New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-01
Mr.. Worcester's Testimony: What
Does Our Gentle Critic, The
Evening Post" Think of 1t?


We fear for the lf-possession of "The Even
ing Post" when it takes up the testimony given
Yesterday before the Senate Philippines Committee
bv Mr.. Dean c. Worcester. in its usual gracious
and temperate way "The Post" accused US the
other day Of being "meaner than the meanest
Filipino" because we said that the coddling Of
Filipino politicians through the Jones bill and the
mistaken Don't-shoot-us-were -gong-t get-out-on-
the-next-liner policy Of the administration were
bound TO encourage native INSTRUMENTATION and
sedition.
According 70 "The Posts" sensitive philosophy
il was like a Moro jtrodo running amuck" to
dwell on the moral Of the Ricarte revolt at the
very time when a Senate committee was about to
report the Jones bin 20 augment the power of
the Filipino politicians. That showed "wretched
spirit" bound to be resented by every militant
anti-imperialist and by every native agtator fear
ful Of losing new opportunities to exploit his fel-
low countrymen.
The absolutely crushing thing to us, according
10 "The Posts" view, was its use Of an interview
with Mr. Worcester TO confound our arguments,
Mr.. Worcester said in that interview that Ricarte
was not very serious revolutionary and that
stories about uprisings in the Philippines ought
to be scrutinized with special care while The
Jones bill was pending The Tribune did scru-
tinize the story which came to it from respon-
sible source in Manila. We knew that we were
not circulating q canard and Mr.. Worcester him
self has now fully substantiated our cable dis
patch through the dispatch which he himself
submitted yesterday to the Senate committee.
The latter message came from Mr. P. G. Melon
nell, Manila editor, and Mr.. Worcester vouches
for its accuracy.
As TO the conclusions which we drew from the
facts reported, thereby mourning the charge OF
being "meaner than the meanest Filipino we
notice that Mr. Mcdonnell agrees entirely with
us. He says: at is generally believed the dis
turbance is being Influenced by widespread idea
of government weakness Sediton not suppressed
because Of wrong Interpretation Of promises OF
administration in circulation by politicians among
ignorant masses. Uprising insignificant IN
accomplishment. but dangerous on account Of
potential agitation Of lowest classes
That is exactly what The Tribune said about
the inevitable effects Of a policy which played into
the hands Of the Filipino politicians and enabled
them to create the belief that the United States
government had become weary Of its sovereignty
irresolute and timorous. Il is only human nature
especially SO in a partially civilized community
ike the Philippiues-to misconstrue as weakness
the apologize. easygoing attitude of a stronger
race. However well intentioned the Wilson-aar
rison-Jones-Quezon policy may be, 1t misses the
real point Of the situation in the Philippines,
where whatever the United States may hope to
accomplish will be best accomplished through the
frmest possible insistence On its own prestige and
authority
Mr. Worcester's testimony before the Philip
pines Committee equally sustained The Tribune's
arguments Here is a brief summary Of his be-
iefs, based ON his long stay in the islands:
Mr. Worcester gave it as biz opinion that the dis
turbances were "hal hiFII pe e 25EPeS.t IL a
pcndence were granted lie sand Phnlpplme poIu-
clans "who love 20 fish in troubled waters, were IN
favor Of immediate independence, meaning an mae
pendence for them 90 hold Office with the Cnteo
states Navy lying in the harbors 20 prevent inter.
national complications lie asserted that the vocal
sentiment of the islands was DO favor OF indie
pendence, but Che prcoomnatng real sentiment was
opposed TO d. Tie said that fear OF vengeance pre-
vented many from uttering their true views
That is the situation as we have many times
described It, The Jones biz, granting much more
license to the politicians than they now enjoy, can
only increase agitation and unrest. 1t is there
fore pernicious It is plainly inimical to the well
fare Of the people Of the Philippines TO say moth
ing of its disastrous effect in weakening and
smirching the authority Of the United States