Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-07

there will be constant, If petty, warfare or
a succession of outbreaks, no matter who
exercises sovereignty irthe land.
The country needs, ESQ, he added, rail-
roads, wagon roads, commercial develop
ment. protection of life and property. If
these benefits. including the expulsion of
the friars. are enjoyed the great majority
OF the Fiiipinos will be pacified. There will
be little danger of serious uprisngs. The
people will consider their condition prac-
tically as good as thai of the Americans
themselves.
A special item, he Indicated under the
head Of protection of life and property
would be the assurance of continued secur-
itS to those who are willing to cooperate
with the Americans, who are threatened
with death now and who will be killed to
a certainty if the Americans withdraw.
In response to question the presidente
replied that the Ffipinos had not taken
into account the probability of the absorb
ton of the Philippines by Germany, through
purchase, from Spain, If the United States
had not retained the islands He added
that the Filipinos had expected to accom-
plish by obstinate Instruction the expul-
sion of the friars and other promised re-
forms even under Spanish rule
Hopeful, but Not Certain, of American
Beneficence.
The presidente was not at all hypocriticai
IN efusive admiration of and confidence in
the benefits and blessings of American con-
trol. His strongest expression concerning
the relations of America to the Fiipinos
was one Of hopefulness, based upon Ameri-
can history and principles. He was inclined
TO think that America would be more liberal
and considerable toward the Filipinos than
germany or any other foreign power.
In response to my request he pointed out
de1ects in the printed plan of local civil
government, of which he is an administra-
tive officer. Certain criminal provisions are
ineffective through uncertainty. Civil pro-
cedure is in substance merely arbitration
suits being dependent upon the willingness
of defendants to be sued.
In some respects the attitude Of this pres
tdente is typical of that Of those Filipnos
VINO are disposed to cooperate with the
United States with whom have conversed
or concerning whose opinions have secured
reliable information in other ways
Not all lay the same stress upon educa-
ton. Indeed, Gen. Hughes who is in COM
mand in the Visayan or central Philippine
Islands, whom ! met at I1oilo, does not be-
Geve that there is much spontaneous desire
among the Filipinos for schools, and thinks
that our system Of public education in the
Philippines must be compulsory. While in
charge at Manila Gen. Hughes started the
public school system there, and he has had
other opportunities for instructive observa-
ton. But whether the Fflipinos are thirst
Ing for free schools and liberal education,
Or whether the mass Of them care little for
such instruction and merely send their chill
dren for a time while the schools are nov
city in order to please their American rulers
and in obedience to the will of the native
presidentes, the fact remains, to which all
assent, that these schools must be every
where established and maintained.
Unnnimfty of Sentiment Against the
Friars.
Concerning the frars there is a substan-
tial unanimity of sentiment, which must
make an impression upon every one.
have been disappointed in my expectation
that l would find the Filipinos, outside of
the hostile fraction in arms, full of con-
fidence in the Americans and heartily well
coming their control. Their attitude is APP
one of anxious expectancy. tinged
with more or less of hopefulness, accord
ing to the individual disposition. l believe
that this doubt concerning the benefit of
-hHIeii1dh CCiIlIoi is DdSeu more upon un-
certainty concerning our policy in respect
to the friars than in respect to any other
issue whatsoever, even that OF full self
1 do not think that there will be genuine
peace, happiness and prosperity in the
if we attempt, and as long as
we continue, to enact Spains role as the
ally and hacker of the friars.
The rnopa Of ordars and Snaip have hear
Identical in the Philippines. The arch
bishop here has always been more powerful
than the governor general. In any conflict
the individual opposed to the friars inevi-
tably went to the wall. The vast tracts of
land to which the orders lay claim
We're in part obtained through the govern
ment and by virtue of this ecclesiastical
control of the government, and to this ex-
tent the ecclesiastical land is still virtually
property, and would naturally
pass to the United States by the cession
from Spain. The treaty of Paris is so
worded, however, as to render difficult a
solution of the problem, which recognizes
the truth that the Spanish government
and the monastic orders In the Philippines
are one and inseparabe. Article s, in
which Spain cedes all public property in the
Philippines, says: Although quite unneces-
sary to do SO, 1t is hereby declared that
the cession stipulated shall in no way af-
fect the property and rights accorded by
custom or law to the peaceful holders of
goods OF any sort in the provinces, cities,
public or private establishments, civil or &C.
clesiastical corporations, or any other col
ectivity which has any legal right to ac-
luire goods or rights in the coded or aban-
1oned territories, and the same applies to
The rights and properties of individuals of
every nationality whatsoever" Would land
which was in equity public property, but
title to which had been placed in the mon
astic orders which in effect represented
Spain in governing the Philippines, pass to
he United States by this cession?
Assuming what is probably the truth that
he United States will not attempt to in
.erfere in any manner which would SAVIOR
If confscation with property to which the
orders can establish valid, rec
ord title, the friars claim that they must
90 to the various parts OF the Philippines
to administer this property, and must be
there by the United States gov
as. peaceful. law-abiding citizens
Claiming and exercising only their conceded
rights.