The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-10-08
The Filipiinos

What shall we do about the Philippines
Have you pondered over that question? Presl-
dent Wilson has, and also, between trips,
Secretary Bryan. That which was dominant
issue" in former campaign, is by no means a
dead issue yet
On the surface it appears that the President
intends to have hand in settling the matter
himself He sent over to hold down the tlckllsh
job of governor-general a young Tammany tledg-
ling with very little administrative experience
just the man, New York papers are cruel enough
to say to serve as a figure-head while the Pres
ident does the actual work Of running things.
However that may be, one thing is certain,
no one can become very dogmatic about the Phil
ippne question. It's too tangled up. At pres
ent writing the Jones bill is once more before
Congress. This passed the House last year, but
got sde-tracked before adjournment. 1t is
claimed as "the administrations measure by
some, but this is open to doubt
The significance of the Jones bill lies in its
advocacy of independence for the islands IN
eight years If this bill really is the administra-
TONS measure the Democrats have permitted
their anti-imperialism to lead them to extremes.
Nm informed critic of the Filipino situation
has yet advocated independence for that mixed
people. Out of 235,O00 "Christians" the
island, supposed to represent the intelligent and
leading class only per cent are literate enough
to qualify for the franchise. The we'll posted
Dean Worcester secretary of the interior, for the
islands, asserts that slavery exists everywhere,
"even in MANILA In territory adjacent to the
Negrtos and Eougots he declares it common
thing to obtain children by capture or purchase
and to hold them as slaves, selling them to 9TH
ers whenever it proves financially advantageous
to do So. And peonage, next thing to slavery,
lis so widespread that it must be called general.
Somewhat of jolt to learn that the American
flag has been flying over slavery for twelve
years!
Cautious Journals have not hesitated to char
acterize the cry for independence set up by GER
tain Filipino classes as being the subterfuge
whereby few clever schemers among big land
lords may be able to seize control of the govern
ment in order to legalize slavery.
It is certain that the large majority of the
islanders themselves not only do not ask for
independence but dread it. They are wholly
unfit for self government and would ruin them
selves with it were they to possess it. The pres
ent generation of them weak, flat chested,
dull persons who have little initiative little abi-
ity and little stamina: they have shown scarcely
any ability whole in business, education, pol
tiles art. Even the petty commercial houses
Of the islands owned and operated by Chi
nese. To impose the responsibilities of indie
pendence after so brief period a people de-
pendent from time immemorial on others for
their religion, their education, their business and
even their sports, would be to work an injustice
200 colossal quickly to be comprehended
1t would be extremely desirable for the Amer
leans to continue their good work until the pres
ent generation of youngsters playing baseball
and developing chests and brains with American
athletics and schools, grown up and able to
assume control. So far, record is one not
to be ashamed offs if not ideal. We have
worked nothing short of miracles in establishing
sanitation among people born, and reared, and
housed, and fed, and buried in dirt. Asatic chol-
era has been eliminated, 10000 cases per year of
smallpox has been decreased to few hundreds
10000 lepers reduced to 5000, and malaria al
most eXtinguished. Nothing could be more de-
sirable than to keep up this splendid work for
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