Evening star., 1913-10-31
WILSON'S PHILIPPINES
POLICY IS COMMENDED
A. P. Lanier Approves Action
Changing Complexion of
Legislature.

The plan for the solution of the Philip
pine question by International action sug-
gested by A. +. Ls-nier, assistant solic-
itor of the Agricultural Department, last
week at the Lake Mohonk conference
was discussed yesterday by Mr.. Lanier
who passed through Washington on his
way to Richmond, Va. his home. Mr.
Lanier served for nearly five years in
the Philippines as assistant to the At
torney General
1.-THE plan proposed by men," said Mr..
Lanier lis rather too large a subject
to be discussed intelligently in a few
words. with justice to myself or to the
subject. / am glad of the opportunity,
however. to say that the action of Presi-
dent Wilson in Filipinizing the legis-
lative branch of the insular government
meets with my hearty approval, as it did
with that of the conference. 1t was not
only highly expedient under all the cir
cumstances. but the part of the greatest
wisdom.
Il suggested my plan of joint inter-
national action for the solution of the
Philippine question only as an alternative
and for what 1t may be worth, and
because of the apparently irreconcilable
conflict of views and opinions among
our people and public men as to the
policy we should pursue in respect to
the islands. Their sole possession by us
is a hostage in our own hands for our
good behavior, SO to speak, in all the
affairs of the orient. They circumscribe
our liberty of action in the worlds af-
fairs and are a handicap upon US in the
fulfllment of our mission and God-given
destiny among the nations of the earth.
Grave Situation at Border.
"At this moment a grave situation ex-
lists along our southern border in a sister
republic, and the Monroe doctrine, which
is about the only real and consistent
policy our government has ever had, Is
being now threatened by coalition
among the European powers. having for
its object joint Intervention in the affairs
of Mexico. Our people will never tolerate
such action, but we view the prospect of
it with uneasiness and anxiety because
of the dangers that threaten US from an
other direction by reason of our pos
session of the Philippines, for they are
an Indictment to armed conflict with those
who were our friends in the past, and
who would be today but for our acquisi-
ton of those islands. which are a source
of weakness and Inconsistency In our de-
fense of the aforesaid doctrine.
Already the shadow of a mighty racial
conflict, Fastening to realization because
of the projection Of our sovereignty into
the orient, in which our country must.
for many reasons, bear the brunt is dis
cerned by those whose vision is not
dimmed by commercial interests, or OBJ
scured by the pursuit of material gain
and a provincial outlook upon the great
movements and tendencies of modern
times. And when that contest comes,
which God forbid, there will then be de-
termined whether the world shall be con-
trolled by the principles and ideals OF
occidental or oriental civilizations, and
our possession of the Philippines will be
found in that conflict a source Of the
gravest strategic weakness to us, and
not of strength. and may prove the de-
terminative factor against the supremacy