The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-24
Views Of the President Of the
Philippine Commission.
Discusses His Investigation in
the Islands.
HIS TALK DIPLOMATIC
Thorough Optimist in His Ideas
Of Our Future
In the Declares Inhab-
itants Are Friendly.

Chicago. Aug. 24.-The Times Herald
says Jacob Gould Schurman, president of
the United States commission to the
Philippines, stayed long enough in Chi
cago yesterday to convince every one Of
the few men who had the privilege of
conversing with him that his investiga-
ton in the Philippines had resulted in
making a thorough Optirnist of him in his
views of the future of America in the
Orient.
He did not put his optimism in definite
words. That would have been encroach-
ing too far on the diplomatic silence
which must envelope his work COM
missioner until after he has made his
report to the president. Instead of that
he gave his hearers facts-facts which he
vOuched for from his own observation
and experience, and from which the only
inference to be drawn was favorable to
the American policy, in its general as
poets, in the new possessions.
For example Mr.. Schurman emphasized
the facts that the great majority-nore
than five-sixths-of the inhabitants of the
islands were either friendly toward the
United States or neutral, and that the
intelligent FilipinOs, except where per-
sOnaI interests led them the other way.
He seemed TO regard the Tagalos, the real
rebels, rather as brave and promising
children who had been led aStraY by bad
cOunsels and who would be all the better
when their castigation at the hands of
the United States sOldiery had put them
in position to appreciate the real mean
ing to them of the coming American rule.
He implied that the present war was
rather a continuation of the old rebellion
of the FiIfpinos against the Spanish than
a soberly intended war against the United
it could be inferred from his conversation
that he believed that the rebellion would
in time be suppressed and that without
too much difficulty
FRENCH IGNORE THE FACTS.
An illustration of his attitude came in
cidentally when some one referred in his
Figaro by a representative of that paper
whom Mr.. Schurman had met at Mania,
struggle for a deserved liberty by a sub
iect race, with the conclusion that the
the war must of necessity work out in
time the freedom of the rebels.
The commissioner expressed at this
MANS New Is if indeed 2'' he said And
then he passed it off with We'll, we know
ties and how little attention he gives to
facts when his views are colored in adj
To all questions as to the conduct Of
leaders and The 2mericans. Mr.. Scbur-
man was unwilling to reply, and he pre-
asked what he had hear about the anti
irnperiaIistic movement in this country or
how he felt about it.
HOTTER THAN MANILA.
One of the first things he said was:
Il doubt whether ever went through a
hotter day in the Philippines than did
When the lighting is finished Manila Viii
be very pleasant place for residence
would not be in good taste for anybody
around here Just now to jibe at the hot
Mr. Schurman was told of the recent
meeting of the German Roman Catholics
passed cOndenning the American soldiers
for alleged despoliation OF churches and
apprOprtat ton of articles connected with
that ne BELIEVED the renoTts Which had
% n We "a Ice
1t is a strange thing" he said, that
here our army IS being accused OF de-
spelling churches. while amongst the Fill
ipinos one of the greatest complaints
against US is that We are too friendly to
the church. I never heard of a single in
and think All stnrfes which teii of sIin6
acts are absolutely without foundation.
CHURCH PROPERTY RESPECTED.
"On the contrary. our army has been
do damage of any kind to any sacred edi-
fee. 1t is true that in small towns the
the church buildings as headquarters or
barracks, because the churches are the
post n 5tr9 5g built structures but that
Indeed if any Roman Catholic thinks
that l may be prejudiced about this mat
ter 1 know where to send him straight
way for an answer that he can not refuse
the whole question to Father MeHinnon,
the chaplain of the California regiment,
recently returned to this side of the ocean
and abide by what he says as the fact.
am sure he would say that Roman
Catholics, instead of passing resolutions
condemning the army. would have rea-
son to go out of their way, to applaud it:
Father McKinnon thinks well of
the Philippine islands. that he is going
back there leaving his san Francisco
the best things that could happen if many
Roman Catholic priests would go to Lu-
zOn, they could undoubtedly have a
great influence for good. and have. writ
telling them how strongly 1 feel about it.
MOTIVES OF THE REBELS.
the Roman Catholic archbishop of Manila
would be willing to receive American
McKinnon had been given a parish in
Manila, and he thought that was answer
the attitude of the Filipinos toward the
Roman Catholic church, which are of in
motives Of the rebels.
You must not think for moment he
said, that because the Filipinos have
warred on the Roman Catholic church
they do not deem THEMSELVES devout Ro-
and hard to secure the correction OF abus-
es. and they are open enemies of the four
religious orders that were dominant in
members Of those orders-the A1Ie9Istin-
ians, the Franciscans, the Dominicans
and the RecOlletans-tO the greatest igno-
miny now wherever they have them in
their power They make their former
Dor. and they often use them very cruelty
But at the same time the greater part of
the FflipinOs in rebellion are sincere and
earnest Roman Catholics. Some of the
educated Filipfnos, who I found were most
bitter against the religious orders would
say to me, when they had finished their
tales of hostility: But you must not think
I am not a deYout Roman Catholic STILL
NATIVES ARE LIKE CHILDREN.
This religious attitude is something
that we must as nation take into
count. We must not so over there think
ing that the FilipinOs are heather still.
There may be small field for Protestant
missions missions in the islands, but 1 am inclined
tinue to have the advantage
When asked for his views about the at
titude of the general body of the Tagalos