The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-12-28

leaders were dishonest. I believe that
many Of those who fought against the
Americans were animated by the high
est idea of loyalty to independence. /
Z think probably AguinaldO is one of this
class and that he is an honest man.
"One reason for the stubborn oppo-
sitiOn to our occupation of the Islands
was a legacy of suspicion and hatred
for the white man which Spain be-
queathed to us. The Filipinos know the
white race only by one specimen. Spain
to them represents the whole world Of
EurOpeanS-the whole white race-and
her authorities made promises repeat
edly to them and broke them. They
Will not today trust Americans or
Spantards or any other Europeans. Nor
is 1t strange that they diStruSt the
promises of the Americans. This dis
trust of the white race is one of the
problems that will require years of la
Dor to overcome. You cannot overcome
it with words. 1t must be dissipated
by actual works; they must have ocular
demonstration that the word of the
Americans can be relied upon.
Not until then will they begin to be-
lieve US. Consequently I have urged it
on congress and the president to set up
civil government in the Philippines just
as soon as the military condition war
rants it. A simple government is what
is needed and every province should
have it, so they can learn the meaning
of our promises and intentions. The
president is in possession of the fullest
Al44OI IAidL1OA1 dDOQi TIE LGGQS anu COuQl-
ton of the islands, and he can judge
better than we can what is the best to
do. But as soon as a province is sub
dued some civil government should be
their eyes will teach them its benefits.
Il regret that the Americans allowed
the saloon to get a foothold on the is
lands. That has hurt the Americans
more than anything else and the spec
tacle of Americans drunk awakens dis
gust IN the t1llp1nos- We suppressed
the cock fight there, and permitted the
taverns to flourish. One emphasized the
Filipino frailty and the other the
American vice. I have not seen a. Fill
Pine drunkard.
In Manila, which is really a cosmo-
pOl1tan city; in IlOilO and other cities
of the islands you will find educated
Filipinos who are bright and pleasing
to meet socially. It is a good thing
that We have such nucleus OF educa-
ton to begin with. The great masses
of course, are ignorant but one good
thing in their favor is that they thirst
for knowledge. With good American
schools on the islands the leaven of
general education will produce results
for the masses that will develop the
race rapidly. The F'ilipinOs have many
other good characteristics They are
honest by nature, and show it in their
dealings, although suspicious OF the
white man.
They need roads out there and their
construction is the first necessity when
peace ~ IGSLOTGQ TO the ISLANDS. IhGD
after that should come the schools. Let
these be established and the mission
aries admitted to every province and
success will be assured
But one thing 1 wish to emphasize
more than any other point that I have
dwelt upon. We must make an honest
civil service a permanent institutions
on the islands. Spain esta bIished the
spoils system and the corruption which
| has followed from it has made three
| centuries of evil government for the
people and finally resulted in her own
| ted States is none too good to go to the
Philippines as governor general He
must mete out Justice to all and teach
the Fflipinos by his decisions and exam
pie that he is their friend. BY sending
out such a man we will succeed but
| If we send an ordinary political ap-
! pointee we shall fail. I am confident
| that the right man will be sent and then
| our experiment will be a national sue
cess