New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-05
LIBERTY FOR THE FILIpINos
A Close Observer Declares It Would
Create Another Mexico.
To the Editor of Tho Tribune.

To the Editor of Tho Tribune.
Sir: The Pacific Coast, facing the
Orient as II does and having daily com
munication with II by means OF incoming
and outgoing steamships, has lively In
terest in the Philippine question. I 1.-Two
on the coast, at Seattle; l have been IN
the Philippines twice, and have made
some study Of conditions there. Will you
therefore, permit me to speak few
words on the present Philippine policy?
To give the Filipino control Of the Leg
islature at this time by the appointment
Of a native majority on the commission
looks like surrender. 1t very nearly wipes
the slate clean. We still remain there, OF
course but in a very shadowy and unoer-
tain way. We have passed the legislative
power over. The immediate effect will
be to disturb conditions both social and
commercial with the ultimate result OF
delaying real liberty for a generation.
The Filipino will get form without sub
stance; political independence without
freedom or liberty.
Are We not expecting too much Of these
people? Arc they capable Of taking or
these responsibilities Is this the age OF
miracles. that in a few short years
semi-barb arous people, living under the
crudest social conditions, living In ignor-
rance and poverty, amid sickness and
disease. having no common tongue or
national bond, can be transformed into
competent, self-governing nation? How
shall we expect competence where there
is no competence?
The history of the Filipino people for
the last three hundred years shows them
TO be weak and dependent. They have
made no development In any line OF
thought or endeavor. They have pro
duced no churchmen, no scholars, no men
OF letters, no architects, no painters, no
musicians OF fame, no bankers. no mer-
chants-all is blank. They are mere fol-
lowers. To give them independence is TO
invite chaos.
The chief trouble with Mexico to-day is
that she is trying to live up to & consti-
tuition. patterned somewhat after our
own much too advanced for the intelli
gence of her electorate And here is a
pertinent query: IL Mexico with all her
experience as a self-governing nation can
not meet our ideals OF proper govern
ment, how may we expect satisfactory re
suits from the untutored Filipinos? But
they say we are going to keep our hand
on the Filpinos. We will hold the veto
power.
Government by veto. And a long dis
lance veto at that. We will have the
power at Washington to veto what is
done at Manila. We have the power to
originate good ones. This truly is an
experiment. This whole experiment i
made possible by use OF executive au-
thority. and may, II Is claimed. be with
drawn If the scheme does not work salts
factorily. II is one thing TO extend
privilege and another thing TO withdraw
a right, and the Filipino once having en-
joyed this right will fight for its reten-
ton.
The Filipino people will need our active.
not nominal, guardianship for a long
time to come. They will need IL to the
end that they may be secure in the en-
joyment OF that liberty which gives pro
lection, education, health and peace. The
great desideratum in any government Is
stability; without stability there is no
security, and without security to life and
property there can be no liberty or prog
ress. 1t may also be remarked that
political independence does not necessarily
mean freedom. nor does It usually mean
freedom. unless the people are qualified
by education, experience and self-controi
to use the tools.
Those who devised the present insular
government went to the very limit OF
safety In placing the political affairs OF
these people in their own hands. BY
slender margin they reserved the right
OF guardianship. In my judgment there
rests upon those who would change that
condition at this time a monumental re-
sponsibilty. J. r. MLAUGHLIN.
New York. Oct q, 1sla