The San Francisco call., 1899-08-03
PHILIPPINE PHYSIOGRAPHY.

HE people OF this country have but passing
and temporary interest i'll the military person
alities arising from the Philippine campaign
Accepting the declaration of Colonel Denny tnal II
want the Philippines want them as an asset d
piece OF property OF value the American people, 1t
is in order to secure as much information as possible
bearing upon the asset and property which we are
seeking to secure by costly military operations
1t has been widely published that the Philippines
offer splendid OPPORTUNITIES to the American home
seeker and that an American from Florida or Name
can 90 there confident that the climate will not impair
his energies nor work the physical degeneracy OF MS
children If this is true it settles the matter
If the arabic lands are open to homestead
settlement or to acquisition at figure not repugnant
to American ideas OF their productive value, and the
population is sparse and the climate agreeable our
people may go there safely with the assurance that
uninpaired American energy and thrift will get their
reward.
If these conditions are present there will soon be
worked a great change in the history OF troplcaI
economies The people in all tropical countries nave
always been poor, measured by the temperate zole
standard of wealth and comfort. The wealth OF the
world has always been in the temperate zone IroPi-
cal labor has always been slave servile labor in
some FORM and where the social foundation is COM
posed of nonassimilable serve labor there is but lit
tie progress and faulty civilization All this IS to be
reversed if Americans work in the Philippines as
they work here and if the population IS not already
crowded and lands are open to settlement
The Call to-day publishes interviews with the Ore
gon volunteers bearing upon these physical facts Inc
answers are to a few set questions, and while they
differ in an estimate Of the character OF the Fplnos'
they are practically unanimous as to the physical
facts They agree that the climate IS not suited to our
people and that Americans cannot work there Even
h T1nCC1h
the most of the field and other hard work performed
by Chinese coolies. If Americans escape the acute
diseases which are endemic there, these volunteers
agree that years residence in that hot and humid
climate saps their energy and undermlnes their
strength The common answer IS NO place tor
white man" As to the ownership OF land, there IS
general agreement that the CUSTOM which began with
the extension of Spanish power around the world,
was followed in those islands. Spain sent out two
classes-soldiers and churchmen. The soldiers paid
no attention to production. They made conquests
and held them The church ORDERS composed OF skill
full men, we'll informed, gave their attention to the
productions of the country and the conversion OF the
people In this way it occurred that in all the Span
ish colonies the church and church orders owned the
land Indeed this custom was not confined to Spain,
for such ownership OF land was common on the
European continent and in England.
In the Philippines what the church does not own is
taken up by foreign syndicates, principally British
On all the land Chinese is the principal labor en-
ployed
Anglo-Saxons do not like to be tenants The pride
of ownership is upon them, and not many Americans,
even if climatic conditions were agreeable would seek
the Philippines to become tenants OF the church or OF
British syndcates Just what Government will do
with the land question remains to be seen. In all OF
the Spanish colonies in this hemisphere the church
property was confscated as soon as they became in
dependent and we believe that was part Of Agui-
naldos programme III the Philippines, which con-
quest of the islands will prevent The future must de-
yelop our policy The church property in England
was confiscaed by Henry VIII The first appearance
in history OF the trust which is political issue now in
this country was the effort made by the church to
save its lands by putting them in trust in the hands
Of a combination OF iaymen.
In the Philippines this country follow up con-
quest by wiping out all land titles and declaring the
land public domain open to acquisition by all cltizeH'
or may respect all such titles and bar private
ship OF the only lands there that fit for tlage
The present owners will greatly benefit by mill
tary occupation OF the country and the order which
will be enforced by the presence of garrisons.
1t is to b. hoped that the American press will give
to the people the information brought home by the
They are intelligent men who have had
the benefit of years observation and much practical
experience in that climate AS will be by the
answers we publish to-day, the volunteers mostly
drawn from farm life and show fine knowledge of
its requirements What they say about such life in
the Philippines may be depended upon as reliable.
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An oil exchange has been established to boom the
trade in the State The Southern Pacific Company
generously provided some of its deluded passengers