The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-06-23
OUR DUTY IN
 THE PHILIPPINES
ELLWOOD CARL WEISE

On January 4th, 1899, President Mckinley transmitted the Treaty of Peace as signed in Paris to the Senate, and it was at once referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Rela- tions, and reported favorablX on January 11th. On the day following debate began in executive session, and Senator Hoar of Massachusetts intro duced a resolution declaring that the people of the Philippine Islands ought of right to be free and inde- pendent. He was supported by sew era1 Senators of undoubted patriotism who regarded our acquisition of terri tory outside our natural Geographical limits as fraugnt with peril to the Republic and tending to lead our country into 8 policy of imperialism, which might result in annoying com plicationS with the European powers, and in those entangling alliances against which Washington in his Farewell Address, warned his coun- tryrnen. On the other hand, Senators equally patriotic pointed to the ac- comp1ished facts. Our victories had destroyed in Cuba, Porto Rico, and the Philippines, a long established government, and consequently we could not leave the regions lately colonies of Spain, to become the prey of anarchy, but we must in discharge of a. duty which a great nation owes to the civilized world, to humanity, to the inhabitants of the regions as- sune the responsibility of insuring or der as well as freedom, and of train ing to self government these popula- tions that have never had any educa- tion in the methods of creating or maintaining government "of the people, by the people. and for the people ;
 In 1902 Congress passed an Act giving the Philippines civil govern ment following upon the cessation of | disturbances in the Islands and the | termination of military rule. As re- suit central government was insti- tuted, composed of a governor-gen- eral and seven Commissioners 6four tof whom were Americans, and three l Fi1ipinos) who constitute the 1egisla- l tive body. There are four executive l departnents, those of the Interior Justice, and Public Instruction. With this government it's agent the | United States began it's work in the Philippines. We have eradicated pes ti1ential diseases effecting both man l and beast, we have built roads and improved harbors, we have carried out 1 irrigation projects and have intro- 1 duced modern agricultural methods l and lastly, we have introduced a. sys- l tenn of education consisting of ap- proximate1y $500 primary schools. numerous high and normal schools, and government university with
  schools of liberal arts, of medicine, of agriculture, of forestry, of engineer | ing, and of fine arts. | Now what should we do with these islands? What is our real duty ? Should we, as nation, recognize 11lti- .l mate independence or immediate in dependence. Before taking either in- to consideration it would probably ; prove of great value to quote an au- l thority on each side, in an attempt to gain some conception of those con | fusing terms ultimate and ''im- mediate.'
 MT. Taft is undoubtedly our best authority on ultimate independence An extract from one of his addresses is as follows:
 ''To guide the F'ilipinos into self | sustaining pursuits, to continue the I cultivation of sound political habits. l to encourage the diversifioation of in- l dustries, at once checking the dangers of concentrated wealth, and building | up a sturdy independent citizenship We should do this with the disinterest- ed endeavor to secure for them econo-