Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-25
Results That May Well Be Emulated
in Luzon.
JAVANESE MALAYS WILL WORK
Java's Land and Labor Opportuni-
ties Reserved for the Javanese.
CULTURE SYSTEM IN LUZON

Americas s comparative lnexper1ence in
dealing intima tely with Asiatic peoples and
in graphing with and mastering for the
highest use and benefit the conditions of
soil and temperature which prevail under
a tropical sum- gives to all the pertinent
precedents for the wisest solution of the
Philippine problem an indefinitely multi
piled value.
What the Dutch have well done and i'll
done in Java-an island not much larger
than Luzon and inhabited by a people in
whom as in the Filipinos Malay blood pre-
dominates-cannot fail to furnish both ex-
ample and warning in meeting in the Phil
ippines similar difficulties to those which
have been solved for good or evil in the
beautiful southern island.
So what the English have well done and
i'll done in the tropical garden of Ceylon
and in dealing with the Cinghalese is profit
ably to be considered in deciding what will
be wise and beneficial for our own tropical
islands and the peoples who look to us for
guidance and development
Lack of Judgment is shown in brushing
peremptorily aside the Javanese and Gin
ghalese precedents on the ground that gov
ernment in these islands, which is credited
with determining the character of their in
stitutions, Is through hereditary native
princes, who do not exist in the Philippines.
Precisely such native rulers are found IN
the Moro sultans and dattos in the Sulu
archipelago, Mindanao and Palawan; while
they have long ago disappeared entirely
from Ceylon and nominally govern still in
only two of the provinces of Java. Outside
of Djokja and Solo in Java, and in all
parts of Ceylon. the title to the soil is pri-
marly in the Dutch government and the
English government, respectively, just as
title to all the soil Of the Philippines was
primarily in the Spanish government and
passed to the American government through
cession so far the remainder, unalien-
ated at the time of the treaty of Paris, is
concerned.
In both islands certain of the most
troublesome of our questions were long ago
met and solved by methods which, while
customary in that age, are unavailable at
the end of the nineteenth century. There
IS some suggestive value, however even in
these experiences Of an earlier century.
Javanese history records the development
OF Malay people like the Filipinos into a
race of workers. In both Java and Ceylon
the occasional blunders of the whites in so
treating the yellow-skinned peoples as
periodically to arouse discomfort and to in
cite revolt can be studied to advantage. The
Ceylon system under which the govern
n-ent sells the land outright to the cutlva-
tor and the Javanese system, under which
the soil is In the main merely leased by the
government, will both repay thorough cx-
animation. In Java the question of permit
ting unlimited Chinese immigration to com
pete with the native Malays in the labor
fields has been disposed Of and a hint given
a tf no ont t.,I,y yol, fa1a h,.
employed to advantage as a civil official
and as a soldier. In both islands slavery
and Mahometan polygamy have raised the
same problems which confront US in the
Nero Philippines.
Precedents of Java and CeyIOn.
The physical aspect of both islands Is
such as to impress the observer and to
arouse his curiosity concerning the methods
by which admirable results have been pro-
duced. If we can make Luzon as beautiful
and productive Java and Ceylon, and
keep its people as free from famine and
disease, as prosperous and as seemingly
contented as the Javanese and Cinghaese,
we may survey our work with satisfaction.
And profiting by the lessons of the recorded
experiences of the Dutch and English is
lands we should be able to reach the end
way than the difficult, painful course over
which the Dutch and English have STUN
bled to success. We may at least note and
ducng obstacles in their path.
When / visited Java in February the
rainy season prevailed, but the clouds were
considerate, and a very large percentage of
the daylight hours showed the brightest
sunlight. Rain and sun gave quIckened and
overfiowing life to all the products of the
SOIL, man contributed by intelligent labor,
and altogether l have never seen anywhere
such wonderful development of the capaci-
ties of fruitful soil as were noted from
the train which traverses the island for
nearly Its entire length, and from the car
riage by which l Travelled for many miles
in the interior.
Batavia, where one lands In Java, is the
political and financial capital and CONNER
clal metropolis. The modern residence city,
with low, Wide-spreading white houses. each
setting well back from the broad tree-liucd
street and surrounded by an extensive
tropical garden. stretches over a vast area,
whose surface is further diversified by oc-
casional canals, which are an especially
notable feature of the old Dutch city. There
are sections which need only a sprinkling
Of wind mills and cows to suggest Hol-
land Batavia consists Of the ancient city,
now business section, reputed to be un-
healthful. in which are the old stadthuis
and other historic structures and memo
rials; Chinese and Arab settlements, and
the modern residence city already mem
toned, which includes numerous attractive
suburbs. and which is adorned by the usual
complement Of parks and parade grounds,
statues and public buildings. including
fine museum.
Worlds Finest Botanical Garden.
Forty miles inland is the summer capital,
Buitenzorg, built among the hills at cool
and healthful altitude. Here is the sum-
mer residence Of the governor general in
the finest botanical garden in the orient,
where the Dutch (who are noted botanists
and gardeners) have worked wonderful re-
suits from the productive, tropical soil, and
have concentrated in a few hundred acres
miniature Java, displaying the finest
specimens Of all tropical products. Every
Javanese garden is a delight to the bot
anist. but here the luxuriant growths are
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