The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-26

luur MdcArtnuf, tne Ma! -tary GoVerhor
fully conctrs."
Taking Up the subject of education in
the Philippines, which is treated at con
siderable length, the report among other
things says
Under Spanish rule there was estab-
lished in these Islands system of pI nm
airy schools. The Spanish regulations
provided that there should be one male
and one female primary school teacher
for each 1000 Inhabitants. II is clearly
shown il the renort cf the first Philip
pine Commission thar even this made
quate provision was never carried out;
they say: Taking the entire population
of 5000 900, We ftnu that there is but one
teacher to each f.179 Inhabitants. There
Were no school houses no modern furni-
ture. and. until the Americans came.
there We're no good textbooks. The
schools We're, ana are now. held in the
residences OF the teachers. or in build
ings hired by The municipalities and used
by the principals as dwellings. In some
of the schools there were wooden benches
and tables, but ii was not at all unusual
to ind a scaool without any seats for the
pupils. In these primary schools read
ing. writing. sacred history, and the
catachism we're taught. Except in a very
few towns, elementary arithmetical pro-
cesses were attempted, and in a few
towns book on geography was used as
a reading book. Girls were taught em-
broidary and needle work. From the oe-
ginning the schools were entirely under
the supervision Of the religious orders
who were disposed TO emphasize second
airy and higher education for few pupils,
rather than to further and promote the
primary education of the masses. The
result of this policy is that Il few persons
have stood out prominently as educa ted
t1lipinos. while The great mass of the
people have either not been educated at
all or furnished only the rudiments of
knowledge. acquiring merely the mechan-
ical processes of reading and writing. The
little school instruction the average Fill
ipino has had, has not tended TO broa den
his intelligence or to give him power of
independent thought"
The natives, the report asserts. are any
ious to learn lLglish which is strongly
urged; yet but little in this respect has
been done outside of Manila The use of
Spanish or any of the native dialects is
deprecated. | Undoubtedly" lays the ie-
port, "a weil-directed system of education
viii prove one Of the most forceful agen-
cies for eievating the Fiiipinos, mate
rally. socially. and morally and prepar-
ing them for large participation in the
affairs of the Govern rent" Primary in
struction is al innate ) to be made com
puls0ry for ali children between the ages
CT six and twelve years. The establish
meut Of a military sch u is recommended
IN view OF the fact that il will be neces-
sary in the future to employ a consider
able number of Filipin0s in the military
service in me islands The report OF
the conn issioH upon the subject Of edu-
cation concludes with number OF recon-
nendaticns fer the improvement of
schools.
T.ie Friar Question Troublesome.
The question II what shall be done with
he friars is one which has received very
careful attention at The hands Of the COM
missioh. This portion of the report IS
treated vi n considerable degree of
diplomacy but the commission admi
hat it has not reached any definite cen
'lusion upon the matter. but states the
question as one calling for solution in The
lot far distant fuJIre. II IS impossible.
iays the rsport TO ignore the very inn
1ofiart part which tfe question plays i q
he islands.
Excepting the MorOs. who are Moslems,
md the wild tribes. who are pagans, the
Philippine people belong TO the Roman
Catholic Church. TIE total number Of
catholic souls sho~n by the church reg
stry in 1898 was C.55a. .99S To care for
these in that year. there were in the
IrchinelGgc 1f5 regular parishes 195 mis-
sion PARISHES. ard lis missions. or 96I in
al. OF the r-suiar parishes. all but 15o
we're administered by Spanish monks of
he Dominican. Aagustluian. or Francis
.au orders. Natives were not admitted
o these orders there were two kinds Of
md the uHshcd. The latter are csfed |
iecolietos. and are merely an Onsho0t I
rom the original order of st Augustine.
By the revo Itions OF sc and 1873 agaia5t /
'rain. all he Domiricaus. Angus inians /
.ecolletos, and Frdnciscans acting as par
sh priests were driven from their par
she's to take refuge in Mania. Forty !
we're killed and 4d5 imprisoned. and were |
lot all released until by the advance Of /
he American troops it became impos !
ibie for the insurgents to retain them.
Continuing he report treats at length !
IF the part which the friars have taken !
n all branches OF the government. and /
avs: Their conduct Of political affairs has !
1een very distasteicl tc the people. One /
VI the four great orders, the Fran scans. |
s not peruiitted 10 own property except /!
.onyents and schools. This is not true Of /
he other three. They own some valuable /
BUSINESS property Manila. Ini have |
arge amounts Of money to lend. 5It the I
hief property of these orders is In aG.i- /
ultural land The totsi amount owned by |
he three orders in the Philippines is sp- |
ig lred at 403, coo acres. The |
riars were exempt from trial for offences !
Except the most heinoUs in the ordinary |
ivil court under the Spanish rule. and |
we're entitled to hearing before an &c |
,lesiastical court, and even IN the ex-
epted cases trials must first be had in the |
after tribunal. u had been frequently |
ri hat rpa frr7ry wal. .tv |
Imong the fliars, and that to this Is due |
he popular hostility against them.
Sntives' Love for Catholic Church.
The Philippine people love the Catholic
'hurch. The sciemnity and grandeur OF its
ceremonies appeal most strongly to their
eligious motives. and 1T may be louDted
yhother there is any country in The world
r which the people have more profound
ttachuent for tf1ir church than tbs one.
The depth OF their feeling against the
riars may ba measured b. the fact that it
Xists against thOse who until two years
go. administered tie sacramenta of lie
hureh upon which they feel so great de-
'ehdence, and for which they have 20 pro
ound ! respect The feeling against the
riars IS solely pol!tiCal. The people would
,ladiy receive rs minister's Of the Roman
'atholic religion aay but those who are
0 them the embodiment Of all IN ;he
pan.sh rue that was hateful. II the
riars return 10 their parishes. though
My under the same police protection !
'hich the Americ-u Government IS bound |
o extend 10 ang other Spanish sui feots
OmmOrant in these iaands. the people
'ill regard it as the act Of that Govern
lcnt. They have so long been used 10
aving every phase Of their conduct regu-
tied b. governmental ordr, that the COM
lg again OF the fI.ars viii he accepted Al