New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-22
white man to be as prone to corruption as him

England has a Of priority of right to assist
the American Government in holding and ad-
ministerinS these islands, a right which she could
invoke in the event Of objections being raised
by any other foreign Powers In 1862 Eng
lsh admiral. like Dewey. took possession OF
Manila after fortnight's siege. and held the
city, and incidentally the islands. for period OF
two years After that England restored the
! Philippines to Spain on the promise OF pay
ment by the Spanish Government OF SJ0o0OOO.
! This indemnity remains unpaid 10 this day. Be-
sides this. Englands trade in the Philippine
Islands and her interest there are superior to
those Of all other foreign nations.
! Were the United States to take the advice Of
Great Britain in the matter they would prob
ably inauguiatc the same sort Of government
that 10y of which the English admin
lister the Straits Settlement. Hong Kong Ceyon,
aud other sO-called Crown colonies in Asia.
That is to say. there would be a governor eXer-
cising supreme control. assisted by an executive
council of five members comprising the leading
American officials Of the colony such as for in
stance. the commander Of the troops, the COM
modore Of the station. the chief justice and so
on. Besides this there would be a legislative
council Of about eighteen members, ten Of whom
would be American officials or merchants. while
]
being taken that they should be selected
with the view Of representing the ideas, as
pirations and prejudceS of the various princi-
pal races of the group. No vote or resolution
could be passed by this legislative council nor
any question admitted TO debate without hay
ing been previously sanctioned by the Gov
ernor. In fact. the legislative councils Of the
Crown colonies are in the main consultative, and
| can in no wise control or override the acts or
the wishes Of the Governor.
ADAPTATION TO AsIATIC USAGE.
Justice would be administered in the Philip
pines as In Ceylon. by supreme court which
would have an original criminal jurisdiction
and decide appeals from the inferior courts
both In civil and criminal cases. The United
States could not do better than apply here the
same kind Of code. civil we'll as criminal.
that exists at Singapore where the population
has much analogy with that of the Philippines.
the code being sort OF Indian adaptation Of
the English code for Oriental use. taking into
consideration the customs. the traditions and
the prejudces OF the natives, since it is obvi-
ously out If the question to apply full-hedged
European law in an Oriental country. and. for
instance. to punish an Asiatic for polygamy be-
cause ne has than wife. This question:
OF judicial administration is one on which Eng
sh advice again will be invaluable.
There two PORTS to be mentioned in CON
cluson. The one is the question Of the clergy.
and the other is the question Of the climate.
At the present moment probably one-thrd "
the isiands-at any rate OF the most fertile and
productive parts u thcm-are owned by vari-
Gus monastic orders who have hitherto been
able to retain possession through the influence
which they exercised at Madrid by remtting
immense sums OF money TO the clergy in Spain.
Until now they have been exempt from any
kind ~ taxation. which has Of course made
necessary the imposition Of heavier imposts.
pecally in the shape Of agricultural and land
taxes upon the remainder Of the population. The
support of these monastc orders and their good
will could be acquired by relieving them Of the
necessity Of sending yearly tributes to Spain.
and demanding instead that they should pay
the same taxes as every one else. BY this
means the revenues Of the island would be in
creased by at least Onc-thlrd while by leaving
the religious orders in possession OF their prop
erty. which they now fear to lose. the goodwill
and support Of 4 very influential element would
be- secured.
Finally. there is the question Of climate. There
may be an objection sanitary grounds to the
employment Of a large body Of white American
troops III 80 lT'I'dl ''uHtiN 10 Ait 1 HlliIr
pines. Indeed, ii is mposs bic to deny that milk
tary service for white soldiers in such couns
tries Is very trying. the mortality among evoG
the seasoned English troops At Singapore, Hong
Kong and Ceylon being large But why NOT
take the advice OF one Of the London papers,
and Increase the present negro contingent II
the United States Army from four thousand to
twenty thousand. and station them in the Phil
ippnes? The bravery of the colored man as a
trnlnnl snlhinr has LeNnr boon lunSiiO lie