more hypocriticaL
Moreover. the cases Of China and the
Philippines are very different in one
marked respect. China is and long has
been an independent nation. Our gov
ernment expects that II will remain 80.
and is doing all II can TO aid It, II the
republican government can maintain a
decent level OF order and protect the
rights Of foreigners, its Independence will
have never been independent. So far as
We can make out. they do not wish now
10 be So They would like self-goyern-
ment with nominal independence, but
they expect the United States either TO
safeguard their Independence or-vhat in
directly amounts to the same thing-to
secure a joint guarantees Of neutrality
from all the chief powers. In other words
they want control. but not responsibility.
II is q pleasing dream. and not un-
natural. but il is obviously only dream
II at the present stage OF development
of the people Of the islands We should
try to realize Il, we should only widen
the field Of trouble for ourselves. We
should make the condition and conduct
of the Fflipinos an international ques-
ton and invite endless complications
with other powers.
There is undoubtedly a good deal of
opposition to our administration in the
Philippines. Some Of IL is unfortunately
well founded The spirit Of our policy
is not shared by all the agents OF the
government. stiIl less by all Americans
in the islands. But the policy is a sound
one. and it is sincerely pursued by the
Washington government Its aim Is to
train the Filipinos in self-government
and to grant il as ftst as We safely can.
That leaves the choice really to the peo-
pie. They actually can have control OF
their affairs il they show that they are
fitted for 1t. And though opinions diff
fer as to how far they have gone in this
direction, all agree that they have made
some progress. The recognition Of the
Chinese republic may make trouble. but
we must meet II as best We can. There
is no other way. We cannot dodge the
recognition. and We cannot escape the
duties we have assumed in the islands