The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-20
PROGRESS IN THE PHrLrpPrNEs.

PROGRESS IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Although current news from the Philip
pines is rather meager the most of that
which comes is encouraging. 1t shows that
armed opposition to the authority Of the
United States is rapidly disappearing, that
the nature, motives and purposes of the
government are becoming better under
stood. and that the area of local and mu-
njcipal government is being steadily en-
larged. 1t is evident that the Taft COM
mission is doing good work on all these
lines. One of the best among recent signs
is the increasing cooperation of intelligent
Filipinos with the commission in establish
ing local government and adopting plans
for public and internal improvements. One
of the first things was to appropriate ST.
100000 in gold from the funds of the island
for highways and bridges. This money did
not come out of the pockets of the Ameri-
can people, but was part of the surplus
accumulated from customs duties. etc,
under military administration. The judi
cious disbursement of the fund under the
direction of United States army officers is
giving an impulse to internal improvement
and affording the Filipinos an object lesson
In honest and efficient administration such
they have never had before. They are
learning all the time that American ways
are very different from Spanish ways. An
other of the early acts of the commission
was to appropriate 100000 for improving
the docks at Manila. No doubt these ap-
preparations for the benefit of the islands
have stimulated the growth of friendly
feeling for the United States among intelli-
gent Fflipinos An interesting evidence of
this appeared in dispatch in yesterdays
Journal stating that the civil Filipino Of
ficers of several towns had signed an ulti-
matum to the insurgents announcing that
hereafter they need not expect any ma
terial aid, and that if they did not return to
their homes by Jan. 30 they would be con-
sidered enemies of their people, who would
thereafter assist the Americans to pursue
them. This shows an encouraging growth
of American sentiment. Another indication
of the kind of work the commission is do
ing appears in the following dispatch from
Manila of the 18th inst:
The first public discussion of the bill TO
establish department of public instruction
to-day developed a contest on the ques-
ton of religion in public schools. Interest
centers in the section permitting priests
and ministers to teach religion for half an
hour three times weekly, outside of school
hours. provided the parents express a writ
ten desire for such instruction, and pro-
hibting teachers from conducting religious
exercises or teaching religion. The di-
of Ia 90
Sented by committee who, although
Catholics, argued strongly in favor of the
elimination of the section. They declared
that the use OF the SchoolhOuse for religious
purposes is contrary to the United States
Constitution and also the platforms of the
American parties and the Philippine Fed
eral party, and is certain to cause discord.
The question of separating secular and
religious instruction was settled long ago
in this country, but it is interesting to
find intelligent Filipinos quoting the United
States Constitution on the subject They
have experienced so much of the evils of
a state religion that they do not want a
remnant of it left. But perhaps they go
too far. No doubt religious instruction
should be barred in the public schools, but
there would be no great harm in allowing
priests and ministers, Catholics or. Protest
ants, to use the schoolhouses for a little
while three times a week out of school
hours, for religious exercises or instruc-
ton. in early times in this country it was
a very common thing to hold religious serv-
ices in schoolhouses, and probably it is
still done in some localities. That is not
introducing sectarian instruction in the
schools. The proposition above quoted
comes from the commission, and seems to
be wise and fair disposition of a trouble
some question. AT present there are many
more Catholic priests than Protestant min
listers in the Philippines, but under Ameri-
can rule the number of the latter will in
crease, and 1t may be found very conven-
lent as temporary arrangement to hold
religious services in the schoolhouses. The
proposition shows that the commission is
proceeding wisely and making steady prog
ress in the work of introducing American
ideas and methods. Altogether seem to
be making very satisfactory progress in the
Philippines