Beveridge On War in the Philippines
Mr. President, the
times call for candor. The Philippines are ours forever, “territory
belonging to the United States,” as the Constitution calls them. And just
beyond the Philippines are China’s illimitable markets. We will not retreat from
either. We will not repudiate our duty in the archipelago. We will not abandon
our opportunity in the Orient. We will not renounce our part in the mission of
our race, trustee under God, of the civilization of the world. And we will move
forward to our work, not howling out regrets like slaves whipped to their
burdens, but with gratitude for a task worthy of our strength, and thanksgiving
to Almighty God that He has marked us as His chosen people, henceforth to lead
in the regeneration of the world. This island empire is the last land left in
all the oceans. If it should prove a mistake to abandon it, the blunder once
made would be irretrievable. If it proves a mistake to hold it, the error can
be corrected when we will. Every other progressive nation stands ready to
relieve us. But to hold it will be no mistake. Our largest trade henceforth
must be with Asia. The Pacific is our ocean. More and more Europe will
manufacture the most it needs, secure from its colonies the most it consumes.
Where shall we turn for consumers of our surplus? Geography answers the
question. China is our natural customer. She is nearer to us than to England,
Germany, or Russia, the commercial powers of the present and the future. They
have moved nearer to China by securing permanent bases on her borders. The
Philippines give us a base at the door of all the
East.
Mr. President, this
question is deeper than any question of party politics; deeper than any
question of the isolated policy of our country even; deeper even than any
question of constitutional power. It is elemental. It is racial. God has not
been preparing the English-speaking and Teutonic peoples for a thousand years for
nothing but vain and idle self-contemplation and self-admiration. No! He has
made us the master organizers of the world to establish system where chaos
reigns. He has given us the spirit of progress to overwhelm the forces of reaction
throughout the earth. He has made us adept in government that we may administer
government among savage and senile peoples. Were it not for such a force as
this the world would relapse into barbarism and night. And of all our race He has marked the American people as his chosen
nation to finally lead in the regeneration of the world. This is the divine
mission of America, and it holds for us all the profit, all the glory, all the
happiness possible to man. We are trustees of the world’s progress, guardians
of its righteous peace. The judgment of the Master is upon us: “Ye have been
faithful over a few things; I will make you rule over many things.”