The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-12

Civilization In Guam.
Included in the news from the Orient ap-
pears the statement that Governor Leary
OF Guam wants books and banjos. There
is an aluring and aliiterative picturesque
ness about this announcement which some
how appeals to the imagination.
There is also something attractive in the
thought of one msn-one civilized man
| turned loose IN such virgin wilderness of
innocent islanders as the population Of
Guam. with the title of Governor and full
discretionary powers in the way OF civ;iiz-
ing his subjects-Qr constituents. RoOn-
son Crusoe on his island was all very well,
and had a good time-tfe kind of time
that every boy whoever hung entranced
over the pages of De Foes immortal stry
thinks that he himself would like TO have.
But. however delightful his experiences
may have been. when his only companions
were dog, parrot, and goats. il is safe 10
believe that he had a great deal more
satisfaction in helping to govern human
beings when he got the chance TO do it.
Governor Learys position is even more
dclectable than that OF Crusoe. He resem-
bles the Connecticut Yankee who was
transplanted to King Arthur's Court and
had to exercise his inventive genius in
the midst of a population which had no
soap and never heard of baking powder.
Fancy the joys OF explaining to such
people all the superior advantages OF civ
ilized life. constructing their laws for
them, teaching them 10 use modern tools.
making them into a properly regulated
community, becoming sort o. tribal god
and court of last appeal! All these things
are suggested to the popular Imagination
by the current reports of Governor Lea
rvs performances in the island of Guam.
And now Governor Leary wants 4 con-
signment of books and banJos. The pur
poses for which these things are required
can only be a matter of conjecture at
present. What sort of books does he in
tend TO distribute among the natives? Will
he set up schools for the teaching OF Eng
lish or establish public libraries? What
sort of literature viii he consider fitted
TO the comprehension of the people of
Guam? VIII he feed their growing min Is
on Sunday school books. or cater 10 their
awakening imaginations with yellow back
ed novel? viii he choose Marie Coreil.
Jack Harkaway, or Addison's Spectator
for their Libraries? II he should advertise
the fact that he wanted books for his
people. and take the contributions which
might be given him, he would probably
Ill
several Greek sranmars, works on the
freedom OF the will, and antediluvian
Sunday school question books besides
Such are the things which charitable poo
pie unload upon mission stations i'm the
wilderness. They send the heather all
sorts Of things. from high hats and
feather busters to lessen leaves" contain
ing dissertations on the original Hebrew
text of some portion OF Scripture.
The addition of the banjo TO his list Of
wants. however. seems TO indicate that
Governor Leary has a head upon his Shout
ders, and is not OF a sectarian turn of
mind. No missionary ever sent for banjos
as means of promoting civilization. His
efforts would be more likely to be directed
against all instruments of music with the
possible exception of a cabinet organ
which could be used for religious music.
An unconscionable amount OF time and en-.
ergy has been wasted in trying to ''elc-
vate" Caucasian races by teaching
them that music. dancing. and oth,r
amusements were sinful. II Governor
Leary has an idea that civilization will
proceed quickest along the lines of least
resistance, and that he can best govern
his people by humoring their tastes, ne
has found out something which many OH
or rulers might have discovered with
profit to themselves, On general princi-
pies, real civilization has a great deal to
do with books and banjos, with eniight-
ening literature and innocent amusement.