The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-04-19
A Filipino Government.

ported from Manila, is hearing the
leading residents of various national
ties, priests and Spaniards, on the sub
ject of the future Of the islands. The
questions put to all are;
a. Do you believe the Filipinos are ca
pable of self government in the townships?
~ Do you believe the Filipinos are ca
pable of self government in the provincesP
81 Do you believe the Filipinos are ca
pable OF self government the archipelago
The third is, as matter of course,
the question the answer to which
would have decisive weight in deter
mining the matter of the future ad-
mnistration of affairs in the archi
pelago. Any rational scheme of gov
ernment, looking to gradually habitu'
ating the natives to self-control, and
schooling them in the duties of civil
administration, would contemplate en-
trusting them, first, with the manage.
ment of township affairs, and, after
that, with the more difficult and re-
bDOhSlUlG buSh VI DlONlh'
cal affairs, being meantime under the
watchful and guiding hand of the pro-
tecting power.
The third question involves capacity
for general administration, ability to
maintain such stable government az
would secure protection to persons and
property, native and foreign, and
would be able to defend itself from at
tack or imposition, and command the
respect of the other nationalities of the
earth.
The replies to the third question are
not reassuring. Even the Fiipinos
themselves who have been interrogat
ed, and who sympathize with the idea
of independence, have with practical
unanimity answered this inquiry in the
negative. Independence, they say,
would result in chaos, endless tribal
wars and European intervention. A
few of them.think that provincial self
government is practicable, and most of
them favor self-government in the
townships, with form of American
supervision protecting the inhabitants
against the populations and extortions
which their experience with the Span
i sh regime has led them to consider the
natural perquisites of officialdom.
The commercial classes, it is said, ia.
vor the posting of small detachmens of
American troops to take possession Of
the towns in the southern provinces,
and in the Visayan group, which are
now held by bands of Tagals, whose
tyranny the natives find harder to en-
dure than Spanish oppression. These
will welcome American Intervention.
The case of certain town in one of
the provinces of Luzon is cited as a
typical instance. The Spanish taxes
amounted to $4,000, but the insurgent
rulers extort $4,000 from the people.
The provincial governor, a relative of
Aguinaldo, the report AYERS, is unmer-
cifully despoiling the people.
The inquiries made by the commits
sion, thus far, seem to have elicted in
formation that strongly confirms the
most unfavorable impression the be-
havior of the Filipinos has produced.
No candid observer of the course of
events and the developments of the
Filipino character believes that that
people possess the capacity for en-
lightened self-government, much less
for a similar government of others.
The Investigations of the commission
will be valuable in furnishing tangible |
proof of this fact, in determining this
question beyond peradventure and in
presenting plan of administration in t
the Philippines that shall best COM
mend itself to the resident peoples and |
interests, and shall afford the strongest |
assurance of success. But any plan
that is devised will be subject to such
notifications as experience shall die
tate-and in this matter the thing is
to make the wisest beginning human
Intelligence can suggest and thereafter
be guided by the teachings of expert
ence. The men selected to govern,
more than any prearranged plan of
government, will determine the ques-
ton of success or failure in the begin.
ming.