Arizona republican., 1914-07-13
A Democratic Problem Now

Whatever discomfort exists in the Philippines
of American politicians who have insisted
upon making the affairs of the islands a political
issue and still desperately trying to divide the
American people on such issue. Representative
Jones of Virginia Saturday introduced another
Philippines government bill which it is declared will
give the islands more autonomous government.
II will do nothing of the sort. While it provides
Tor differently constituted legislative body and for
The abolition of the Philippines commission, and
lessons the of the governor general it gives
10 the president and the congress the last word III
all insuar affairs. 1t merely shifts the power with
out comforting any additional power upon the natives
In a statement regarding the bill, Mr. Jones
declares that the islands must be granted their in
ependence-sometime: that this country did not
engage in with Spain with any purpose of ter
ritorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT All of which is useless
talk. because there is now and there has never
been any other contention Mr.. Jones may as SOL
EMMY declare that the is not made of green
cheese. 1t with hesitation that this country
took over the Philippines and paid Spain s2OOOO0OO
for them and assumed an obligation of unknown
millions, not penny of which would ever be re-
turned. All the trouble and expense was foreseen
hut there nothing else to be done. We realized
at the beginning that in the Philippines we would
While Mr.. Bryan, always graspng usually
blindy, for political issues, was shouting anti
Imperialism. President Mckinley lamentng the
necessity of taking the islands and American
statesmen looking forward to the time when
the Philippines could safely be trusted to them
selves. There has been any difference of
opinion among thoughtful Americans to what
We would like TO do with the islands, peopled largely
by savage tribes. The anti-mperalists would at
once have left them to their own Devices but that
forbidden by humanity.
Under the leadership of Mr.. Bryan, successive
democratic national conventions have declared for
independence for the Philippines. We have been
led to suppose that immediate Independence
desired The democratic party is now in power in
every branch of the government. There is nothing
To prevent the granting of independence to the
Philippines. There has been time since
that morning when Dewey sailed into Manila Bay
when the islands nearly prepared for self
government at present. Our government has
been preparing them sixteen years. If they
should have been given independence sixteen years
ago. twelve years ago, or eight years ago, or
four years ago, Mr.. Bryan and the democratic
national convention persistently demanded there
is less reason why independence should be with
held them.
The fact is the democratic party has never been
honest in its treatment of the Philippines question.
II has always known well it knows now that
the islands prepared for self government,
and that preparation must cover a long and ndef-
mite period The senseless agitation at home foe
political purposes has always complicated prob.
lem in the islands. The rebellion of Aguinaldo was
encouraged by democratic politicians and the anti
imperialists 1t has been the quadrennial declara-
lions by democratic conventions and the agitation by
democratic orators and that have aroused
and kept alive discomfort and resentment in the
islands against this government, which is demo-
cratic and must bear the brunt of it. The discon-
and resentment which the democrats have
provoked cannot be quoted by such the
Jones bill