Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-06-29

rT LMOST coincdently with the
birth of the Australian com
monwealth south of the equl-
La tor comes the establishment
Of civil government in the
1 i Philippines, north Of the
equator. Both events are OF
worldwide interest, for they will have
an important bearing upon oriental
problems.
The first week IN July In which the
initial attempt at a civil government
In the Philippines and the installation
Of the new governor win occur viii
doubtless be memorable to the Filipi-
nos, and as the first American election
IN their Islands took place on the
Fourth Of July last year the latter
date will also be acccntuated. Little
more than three years have elapsed
since the boom Of Dewey's cannon In
the harbor OF Manila sounded the knell
OF Spanish rule in the Philippines, and
during that period a great deal has
transplred tending toward the final def
milton of the status Of the archlpela'
COS inhabitants Had the 100000 OF
10000 900 OF people dwelling there been
more homogeneous there might have
been less difficulty In settling the yexed
questions which have arisen In the
process Of pacihcation; but as 1t is
considering the multiplicity Of the
problems presented and the character
Of the people with whom our soldiers
and civilians have had to deal, It mus
be admitted that great progress has
been made.
The Philippines first American mill
tary governor, Major General Merritt
held his position for but brief perloC
and was succeeded in August, 1898, b!
Major General Otis, who exercised 81
preme military and civil authority until
the advent Of Major General MacAr
thur IN May, 1900. His successor, Gen
eral Chafiee, who commanded our mill
tary forces in China, win have no fur
Their civil functions to perform, as hi
duties will be strictly military for tn
time has now arrived, in the opinion o
the Philippine commission appointed b,
President Mckinley last year. for inau
guratng the long promised, long defer
red government of the people by III
people so far as they are considered fl
for self rule
The first territorial governor OF tn
Philippines, as already announced
Is Judge William H. Taft who for NOR
than a year has been president of tn
commission sent out 10 pave the wa
for the new order Of things Judge Tat
Is a native of Ohio. lie was born /
1857 and Is son Of Hon Alphonso Tai
a former attorney general Of the Unite
States. From the public schools {
Cincinnati Judge Taft went 70 Yal
graduating with distinction In 1878, Sc,
ond In his class. After two years q
the Cincinnati Law school he enterC
upon the practice Of his profession an
IN 1851 was appointed assistant pros
cutting attorney Of Hamilton count
He was a collector Of internal revent
for the First Ohio district In 1852, judl
Of the superior court OF Cincinnati
1857, solicitor general of the dopartmei
Of justice In 1880 and q Judge Of u
federal bench IN 1892. II was In Febrl
airy, 1900, that President Mckinley al
pointed Judge Taft chairman, or pres
dent, OF the second commission form,
for inquirng into the condition Of Il
Philippines and thus placed him IN In
for elevation 70 the high position viii,
he NJ present occupies
The original Philippine commission
formulate a report on the best schcn
OF government for the Islands consis
Ing Of Professor J. @ Schurmau, Adm
raj George Dewey Hon Charles DEM
and Professor Dean G. Worcester. T
ported 10 the president loo January. lg
recommending the appointment Of
American governor general 10 Boz a
sisted by a council comprising Fill
nos and Americans. and OF PROVING
governors preferably from the Unit
States. This commission announced
sell as uuqualned.y Zoo favor Of $50
eminent io~ me islands analogous
that OF territory of the United Stat
with a governor appointed by the pre-
dent The commissioner went into Z
subject thoroughly and as "a body cal
10 the conclusion that the United Sta
could not withdraw from the Phil
pine Islands
Acting upon the recommendations
his commissioners, President McKiu
promptly took measures by author
which had been accorded him by C,
TlnDITc mr.