Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-28
Philippine Suggestion From tho
Orient.

To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
1 have read with much interest and tn>
struction the able letters of Mr.. Theodore
W. Noyes in his editorial correspondence
of the valuable Star. When completed they
should appear in pamphlet form for tho
enlightenment of our people and public men,
1t seems to me Mr.. Noyes furnishes the
key to unlock the Philippine problem. HIS
views are based personal observation
OF conditions in the islands of the orient,
which he graphically describes. and / be-
lieve his hints might be wisely applied In
our dealings with the Filipnos. What our
statesmen need is exact information. which
in our new experience with Asiatic ques-
lions it was not possible for them to DOS.
sess all at once.
In address I had the honor to deliver
in this city. l said: The plan adopted by
the Dutch for Java has had good results.
and l believe something similar would
work well in the Philippines. A few thou
sand Dutch successfully govern twenty-five
million semi-barbarlans. The basis of tho
plan is a recognition of local authority, GUS
toms and traditions, restrained only within
the bounds of peace and order. The Java
nese are highly prosperous
Mr.. Noyes confirms the views 1 expressed,
With more complete detail which L did
not possess.
1t is particularly interesting to notice tho
secret of Dutch success in Java. 1t lies
in recognizing that characteristic feature Of
the oriental mind of being satisfied with
the appearance of governing, while, in fact,
the real governing power is from the out-
side. Here is where Spain made her mis-
take in the Philippines. She destroyed tho
power of the native local chiefs and sub.
stituted strangers-coupled with another.
blunder of handing over the natives to the
greed of the friars: The Dutch policy THAI
has worked well in Java is the same as
England adopted in India after getting bets
ter acquainted with the situation. 1t has
made India present the remarkable example
,y+ h,,,,1
ing governed by a foreign power by the
use of their soldiers and revenues.
England has but a handful of civil officials
in India. while three-fourths of the army
are Hindoos and Mohammedans The only
great revolt which she has had TO encou1l-
ter was the result of offending native re-
ligious opinion-cal it superstition If you
will. The Sepoys, in biting off the greasy
end of their cartridges. supposed a sacrt-
lege had been committed. England is. per-
haps, the greatest missionary laborer in
the world, but the queen has sagacously
left on the minds of her eastern subjects
the impression that she makes contribu.
lions to supplant the native religion. 1t is
not hypocrisy-it is wise craftsmanship. 1t Is
than hundred years ago the viceroy di.
rected that tax be collected from the
annual pilgrims to certain pagoda 10
keep the temple and its idol in good condi-
ton. That temple and others like 1t arc
now Christian churches.
At the close of the war against Mysore,
instigated by French jealousy and rivalry
in the east, when Iyppoo. the son OF Hyder
ALL was overthrow, the British general
hunted up occupant for the throne in
the person Of boy six years old-the son
of a former rajah, living with his old
mother in extreme poverty in a bamboo
hut-and installed them in power with regal
splendor. 1t was a good stroke. because
the father of the youngster had been eX-
ceedingly popular with his people; and after
that England had no trouble with that por-
ton of India. poor. blind. old descen-
dant of the Moguls. for similar reasons.
was picked up in the streets of Delhi and
placed on the throne of his ancestors 10
administer British sovereignty. Our prob-
lens in the Philippines certainly NOT
more difficult than those of the British in
India and of the Dutch in Java.
r. HUTCHINSON.