The evening times., 1899-12-23
SATURDAY. DECEMBER %. 1s9
Qtisisin in Manifn.

To people who enjoy opportunities for
learning what goes on currently within
the charmed circle formed by the Admin
istration and its contributory outside con-
troll. the popularity of Governor General
Otis with his official superiors, and their
determination to support him in spite of
a universal protest against his retention
in power. does not appear in the
least surprising. Indeed ii has been
sufficiently evident for months that Otis
has done and is doing exactly the work
he was sent to Manila to accomplish, and
that the very methods and conduct of his
administration. which have excited wide
spread Indignation among the American
Deople, were definitely prescribed for him
by the influences behind the vice-regal
throne
These things have not been clear to the
public generally. and have been left mora
or less in a condition of darkness by the
few newspapers and persons in situation
10 shed light upon them. largely because to
attack the Otis regime. or rather the regime
OF which Otis is tool would involve the
raising of delicate questions of corruption
and of the operation OF other subysrsiye
forces. which it would be Impossible 10 ex-
pose Successfully without the acquisition of
legal ,5yidence in detail. very difficult TO
secure az this distance
But the circums tances attending the sus-
pension Of the one Filipino Journal il La
zon honestly devoted to the cause OF our
flag and sovereignty. will not fail To attract
oaJs the oppressive policy which IS being
pursued ia the Philippines in iuritarance OF
plans and purposes agreed upon between
the Administrator aud certain uau nc5s
and interests in ore way CT another at
tachsG TO lis fortunes.
The newspaper 'Dcmocracia published
in Manila. an exponent of the native
sentiment in favor of American rule. was
started at the suggestion of President
Schurman, of the Philippine Peace Com
mission. II has been consistent advo-
cate of AmericaniZation. has supported the
Government in the effort to suppress the
Boston mutiny and has won
the respect of all classes in the archipelago
friendly to the United States. But it has
dared 20 call attention TO abuses and cor
ruptiens in the Otis administration and
for such offences has been repeatedly
threatened with suppression by the provost
marshal. Recently. it complained of GER
tain matters connected with the alleged
control of the school system, established
by the American vieeroy, by the religious
orders, against whom. it is needless to say,
the loyal Filipnos are as bitterly hostile
e holE Ag a=1aIr ,ba
the "Democracia'' were ordered to retract
what they had printed. Being unwilling
to do So they took the only other course
open to them, and indefinitely suspended
publication.
Concerning the merits of the immediate
quarrel between Otis and the .Democra-
cia, we are unable to speak inteligently
Tor lack of complete information but. evil
IDENTIFY. it had been brewing for some time
1t does not appear that the natives of
Manila or Luzon object TO the domination
of the school system by the Roman Cath
olic Church. They are all members of tat
communion, and have been trained in the
idea that control of education is a hier- |
archical prerogative not TO be questioned. |
But for reasons which antedate the Ameri- |
can occupation, while they are quite will |
ing TO have power over all schools vested |
in the secular priesthood, they are mex !
orably opposed to having it welded by the |
friars. who are looked upon as deadly |
enemies by all native classes.
How far right the Filipinos may be in |
the inimical estimation in which they hold !
all the religious orders-the Jesuits alone |
enquire. They may be all wrong, and it |
may be possible that the English and Ger |
man residents OF Manila, as well as all |
Americans living in the city, prefer |
to entrUst the training of their children to |
the friars. rather than to any other kind |
of educators. The point is that, on mat |
ter of the sort, which does not seem to |
involve any question of loyalty but does |
appear to be strictly one of municipal |
organization and administration, the news
papers of the place should be allowed to
express their honest opinions.
1t will be interesting to watch the course
OF the Government in this matter. 1t is
not one in connection with which the Cabi-
net or Mr.. Hanna will much care to satisfy
public curiosity, and unless the facts are
brought out by some appropriate Congress
SIGNAL action. the affair doubtless will be
hushed up. 1t should not be. The country
is entitled to know why Otis should exer-
else the rather extreme power of forbid
ding the discussion of street cleaning. local
sanitary arrangements and officers, or the
city schools. By the press of Manila.
An Unhappy Doctrine.
An Atlanta clergyman by the name OF !
Broughton has arrived in Brooklyn. and