345. Our Western Lands. When we established our independence we had a good deal of unsettled land between the Allegheny Mountains and the Mississippi River. Later we bought other lands, and we took some from Mexico. Much of this territory was inhabited by Indians who gradually gave way before civilization. We did not hold these new lands as colonies under the control of the older States, but we organized new States for self-government as rapidly as the territories became settled. Our own citizens moved into them and carried our political ideas with them. Therefore it was easy to form these new States as members of our Federal Union. We began with thirteen States and now we have in the Union forty-eight equal and self-governing communities. We do not have confidence in any kind of government except a republic; therefore our constitution requires that all of our States shall have this form. But each new State has a right to make its own constitution and to govern itself, just as the original thirteen States may.

346. Our Plan for Colonies. We have a regular plan for dealing with new lands. We believe that people should govern themselves just as soon as they show that they can do so economically and wisely. They cannot do so until they have enough settlers in one place to form a government which will not be too expensive. A few scattering people cannot pay taxes enough to support officers to protect them from anarchy. We do not wish to get any benefit from ruling over other people. In fact, we have spent large sums of money helping our colonies to get ready to govern themselves wisely.

347. The Philippines. About twenty years ago we waged a war against Spain during which we took from her most

of her colonies because we did not believe she was governing them well. Among these were the Philippine Islands near the coast of Asia. Some of the people in the Philippines wanted to have complete independence at once; others wanted to continue under the control of the United States. It was difficult to know what to do with them. If we gave them independence it was likely that they would fall into civil war and anarchy because they had had no practice in self-government. If they did fall into anarchy some other strong government would take control of them. It would do this partly for selfish reasons and partly to bring the resources of the islands into the use of the world. But we had declared when we became independent that all people should govern themselves. What were we to do? This question has never been fully answered. Some of our citizens think we must free the islands completely from any American control. Others think we should hold them longer and prepare them gradually through a good many years for self-government. The latter say we have no more right to set the Philippines adrift than we would have to let children do as they please when they are tired of staying at home under the rule of their parents. The children, they say, would suffer without protection; and so the islands would suffer without well-organized government.

348. Cuba. We also took Cuba from Spain. In fact, we went to war with Spain because we thought she was governing the island badly and was keeping it in constant turmoil right at our front door. As soon as we made peace with Spain we began to prepare Cuba for self-government. Now she is almost entirely free. She may govern herself just as she will so long as peace and order are preserved; but we have the right under our treaty with the island to

step in and restore order if necessary. We also refused to let the Cuban Government make alliances with European powers or to go so deeply into debt to them that war with Europe might be the result. In other words, Cuba is like a son who is about twenty years old. He is nearly ready to separate from his parents, but they still have a little authority over him. We spent a great deal of money in improving the health and education in the island before we set it free. We, therefore, seem to have a right to prevent it from falling back into anarchy.

349. Colonies of Other Countries. Countries govern colonies for either of two reasons or for both of them. The first reason is to help the people in the new country to improve their civilization and government. The second is to develop the resources of the country and to bring its products into the use of the world. Which of these two reasons is more important it is hard to say; one is likely to prevail when settlers from the home land outnumber the natives, and the other when the natives outnumber the newcomers. We should not judge any country harshly for its treatment of its colonies unless we know a great deal about the people of the new lands, and unless we understand what the home government is trying to do. It is easy to find fault, but it is difficult to persuade a large number of backward people to make the best use of their resources and to respect human rights. Some colonies are like schools where people are being educated for their own good. Others are like farms where resources are being developed. If the natives will not work the farms, other people come and take them. The American Government has tried to make our colonies into schools for the people who live there.

350. Africa. Most of Africa is inhabited by black people who are very backward in civilization. The continent has great resources which the world needs. What is right for the world to do? Shall the Africans be free to continue as savages and keep these resources out of use; or shall the peoples of the world unite in gradually educating the natives up to our kind of civilization? It is difficult to answer this question yet, because the peoples of the world have no common government through which they can decide questions of this sort. At present many different countries own colonies in Africa and each is trying to get as much of the continent as possible. If we believe that colonies should be held only in the interest of the people who live in them it is hard to see why any country wishes to hold on to these expensive and troublesome possessions. But the business people of some countries like to hold colonies for the purpose of making money out of them. We cannot find much fault with such people as yet, for the whole question of dealing with savages and half-civilized communities is unsettled.

351. Self-Government in the World. It is likely that all the world would be happier if there were a federal government over all the countries of the world, for then such questions as the partition of Africa could be peaceably settled in an orderly manner, and there would be little danger of war between the countries.

SUGGESTIONS AND QUESTIONS

1. Commit to memory the first article of the Declaration of Independence. Is there any part of this paragraph that we do not now believe to be useful?

2. Should we give the Philippine Islands their independence now? Write a paragraph showing why we should not do so now.

Write another paragraph showing why we should do so. Who is the best judge of what action our government should take? Why is this person more able to judge the matter than the average citizen?

3. See if you can find in the constitution of the United States any reference to the government of people who do not govern themselves.

4. What is meant by the expression "The white man's burden"? If the whole world is to be justly governed in the interest of the people of all the world, what should the civilized peoples do with the sections still inhabited by uncivilized people? Describe a civilized people.

5. If Cuba cannot do anything she wishes, is she independent? Can any country do just as it pleases? State in a brief paragraph just what you mean by an independent country?

6. Should Alaska be made into a State? Should Porto Rico be made into a State? In each case give your reasons. If you do not know the reasons, whose judgment would you be willing to trust in answering these questions? Are persons wise who criticise the government of their country in important matters of this kind without full information?