I have had during my whole life to deal with that most difficult
of all political problems, the relation to each other, in
a Republic, of men of different races. It is a question
which has vexed the American people from the beginning of
their history. It is, if I am not much mistaken, to vex
them still more hereafter. First the Indian, then the Negro,
then the Chinese, now the Filipino, disturb our peace. In
the near future will come the Italian and the Pole and the
great population of Asia, with whom we are soon to be brought
into most intimate and close relation.
In my opinion, in all these race difficulties and troubles,
the fault has been with the Anglo-Saxons. Undoubtedly the
Indian has been a savage; the Negro has been a savage; the
lower order of Chinamen have been gross and sometimes bestial.
The inhabitants of the Philippine Islands, in their natural
rights, which, as we had solemnly declared to be a self-evident
truth, were theirs beyond question, have committed acts of
barbarism. But in every case, these inferior and alien races,
if they had been dealt with justly, in my opinion, would have
been elevated by quiet, peaceful and Christian conduct on
our part to a higher plane, and brought out of their barbarism.
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