The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-04-26
WHY THEY co.
Objects of Philippines
Commission.
What Professor Worcester Says Of
the Conditions Confronting
the United States.

The Philippine Commissioners will
sail on Saturday on the Hancock They
would like to linger longer in Hawaii
but a belief that they should hurry on
to the scene OF their duties impels them
to cut short their stay. They have
been overwhelmed with attentions and
invitations to dinners, luncheons and
luaus have poured In on them. They
can accept but few eourtesies owing 10
their limited time. One of the most
interesting men of the five is Professor
Worcester who has a mastery of the
1 n.ippine question, as might be eX-
pected from man OF his scholarly at.
tainments, and from the fact OF his
previous acquaintance with the ISL
ands and their people, due to residence
there from 1883 to 1894, and more re-
Gently as member of the Philippine
commission which has just been recon
structed. The commissioner speaks
Spanish fluently, as well as two of the
native dialects, so that he does not need
an interpreter, and can readily converse
with the natives themselves.
Professor Worcester like the other
COHulleSlOHbIS Is lOLu 10 Talk nuCH
about their mission. He said: "As TO
Just what the policies of the commission
will be, /, Of course, cannot say, as we
have not yet met, and have not receiv-
ed our instructions, but in a general
way can say that we will be intrusted
with the task of maintaining a civil ad-
ministration, establishing order out of
chaos, instructing the native peoples
in the art of enlightenment. establish
ing a system of public instruction. and
in furthering the transformation, as
fast as Is safe, of the inhabitants of
these islands into civilized communi-
ties. This cannot be done in a day, or
a week, or month, for the Filipinos
must be taught self-government. But
an intelligent, careful and conscientious
administration along the line of adj
vancement cannot fail to produce the
most favorable results in n reasonably
short time.
Cannot Abandon Islands.
AS for the United States pulling out
and leaving the islands to themselves
because of the demands of q small
fraction of the American people, that
would be entirely without reason; and
If col. Bryan or any one else were to
this country should take in the Philip
pines, they would do just what is now
being done, viz, restore order and set
about establishing a peaceful system
OF government among those peoples.
The islands are in the possession of the
United States, and it would lower this
country in the eyes of the civilized
world 10 abandon them, to say nothing
of the shameful desertion of helpless
peoples who have the right by solemn
promise from the United States that
they shall be protected. This Govern
ment has acquired the Philippine
islands by conquest and legitimate
right, and is responsible for the con-
duct and administration of affairs
there.
English Tongue Favored.
Wherever the American troops go
schools are established, and a special
| feature is being made of instruction in
English. This is taking immensely
with the natives, who are discarding
| Spanish for the Anglo-Saxos tongue.
| There has been complaint, know.
about continuing old Spanish laws in
| stead of abolishing the entire Spanish
/ code at once. But this was manifestly
| impossible, and the substitution OF the
American code has been pushed as fast
/ as was considered advisable. The law
of marriage under the Spanish code
/ forbade marriages other than what
were solemnized by the Roman Catho-
&C church. Now people may be married
/ by Protestant clergymen or civil OIL
GERS. and the ceremony is legal and
/ binding"