New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-21
THE PHILIPPINE REPORT.

The text Of the Presidents instructions to
the Philippine Commission which we printed
the other day, has been promptly and appro-
priately followed by that Commissions first re-
port to the President upon the condition Of
the islands and the outlook for carrying out
those instructions. 1t is a report for which no
apology nor explanation is needed. The subject
matter of it affords abundant reason for its
existence and for its publication. It IS obvi-
ousIy essential that the President himself
should be kept constantly and fully informed as
to what is going on in the Philippines. and it is
highly desirable that his information should
be extended to the Nation as freely as the vel
fare of public interests will permit. The Amer
lean people do not like government under n
blanket" They want to know what is going
on, whether 1t is going i'll or well. 1t is one
Of the admirable traits of President McKnley's
character and of his Administration that he
takes the people into his confidence and lets
them know just what the Government Is do
ing In the present case he gives the Nation
information upon the best possible authority.
No one, we believe, worthy of consideration
has ventured to impugn either the integrity or
the ability of the Philippine Commissioners.
The results of their diligent inquiries and OBJ
servations for two and a half months must
then. be accepted as a most credible and au-
thoritative presentation of Philippine affairs
True the sheer rises here and there that they
have not been there long as some others
who have expressed different opinions. Yes.
But If a naval officer. who is not sent thither
10 investigate or to observe ar all. sails into
Manila Harbor and lives there aboard ship
for few months, scarcely coming into contact
with the people, and then carelessly expresses
the opinion that the Filipinos are better fitted
no
! same critics OF the Commission seize with avid
| ity upon his words as the embodiment of en-
! cycIopadic knowledge. profound judgment and
! eternal truth.
Accounting the report. then as based upon
ample information and instinct with Impair
TALLY and truth, we must conclude that the
! general condition of the islands is improving.
Progress is being made in the restoration Of
| order and the extension of government. Rail-
| roads and telegraphs are operated without
molestation. More sugar is in cultivation in
Negroes than ever before Insular revenues are
greatly increasing, while taxation is deCreas-
| ing There are calls from all parts Of the isl
| ands for schools and teachers and for the or
ganization of civil government The natives
are eager to participate in administrative and
| police work The Commission is meeting these
demands with discretion and energy 1t has
Of later date than the report-has adopted 8
| Civil Service law for the islands, putting the
public service on an enlightened basis of merit
And on the whole substantial progress is be
ing made in bringing the people OF the islands
to a state Of "contentment, prosperity, educa
ton and political enlightenment" There is, OF
course some shadow in the scene. The Com
missioners extenuate nothing. Disorder exist!
in places There are practices by brigands Sc
| savage as to vie with the worst we have heard
Of Chinese Boxers. By a striking coincidence
this phase of the Commissions report Is cor
roborated by n dispatch from General MacAr
thur published Mt the same time. But wha
was the origin and what Is the secret of tn
persistence Of such hostility to Americans
The Commissioners tell u.s. and II we believ
their report of hostility must equally be
lieve their explanation of It, 1t was original.
aroused they say, by the absurd falsehood
: Of unscrupulous men, and ii Ia being kept NJ
, by the uncertainty as to the future policy o
this Government and by desperate efforts o
insurgents to influence the result of the cleo
tons here. II the present policy of the Unte
2 States Government is confirmed and It's PEI
| manence assured, instruction and outlaw
? will speedily disappear. That is the dellberat
and emphatic judgment of the Commission. l
t is an impressive pendant TO the declaration O
j the lamented Lawton that Filipino hostilit