The record-union., 1898-11-29
IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Problems That Confront the New
Owners of the Islands.

Professor Dean G. worcester OF the
University Of Michigan, contributes to
the Century" an article on "Knotty
Problems of the Philippines" Profess
sor Worcester says:
Reforms should be begun at once, and
one of the first should be a material
reduction in the extortionate taxes
which have in the past been levied on
the long suffering inhabitants. Such a
measure would be certain to produce
favorable impression, and would go
far toward giving the natives conf
dence in the new administration.
In order to strengthen. this confidence,
a part of the funds raised by taxation
should be expended in local improve
ments, suchTas the building of roads
and the blishment of schools.
Another much needed reform would
be the provision of a simple but COM
prehensive and effective code of laws
The name of the existing codes is
legion, and a lawsuit under any one
of them is the worst misfortune that
can befalI a aman. precedent can
be found for anything; bribery is uni
versal, and Justice virtually unknown.
Let the native once find out that he has
rights before the law, and he will begin
to regard the law with some respect
As rule the civilized natives are or
derly, and the most serious problem
which the representatives of law and
order woud have to face would be the
suppression of brigandage. There have
always existed in the northern islands
bands of tulisanes, or professional ban
dts. Sometimes they establish perma-
nent headquarters in inaccessible places
and again they live scattered among
the honest villages, assembling only
when they have some deviltry on hand.
Their ranks are recruited in part from
the criminal classes, in part by tho ad-
dition of men who have been driven
by bitter wrongs to turn against the
existing order of things. They are of
ten led by men supposed to be pos
sessed of anting anting, or charms
which make them bullet proof and give
them various other miraculous prop
critics. These tulisanes descend on de-
fenseless people. and plumber, kill and
carry off prisoners to be held for ran
som. AS a rule they are desperate
occasionally show daring. During my
very streets of Manila.
In the past, when the guardia civil
has succeeded in hunting them down.
they have usually been acquitted. or. if
convicted, have soon managed to effect
a mysterious escape, while the presid-
ing alcaldes have suddenly become
wealthy
At the close of the present war these
bands of tulisanes will doubtless be
augmented by the riffraff of the inslr-
gent forces They have been so long
accustomed to having their own way
that they will be overbold. A vigorous
policy in dealing with them would have
very wholesome effect. In operations
against them and SO far as possible
in all operations in the archipelago, ma
tive troops should be used. When well
drilled and well led they make excellent
soldiers. A convenient way to dispose
of part Of the insurgent forces would
be to retain them in service under
white officers. 1t is perhaps worth
while to note in this connection that
in recent operations about Manila, ma
tive troops have, in at least one in
stance, remained true when Spanish
soldiers mutinied.
The widespread ignorance which pre-
walls in the Philippines is one of the
most important problems demanding
solution. Many of the natives are
quick to learn, and are anxious for the
opportunity, so that their education re-
duces itself to question of ways and
means. A school system is provided
for by the Spanish law. but favoritism
prevails in the choice of teachers. who
are often grossly incompetent, while the
practical working of the schools is fire.
quently interfered with by the friars.
The law provides that Spanish shall be
taught: but as it suits their convent
ence, in the more out of the way places,
to be the only means of communication
between government and natives, they
often forbid this. A few prayers and a
little writing and arithmetic comprise
the course of instruction In many of the
schools.