The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-09

Washington, and only the day before yes
terday General Macarthur, by order, ex-
| tended curfew from II p. m. to midnight.
A year ago people were required to retire
| from the streets at Z p. m. This indicates
| how the situation is improving in Manila,
| and similar results are apparent in other
| places.
Now permit me TO say few words
about the capacity of the Filipinos for
self government. Before l came to Ma
Mia l was somewhat in doubt on his
point, but that doubt is now entirely re-
moved. The extent of illiteracy and ig-
norance which have found here has been
painful surprise TO me. Many years.
perhaps genera tons, must elapse before
the Filipinos can be brought to that in
tellectual level which will qualify them
for government. The talk in the
States to the contrary is simply the
veriest nonsense. 1t is gratifying 10 state
that Superintendent Atkinson of the de-
partment of education recently established
is pushing things in his line. Night
schools, as well as day schools, are being
established and the Filipinos are taking
a genuine interest in the progress of the
work 1t is amusing to see the little Fill
pino boys and girls, with their books
under their arms, trudging along to
school. The Americans are reversing the
methods of the Spanish with respect to
education.
Il have been greatly surprised at the
amount and variety of wood to be found
in these islands. There are 40. 000. 600
acres of forest land Astounding in the
finest of hard timber comprising several
varieties. such as molave, calantas. and
nara, which are equal to and more beau
tiful than mahogany. The Pullman agent
is already here looking up calantas wood
for the sleeping cars | had the pleasure
of inspecting some of the different speci-
mems of wood at the Bureau OF Forestry
yesterday. If our Government manages
well the disposition of these forest lands
! believe IL can realize from $500. 900. 600 TO
81, 600, 000, 900 in the sale of timber. which
is bound to find its way in the next few
years to every market in the United
States. Not TO speak Of the vast mineral
resources of the island. will not the sale
of timber from the forests enable us to
give the Filipinos a good education and
qualify them for self-government. besides
recompensing us for our financial losses
here?
Manila is the oldest new town and the
newest old town that have ever seen.
Although centuries have elapsed since
many of these quaint old two stories and
one story buildings were erected and
crooked streets laid out. with sidewalks
two and three feet in width. this is now
q formative period for Manila. II is be-
coming more Americanizcd every day, and
the Spanish signs over the doors are COM
ing down as the American signs are going
up. Kipling could not have had Manila in
view when he wrote Of the white mans
burden. The white man carries no load
here except, in many cases. that of a
liquid nature, nor does the idle. lisless,
cigarette smoking Filipino. 1t is only the
poor, Woodworking CAinov, the coolie
from Hongkong. who is weighted down as
he goes along with his load in boxes or
baskets suspended from 4 stick resting
on his shoulders.
Manila furnishes n queer mixture Of
languages, races, and customs perhaps not
TO be found anywhere else in the world.
wiz score Of native dialects and Euro
pean and Asiatic nations represented, as
we'll as the United States. there is con-
fusion Of tongues here which could hardly
have been surpassed at the building OF the
tower Of Babel; yet the Spanish is the
language generally spoken. The main |
drawback Just now is the Ignorance Of