The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-21
THE MANILA CENSORSHIP.
How the Screws Are kep' Upon Cor
respondents in the Philippines.


How the Screws Are I<ep' Upon Cor
respondents in the Philippines.
MANILA, Dec t6.-The matter OF tho
Manila censorship is beginning to get a
trifle musty. perhaps, but herewith is
submitted a new and somewhat interest
ing feature of that institution. 1t Is not
only the press matter cabled to the States
which has been affected. All the local
publications here have been under the
club. They are not allowed to say any
thing which criticises or reflects upon the
doings or the policy of either the Admin
istration in Washington or the local au-
thorities here. Many Manila newspapers
there assume them to be an accurate re-
Election OF affairs In the island. As a mat
Ter OF TACT, they are nothing of the kind.
All are favored to suit the official palate,
colored to please the powers that be.
Inc Manila Times is far and away the
ieadlhg American paper here. II is we'll
ana cleanly got up. reasonably free from
that blatant hullaballooism which is SUP
posed to represent patriotism. and Is edited
by a man who knows his business. Its
edltor mas seen nearly twenty years OF
Journalism In he Orient, and was for
considerable time, prior to his coming to
Manila, the editor of the ''Hongkong Tele-
graph" a well and widely-known publica
tion.
Upon the receipt OF the news by mail
and the home papers that the censorship
had been abolished some six weeks. before
anyone here had heard a word about IT,
Editor Cowar, of the "Times." prepared the
subjoined article for his editorial page.
It's publication was prohibited by the CEN
sor. whose reply to the editor is ap-
pended:
The New York Sun and other papers
publish a Washington despatch of October
9 announcing, on the authority of Adiutant
General Corbin, that the censorate in Ma
Mia had been abolished by General Otis.
This is very remarkable. for the cen
sorate is, in fact, not abolished yet, nor
ever has been. Some explanation is. due
from the authorities. The people of the
United States may have been more or less
acquiescent In the continuance Of the CEN
sorship, but will certainly not acquiesce
in the official assurance Of its abolition
while 1t continues in full force. How the
erroneous statement could have been made
1t is difficult to understand. The enemies
of the Administration will very readily
understand it in their own way, and make
the most of 1t. 1t Is undoubtedly a mis-
take of serious nature, and should be rec
titled promptly, so as to minimize the
harm done. For this was no casual
remark on trivial topics; 1t was accord
ing to the Suns despatch from Washing
toni Adjutant General Corbin's official an
swer to complaints about the censorate.
Whether General Corbin has misunder-
stood what General Otis told him. or
whether al. the newspapers conspired to
misunderstood General Corbin, we cannot
say; but if he did not tell them what they
say he did he should have taken steps TO
protect himself from misrepresentation on
such an important question. The people
Of the United States will be disposed to
feel that they have been deliberately de-
cefved. unless something is done promptly
to put the matter in a good light.
with all due respect, We are strongly
of opinion that the time has now arrived
when the military government of the Phil
ippines can conveniently cease to trouble
about what the newspapers say or do not
say. in Manila or elsewhere For a long
time we have had our own opinion about
the censorate. but in certain circumstances
il was our duty TO Loyalty support the
Administration in spite of having con-
trary views ourselves. We do not think it
is our duty to do so any longer, and We
urge the authorities to accept
the view that there is now no longer any
justification whatever for a censOrate. The
military necessity which existed before is
certainly non existent now; and. outside
of military necessities. if we have to sub
nit to 4 censorship for any other purpose,
we will submit only under protest. If CEN
sors are necessary in war, critics are neces-
sary in peace. Should criticism go beyond
legitimate bounds. there are civil courts.
and there is no further excuse for mill
tary censorate. Martial law may be still
in such matters as police regula-
TONS curfew. etc. but not in regard to the
press-especialIy after the Adjutant Gen
eral has declared that the censorate was
abolished"
The reply of Censor Greene was as fol-
lows:
Editor Manila Times:
Upon what the statement as 20 the
abolition of censorship was based Is I'M
known. Your conclusions as to the further
of the censorship justified as
a military necessity are all wrong In the
matter of urging this abolition you are
guilty OF an interference in matters en-
tirely beyond your knowledge. You can
rest assured that as far as the authorities
here are concerned the censorship. as dis
tasteful to them as to the public. will not
continue longer than in their judgment is
absolutely necessary. Very truly.
GREENE, Censor.
December 3. 1889"
It will be seen that the censOr's reply
is dated December 2. nearly three months
subsequent to the alleged abolition Of the
censorship. It will also be seen that at
the later date Captain Greene still signs
himself Censor and admits that the in
stitution is dlstasteful to that public
Manila Correspondence OF the New York
Evening Post.