El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-06-19
Lessons From the Dutch Colonia
Policy.

Netherlands would include about seven
colonists for every person living In the
mother country. We are now the ne
ighbors of the Dutch in the eastern
seas. 1t is an interesting TACT that the
greater part of the vast eastern domain
of the Netherlands came to thai coun-
try as the result of wars with Spain and
Portugal, just as we acquired the Phll-
ippiues as the result of war with Spain.
The 5000, 900 people who are to live
henceforth under the protection OF our
laws are in the main allied with three
fourths of the colonial subjects OF the
Netherlands in race and character.
They live under the same climatic In
fiuepces and under similar conditions
as to the natural resources of their is
land homes. The colonial policy OF
the Netherlands has been a brilliant
success in most respects. For this
reason that policy Ia of special inter-
est to us. 1t is quite certain that we
shall never adopt some OF the features
CT the Dutch colonial system, parti-
cularly some of she harsh measures
which in the earlier days of the occu-
patton of Java reduced the people OF
that island to a condition akin to
slavery. But the less praiseworthy
characteristics of the rule OF the Dutch
men have been abolished or greatly
ameliorated, and we may study with
advantage the history OF their colonial
administration and apply in our own
field and in our own way its lessons.
Let US refer briefly here to the broad
er features of The governmental con-
troll of Java, an island containing two
thirds of the entire population OF the
Dutch East Indies. From that island
the home government derives clear
profit of about S14, 900, 900 year after
,.oi6 local
pepse, including the support OF an
army Of 10000.
The Dutch government of Java rests
upon the ndamental idea that the T a
tives are to be amenable to laws differ
ing from their alive laws, the outcome
of their needs. habits and character,
onlv so far as is necessary to secure
peace and progress. The laws OF the
mother country apply TO tie European
residents and those assim1lated with
them. The laws governing the natives
are based upon the time-honored Gus
toms aud institutions of Java.
The Meth erlandS government has
made the native sultans and chiefs of
Java its agents in maintaining complete
control of the island. Dutch possession
of the entire territory is based upon
nearly 400 treaties made with the
chiefs. While the chiefs are really
without power save so far as their In
Huence is used to support the Dutch
IN their respective districts and have
Ill the insignia of Office and dominion to
which their positions entitle them In the
ayes of the natives. The Dutch re-
1uire from these chiefs the most faith
ul subserviency. The Dutch are the
| 'l-powerful masters, but they act
through the native representatives OF
oower. They have thus been able to
'ule an Ignorant people, full OF the pre- |
.ions, without outraging their racial |
Instincts during the many years that a |
handful of Dutchmen have been scat |
cred over the most densely peopled |
ropical island in the world.
AS the natives improve in condition |
md education the reasons for Indirect |
government, through the supported |
lative princes, become less fOrcible, |
,ut the Dutch administration still |
main tains the Indian influence enlisted |
n its support and continues to act
through that medium. The native
PRIESTS draw small salaries from the
colonial treasury, the whole island is
,oliced by natives, and the army is
lsed only to repress piracy and brig
.udage. In word, the millions of
avanese are nominally governed by
nen OF their own race, but no 1nlt1a-
i've Is taken, no important move is
made, without the approval of the
dutch government.
The Javanese, in the main are peace
ul and contented. The fact has
been dawning upon them
hat there are western ideas worthy OF
aspect and adoption. They see that
be white strangers among them can
o more for them than they can do for
Many influential Filipinos are al
eady convinced that we can produce
4 their islands conditions for the de-
elopment of their people more favor
BILE than those they can evolve or
laintain unaided by US. AS the seeds
education and advancement are
own in our new possessions, their in I
abitants will see more and more
early that no system of government
IN make these islands desirable ad-
itiOn to our domain which is not bas-