that the administration at Washington does not seem to realize that it is making a spectacle of itself. All the rest of the world knows that when the Filipinos are reduced to submission, we will do the policing while England and her colonies get the trade!" Chairman" Captain Bevans, what have you to say for our trade in the Philippines? It strikes me we are being left like a rat terrier watching a knot-hole in a plank fence." Captain Bevans-"Like many other people, I spoke without having investigated. It is rather catchy to say 'Trade follows the flag.' I supposed it would hold good in the Philippines, but I guess that is the excep tion which proves the rule.” But Chairman-"Well, we have learned that from a business standpoint, imperialism does not appear to be a glittering success. Captain Bevans has said from the start there are stronger reasons for annexation and we will have another discussion to-morrow morning." CHAPTER III. QUESTION: "ARE THE FILIPINOS INCAPABLE OF GOVERNING THEMSELVES?" HAIRMAN-"Last evening the committee informed Captain Bevans and CH Mr. Smith that they would be expected to discuss the capability of the Filipinos for self-government, and it was regarded as only fair that Captain Bevans should be called upon to affirm their lack of capability, as our gov. ernment now assumes it. For the sake of the administration I helped to elect, I hope he will be more successful than yesterday when called upon to show how American business interests would be conserved by annexation. The extreme anxiety of the administration to have it appear that the Filipinos are wholly unfit for self-government seems a little queer, in view of its proposal to make them, or at least their children, American citizens. That point is, however, waived for the purposes of this discussion." Captain Bevans-"For many reasons, the people of the Philippines are not fitted for self-government. The various tribes of the islands would soon be at war with each other; they are not generally educated; they have had no opportunity to know how government should be conducted; and, while highly imitative, they have little executive ability. The virtues they possess have been acquired from Spain, and if left to themselves, they would soon drift back to savagery. The United States drove the Spaniards out and the islands fell to us by the fortunes of war. Whether we want them or not, we have become morally responsible to the world for their government. า Chairman-"Wait, captain. We will discuss the rights and duties of the United States toward the Philippines when the right time comes. Just now we are discussing the Filipino." Private Smith-"Like all expansionists, Captain Bevans deals wholly in generalities." Captain Bevans-"Isn't it a fact that the Filipinos are incapable of self-government?" Private Smith-"That is for you to prove." Captain Bevans-"Have I not shown that 4 the Filipinos would soon fight among themselves?" Private Smith-"You have asserted it. Before taking away human liberty it is necessary to do more than assert. The world bows only to proof when a man is charged with murder, or even with insanity. Guardians for adults are permitted only in Captain Bevans-" You will admit that they are not generally educated, and education is necessary to government. Private Smith-"I admit that they are not educated in English, but are prepared to prove that they are eduated in Tegallo and Spanish. I see you will go no further than to assert and that I shall be compelled to prove your assertions untrue. Truly a queer position for a negative debator to be compelled to take. " Captain Bevans:-"I should like to see you prove that the Filipinos will not fight among themselves, unless a strong hand is kept over them. " Private Smith-" If I mistake not we-we who are willing to run the universe-have : |