The state herald., 1898-10-28
PHILIPPINES NEEDS.
THERE OUGHT TO BE REFORMS.
Problems to Be soived-Exhorbitan Taxss
Must He Reduced and bandits Must he
Put Down.

Put Down.
Professor Dean G. Worcester Of the
University of Michigan, who wrote an
article for the September Century on
1.-THE Malay Pirates OF the Philip
pines," based upon personal experience
, with them, contributes to the October
Century an article on "kn0tty ProD'
lens of the Philippines" Professor
Worcester says:
Reforms should be begun at once,
and one of the first should be ma'
terial reduction In the extortionate
taxes which have in the past been
levied on the long-suffering inhabi-
tants. Such measure would be GER
tain to produce favorable impression,
and would go far toward giving the
natives confidence in the new admins
tration.
In order to strengthen this conf
dence, part of the funds raised by
taxation should be expended In local
improvements, such as the building Of
roads and the establishment of schools.
Another mucll-needed reform would
be the provision of Il simple but COM
prehensive and effective code OF laws.
The name of the existing codes is To-
giOn, and a law suit under any one OF
them Is the worst misfortune that can
befall n man. A precedent can be
found for anything; bribery is univer-
snl, and Justice virtually unknown. Let
the native once find out that he has
rights before the law, and he will be-
gin to regard the law with some re-
spect.
As rule the civilized natives are
tn,.lt- nd tl,,.t
which the representatives Of law and
order would have TO face would be the
suppression of brigandage. There have
always existed. in the northern islands.
bands of tullsanes, or professional
bandits. Sometimes they establish per-
manent 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
the addition of men who have been
driven by bitter wrongs to turn against
the existing order Of things. They are
often led by men supposed to be pos
sessed of anting anting. or charms
which make them bullet proof and
give them various other miraculous
properties. These tulisanes descend on
defenseless people, and plunder, KILL.
and carry of prisoners to he held for
ransom. As rule they are desperate
towards, but some of their operations
occasionally show daring During my
stay they kidnapped priest in the very
streets of Manila.
In the past. when the guardia civil
has succeeded In hunting them down,
they have usually been acquitted. or,
II convicted. have soon managed to ef.
feet mysterious escape, while the
presiding alcaldes have suddenly be-
come wealthy.
At the close Of the present war these
bands of tulisan,s will doubtless be
augmented by the riffraff OF the ipsur-
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 excel
lent soldiers. A convenient way to dis
pose of u part OF the lnsurgent forces
would he TO retain them In service nm
der white officers. II Is perhaps worth
while to note. In this connection, that
In recent operations about Manila. ma
Ave troops have, In at least one in
stance. remained true when Spanish
soldiers mutinied.
The widespread ignorance which
prevails in the Philippines IL one Of
the most important problems demand
ing solution. Many Of the natives are
| quick 10 learn. and are anxious for
the opportunity, 50 that their education
reduces itself To n question OF ways
and means. school system is pro.
vlded for by the Spanish law. but fnv-
oriiism prevails In the choice Of teach
ers. who are often grossly incompetent,
while the practical working OF tho
schools Is frequently intcrfered with
by the friars. \ few prayers and n
little writing and arithmetic comprise
the course Of instruction In many of
the schools.