As certainly the oppression of other tribes by the Tagals must be ended, or the oppression of any tribe by any other within the sphere of our active control.
Whitelaw Reid
The Public Record
Whitelaw Reid was an American politician, diplomat and newspaper editor, as well as the author of Ohio in the War, a popular work of history.
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Wars between the tribes must be discouraged and prevented.
We must seek to suppress crimes of violence and private vengeance, secure individual liberty, protect individual property, and promote the study of the arts of peace.
Above all, we must give and enforce justice; and for the rest, as far as possible, leave them alone.
By all means let us avoid a fussy meddling with their customs, manners, prejudices, and beliefs.
All this points directly to utilizing existing agencies as much as possible, developing native initiative and control in local matters as fast and as far as we can, and ultimately giving them the greatest degree of self-government for…
Under any conditions that exist now, or have existed for three hundred years, a homogeneous native government over the whole archipelago is obviously impossible.
We must retain such a control of the superior courts as shall make justice certainly attainable, and such control of the police as shall insure its enforcement.
But in all this, after the absolute authority has been established, the further the natives can themselves be used to carry out the details, the better.
But on a far-reaching question of national policy the wise public man is not so greatly disturbed by what people say in momentary discouragement under the first temporary check.
That which really concerns him is what people at a later day, or even in a later generation, might say of men trusted with great duties for their country, who proved unequal to their opportunities, and through some short-sighted timidity…
It will make an end forever of Spain in this hemisphere.