The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-16
FAIRNESS TO FYLLPLNOS
PROVES A PAYING POLICY
Visit of Commission to United States Brings Sharp
/ Attention to Constructive Work as Well as
7 Pledges of Independence.
NJ cLARENCE Z. BoswoRTH,

NJ CLARENCE Il. BoswoRTH,
swrttsn especially for the Austrdioston-
Far Eastern Section Of THE Sun.
American attention is again focused
upon our Pacific islands through the
visit of the Philippine Commission to
tho United States. So Is the attention
of those other nations who possess COL
onies. The final result OF our greatest
experiment In colonial control % in
sight. Snap judgment Of the uniformed
and the unsympathetic prompts condem-
nation of our policy and the people to
whom It has been applied.
Foreign critics say we have spoiled
the Filipinos- II increasing their earn
ing power. purchasing capacity, self
reliance and self-respect and enabling
them to placs themselves. among the
peaceful, useful peoples OF the earth Is
spelling them, then we hate certainly
done So
The Filipino request for independence
appears to our critics as showing not the
least appreciation Of the advantages We
have given our island people. Such In
ferences are wrong-absolutely wrong.
In all my travels in the islands have
Yet to find Filipino man or woman who
has for US any feeling other than of
gratitude SO profound that II borders on
reverence.
Why, then. do they want to break
away from us7 Well, as q mater Of
fact they do not plan a break any more
final than that of son who initiates an
sons perpetuate their friendly relations
after the divorcing Of their administra-
tive and financial interests. The desire
of the Filipinos to become Independent
10 as natural as life itself. The sugges-
ton that they should become Such was
first made by us. The plan to enable
them eventually to enjoy independence
was formed by us their ,cooperation in
working II out was voluntarily enlisted
by u.s. and this cooperation has been
directed by US for these twenty years SO
successfully that no one shows cause
why the Filipinos should not become an
independent people II the United States
can be certain that the islands will en-
Joy their freedom undisturbed by other
nations.
Experiment Nearly Completed.
These wards Of ours have shown such
q splendid capacity that nearly all
Americans believe the time has come to
grant tie independence which we prom
tsed conditionally a score Of years ago,
II the League of Nations, or some
other combination OF Powers, will
really assure the Independence of the
This is evidence that we Americans be-
lieve our policy has been reasonably
right and that we entertain. no feeling
that the Filipinos are lacking in appre-
citation. 1t is all according to our plan.
During the years OF our experiment.
ing we have often been advised that It
does not pay to treat natives as we have
treated the Filipinos. Why not?
Who shall say that 1t lessons the
serving value of an Individual to wed
him OF his servility?
- or that 1t makes him dangerous
to teach him our ways and our Ian
guage?
or that 1t makes him Impossible
to enable him to clean up. dress up and
feed up2
or that a threatening combination
may result from teaching tribal inter-
dependence SO that enmity ceases and
peace with cooperation for the common
good results?
Who shall say these things now tina,
our experiment Is 30 nearly completed?
We arrive at most Of our conclusions
parsons, and we usually ind thie
method easiest when trying to form ar
opinion on a subject concerning which
our knowledge Is limited. For comparison
in this particular case we have as most
convenient the system of the Dutch In
dealing with the natives of the East
Indies and that of the English in India
We need figures, so India seems to fur
nish the better comparison because the
statistics arc more complete. Without
criticising in the least for We are Just
weighing these methods OF colonial con-
troll in the balance of commerce, lei
US see what the two systems are and
what they have brought about.
Comparison With India.
It is unfortunate that India and the
Philippines are not nearer of a size for
this particular comparison, but they have
certain similarities. England's dominion
over India resulted from war-so did
ours in the Philippines. Both of these
native peoples lived under the curse OF
poverty, ignorance, superstition anc
tribal warfare, and both were brough,
to a more or less peaceful resignation
to the new order Of things by force
of arms.
England assumed definite control OF
india in 1853 after the Sepoy mutiny
we assumed definite control Of the Phil
ippines at the close of the Spanish
American war, but English influence In
india has been very strong. almost dom
inant for nearly century; so while the
figures show that England had only
thirty-six years start, It is really mors
than twice that However,
The approach of the two countries &c
their new charges furnishes the key tc
the whole situation as we find II to-day
England. of course. started work in India
when the one idea OF the white man was
TO exploit the weaker peoples of other
color and that idea has, until very recent
years, been the big influence behind al
governmental actions in India. Wher
travel and education caused the leaders
among the natives to think, 1t caused
the British to think too and change
their attitude to some extent. Briefly
England entered India from selfish mo
tives; the Indifference of the home Gov
eminent and the people permitted certain
interests to take from the natives with
out giving in Just return; to keep the
many peoples or tribes from combining
into a solid unit, caste and tribal dis
tinctions and to a certain extent, en-
mites. were rather consistently encour
aged; and the idea OF the individual
white employer has been to secure {
maximum service for a minute compen
sation. This attitude has endured FOL
10 long that 1t mas been more difficult
for England to change TO generous at
titude (Which she Is certainly doing,
than II was for US to start our work II
the Philippines along unselfish lines.
Moreover. England has always recog
! mixed class distinctions, and the average