The sun., 1918-08-11

l. manding immediate review has COM
PEELED us to defer the consideration neces-
sary TO an adequate estimate and notice
of Judge Elliott's elaborate work on the
American colonization of the Philippines.
Now that we have been able TO give it
the careful examination it deserves, we
commend it without hesitation as the most
satisfactory presentation of the subject
which has thus far fallen under our notice.
To say OF any work that it is introduced
by predatory note over the signature of
Elihu Root is a guaranty that it is worthy
Of respectful attention; and in the prcfa-
tory note TO Judge Elliott's first volume
Mr.. Root points cut the great service
which such a book can render in develop
ing the knowledge, interest and sympathy
that ought to characterize the relations
between the people of the Philippine
Islands and the people Of this country
After the outbreak of the great war in
Europe less and less attention was given
by the American press To affairs In the
Philippines; but the problems which con-
front us there will have to be worked out
just the same, and it is essential to our
self-respect and the good name of the
United States that We do not neglect for
a moment the mighty duties we have I'M
dertaken in that distant pari of the world
Watcifulness is an element of success
in our experiment. As Senator Root says:
''lf the people of the United States wish
10 have good government carried on in the
Philippines and to have their duties there
discharged in creditable way they must
take an interest in that government and
watch it."
We Acquire the Philippines.
Under the Treaty of Paris, signed on
December 10, 1893, Spain ccded to the
United States the island of Porto Rico,
the island of Guam in the Marianas or
Ladrones, and ''the archipelago known as
the Philippine Islands," The treaty OBJ
ligated the United States to pay to Spain
the sum of $20,000,0 900 witlia three months
after the exchange of ratification, but did
not specify what the money was to be
paid for; that is to say, it did not show
how much was on account of Porto Rico,
how much for Guam, or how much in con-
sideration of the cession of the Philip
pines.
On February 10, 1899, the treaty was
ratified by the Senate by vote of fifty
seven to twenty-seven. The Spanish Cortes
refused TO ratify ii, but the Queen Regent
possessed an alternative power of ratifi-
cation under the constitution of Spain,
and this she proceeded to exercise "The
notifications were exchanged on April IL,
1899, and on that date the Spanish Amer
lean war came legally to an end and the
sovereignty of the United States over the
Philippine Archipelago became an estab-
lished fact"
Up TO this time the sovereignty of the
Philippines remained in Spain, except as
to the city, bay and harbor of Manila,
which were occupied by the United States
under the peace protocol, preceding the
Treaty Of Paris which was signed at
Washington on August II, 1898. The
American occupation was military in
character, and before the Treaty of Paris
had become effective it was resisted by
Aguinaldo and his followers, who under
took to set up Filipino republic.
Their insurrection or revolution, which
Judge Elliott calls "a sort of a by-product
of the war with Spain had to be sup
pressed unless the United States intended
10 relinquish all power in the islands
power which it was necessary we should
retain for the benefit of the Filipinos
themselves, and although the task was an
unpleasant one it was performed with
,igor and success.
Anti-Imperialist Excuses.
The suppression of the Filipino rebel
lion under Aguinaldo brought great re-
preach upon the Mckinley Administra-