Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-09-27
PEACE DELAYED BY BRYAN.
Philadelphia Press.l

party peace would exist today IN the Phil
ippines. II our soldiers are still falling, if
Tagal bolomen are still being moved down
by Krags, if whole districts are still raw
aged on one side by native bands, now
predatory and now acting from mistaken
but doubtless sincere patriotism, and on
the other by our troops, it is because after
Mr.. Bryan and Demo cratic votes had ex-
tended thesovereignty Of the United States
over these islands Mr.. Bryan and Demo-
cratic policy, for party purposes, have en-
couraged resistance to this sovereignty.
But for this encouragement the islands
would today be paci6ed and on the way
to the exercise of selfgovernment. Says
the Philippine Commission, one of whose
members, Mr.. Wright, is Democrat, two,
Messrs. Moses and Worcester, college pro-
fessors, without partizan relations, while
two others are men from the bench,
Judges Taft and Ide, in the report now
published
"Policy Of eniency, eliminating in am
nesty, had marked effect to induce sur
renders until defining of political issues in
United States, reported here in full, gave
hope to insurgent officers still in arms OF
changed policy and stayed surrenders to
await results Of elections. Disturbances in
parts Of island, kept up and avowed by In
surgent proclamations and orders to In
fiuence election, do not show unfriendly
attitude of majority of people Of provinces
where they occur, but only activity OF
small insurgent bodies in mountain fast
nesses whence they issue for usually harm
less night attacks or murderous ambush oil
small American squads, or to collect con-
tributions or recruit from people terrorized
by cutting out tongues, cutting OFF limbs,
burying alive, murder and plumber. I'm
certainty as to future policy of United
States and defenselessness of people with
out arms largely prevent them aiding
Americans in suppressing outrages. 1t is
conceded by all but men in arms and is
implied in their proclamation that if elec-
ton confirms present policy remnant OF
insurrection will disappear within sixty
days by surrender of leaders and fading
out of rank and file."
Testimony like this cannot be counter
vailed. IL does not come from partizans
and politicians. 1t is not furnished by
men immersed in the heat and excitement
of Presidential election. The five men,
bers of this commission have been for
months on the ground They are experts.
No one of them is in the line of political
promotion. They know the islands. They
have been studying them. They are them
selves known as responsible, honorable,
conscientious men. They write aware of
the weight Of their words. Their solemn
testimony declares that peace, order and
submission to law are delayed only by the
hope of Mr.. Bryan's election.
His policy and the uttersnces of the
Democratic party frustrated every hope
and prospect which existed last Spring
that resistance to lawful authority would
cease and native selfgovernment be or
ganized. At best, the conditions were
difficult. Spanish misrule has filled the
islands with disorder, infested the noun
tains with ladrones, accustomed city and
village to plumber, oppression and cor
ruption and left the materials in the Tagal
revolt for the organization Of a small
group of intriguers who sought to impose
on the island their yoke, corrupt and OPP
pressive, as the commission testi6es. Not
satisfied with the prospect of self-govern-
ment for themselves under the American
flag, these men sought to found Tagal
empire.
They failed and their brief rule-a true
imperialsm-has been succeeded by an
archy, encouraged and stimulated by Mr..
Bryan and the Democratic party, creators
of anarchy in the Philippines, prophets of
anarchy here. Yet much has been done.
The railroad, which for 100 miles runs
through the richest and most fertile part
of Luzon, has been unbroken for five
months Save in two provinces the island
is pacifed. A majority of the archipelago
to-day desires the American flag. AS in
all Asiatic lands, the passing of one rule
and the coming of another has been sue.
ceeied by an outbreak of village plumber
ing by predatory bands. North China
swarms with such to-day. Surmah was
full Of them for from three to five years
after the English occupation. Their ex-
istence is itself proof of that inability Of
the community to secure local order for it.
self which is the prime reason for the pres
ence of our flag.
These bands are disappearing. Native
police are being organized. As military
reports show, the Ilocano scouts have since
last December done good work under Col
onel Kennon. The Macabebe scouts have
been serving still longer. Our scattered
garrisons are reassuring the people. The
revenue is already greater than under
Spanish rule. The way Is clear to the
abolition of the onerous and indefinite
taxes of Spain and simple and precise inn
posts whose burden will be less and whose
yield will meet the needs of the islands.
The time is ripe for island, municipal and
local governments. Civil service reform is
Office lies open to Filipinos
on more liberal lines than England has yet
adopted in India, for the examinations are
to be in the archipelago. The withdrawal
of troops will soon begin.
No man can read the report Of this COM
mission without fresh conviction that If the
American people does Its duty by uphold
ing law in the Philippines the Filipino will
earn self.government under the one flag
which always and everywhere in its history