The Philippines.

New York Times 100 years ago today, May 1, 1913:
    The President is said to be in extreme doubt as to what he should recommend to Congress as to the policy of the Government in the Philippines. He is committed heartily to the declaration of the Democratic Party platform on this subject, but, like many another platform in our history, this declaration is more emphatic than specific. It "favors an immediate declaration of the Nation's purpose to recognize the independence of the Philippine Islands," but it adds the extremely important qualification, "as soon as a stable Government can be established."
    This is in effect the present policy, which has steadily been pursued since the days of McKinley. We have always been prepared to recognize the independence of the islands under the condition defined. And the United States Government has striven loyally and with energy and skill to bring about the fulfillment of that condition. Doubtless some mistakes have been made and some omissions have occurred, and it will be the duty of the present Administration carefully to examine this phase of the subject, to correct the errors, supply the omissions, and make any changes in the organization and management of the islands that may be found necessary. But it does not lie within the power of the Executive or of the Government to abandon the objective determined and pursued up to the present time. It is not merely the platform of the party to which the Administration belongs that prevents this. It is the grave and lasting obligation that this Nation has assumed with reference to the islands, to their actual inhabitants and to the millions who in the future will people the islands.
    This is one of the cases where the means is far more important than the end. It is not the independence of the Philippines that we must consider now. It is the stable Government which is first to be established. Practically, when that is accomplished. independence will be a matter of minor consequence. By that time there will exist in the islands an intelligent, industrious, and prosperous population, partly native but largely of Western descent, which may not wish to sever the connection with the great Republic. In the present condition of the islands independence is a mere dream.