New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-27
FILIPINOS UNFIT TO RULE
independence Far Distant. Says Keen
Observer.
IN the Editor If The Tribune.

Observer.
| To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: In the fall OF 1905. while in the Fhn
jppine Islands, / endeavored 10 Se' en-
merit testimony on the subject OF the III
dependenco OF the Filipinos. Propaoi!
no men are more familiar with the divers >
conditions existing there than the ofncer
Of the United States army. who IN poic-
ing these three. thousand ISLANDS, scat
tered over two hundred thousand square
miles of the Pacific Ocean, come in con-
tact with its more or less savage ""u
distinct tribes OF Tagalogs. Moros, Igor
rotes and Negritos. speaking eight diHT-
ent languages and seventy dialects.
In reply 70 my question, when the fui-
pnos would be fitted for self-goVerhineht'
: Lieutenant Edison j. Small. representing
the army. promptly said. Never, for
they never can be unified 7 then inter-
viewed man of extended experience,
Professor Clifton r. Workman, superin-
tendent Of schools. and he replied: IN
| about a thousand years" Ny next m
formant vas c. u. Behrens. commission
er OF friar lands. whose duties in ADJUST
ing this difficult question had brought hin
into intimate relations with many OF the
tillpinos, and | found him much more
sangiIine He replied: THE Fllip!nos VIII
be fitted for self-goyernment In about i've
hundred wears" Then. by appointment. l
went To- headquarters and was cordially
received By Governor General smith.
After lengthy discussion on the gem
a
eral condition of the Philippine Islands, |
asked this question: General Smith.
when will YOU be permitted to come home
10 America and hand the government OK
these islands over to the FiipinosT lie
replied: You have just been giving me
an account ~ Your careful inspection OF
our institutions OF learning. OF our School
OF Trades and Arts. and Of our printing
establishment. ana have expressed your
surprise ana qualification AZ the "onder-
full progress these young EIlipincs are
making But doubtless you noticed that
they are all held 20 their work by Amer
lean officers. The moment this restraint
Is removed their iino work ceases. Tor
they are lacking in Initiative. in concen-
TIA tion and in continued effort. Then
there IS a second thing Of all-controiling
influence which YOU have had no oppor-
tun.ty Of observing. and that ~ the
homes 10 which these Young men return.
where the old seini-ciyilized conditions
stlll exist and which neutralze and
nullify very largely AL our efforts in
their behalf But We are encouraged 10
believe that the homes OF the next gen
GRAFTON will be more civilized and more
syrnpathetic ard therefore Will hinder
less the progress toward TIE independent.
self-reliant manhood of our students.
Then ~ a.. third generation Ne are
confident that tho civilized. ChristlaniZed
homes Will supplement and enforce the
teachings o: the schools. and the product
will be a race Of men morally ana in
tellectuslly strong. and 50 lifted FOR self
government Therefore. ~ answer 70
your question a. to when the tnlted
states would be justified In intrustlnS tho
government of these islands - the Fill
plnos. / would say. CIV. us about three
generations. or hundred years. when
this transfer probably could safely he
made
But there = another fact which must
not be overlooked While tine Filipnos
ia one hundred wears might be capable
~ sclf-soveInmcnt and. unmolested.
might enjoy peace and prosperity. yet
this nation Of seven and one-half millions
= Inhabitants. with its 1880 square
miles " territory. Is broken up into num-
belless islands. widely scattered over the
ocean. and would. therefore. be an easy
. &
world with Chinese labor dor the FIJI
plnos are not indus.rioUsl and with the
unrestricted production Il sugar these
islands Will become immensely wealthy.
But the greater their wealth the greater
Will be the temptation Of conquest BY
other nations This IL subject which
may not concern the United State. but Il
IL a fact which Is worthy OF considers
zion"
This convincing demonstration was mere
interrupted by "a sail up the Pasig River
IN the Governors launch. when We had
an opportunity OF discussing the we!shty
rcsponsibillty which the fortunes OF war
have saddled upon the United states
from which they can gain 40 advantage.
which will always he d bill OF expense,
which may cmhroi them IN war with
other nations. and Vet which they are
morally bound 10 maintain Tor many.
many wears. the only satisfaction derived
from the whole costly business being
similar 20 that which a philanthropist
would enjoy who had adopted "A poor waif
from the street and lifted him at great
cost by education and training for use
ful. INDEPENDENT life. II ~ pure. disin-
teiesteG, uniemunerative missionary Worl.
which cannot be evaded.
MlNoT =. MORGAN.