Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-06-29
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CIVIL
GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

disqualified are deinquents in taxes, all
who have been disfranchised by court, !
all who have taken and violated the
oath Of allegiance to the United States,
those in arms against American sover-
eighty and all insane or feeble minded
persons,
A small property qualification Is a
requisite in municipal voting, and spe-
clal legislation is recommended for the
city Of Manila and the nom Christian
tribes, such as the lgorrotes OF the
mountains and the pagan Bagabos.
During tour Of organization from
which the commissioners recently re-
turned after an absence Of eight weeks
and during which they Travelled more
than 5000 miles they expressed them
| selves as satisfied with the conditions
generally prevailing, except in the Sulu
archipelago Nearly all the other Fill
pinos, including even some Of the semi
savage tribes Of the interior, were ca
ger for chance for autonomous gov
eminent and, above all, DESTROYS for
education. But the sultan Of Sulu, with
whom some time ago q special treaty
was negotiated still insisted that slay-
cry and polygamy should remain fea-
lures Of his government and was jeal-
Gus of any prospective encroachments.
He and his 'dattos' and subjects gen
orally, living as they are in ignorance
and semisavagery. fell back upon the
treaty negotiated by General Bates
when the subject of self government
was preached shielding themselves be-
hind the clause which provides that
said treaty cannot be abrUgated except
by consent Of both high contracting
parties SO the commissioners are still
In doubt as to what should be done
with the Mohammedan Suus in the inn
mediate future and even regard the
fierce sayages Of the hills as in some
respects more amenabe to argument.
"Once a Mohammedan always a Mo
hammedan" applies In the Philippines
as well as in Turkey, Egypt or Morocco,
and, although there is the strongest
guarantee on the part Of the American
government as to religious freedom, yet
the Rercely fanatlcal Sulus know well
that their practices Of slavery and po-
lygamy cannot continue to be wlnked
at by American civilization In the TWEEN
tieth century,
Not less than 20 provinces have been
differed and provided with government
on advanced lines, and following the
suggestions In the presidents instruc'
tions, the commissioners have In all
cases when compatible with the public
interest placed natives at the head OF
affairs. But while the Filipinos are
generous, intelligent and apt political
students they are naturally in sympa'
thy with the insurgents. with whom
they have racial affinity. 1t IA hoped
however that when they are perfectly
convinced Of the integrity Of American
purposes regarding them and better In
formed as 10 the character Of cur insti
tutions they will serve Loyalty. Unit
that happy time arrives It VII be alb
solutely necessary to support the ciyi
administration with the military re
sources, and at present no picture o
Philippine government will be complete
without background Of guns and bay
onets-not necessarily for use. but "a
a guarantee Of good faith"
Certain concessions also are requlsit
to the Filipino love OF display and onl
cial ostentation, as, for example, In tn
provision for the Filipino councillors {
wear a uniform while presiding and {
carry "a black cylindrical cane wit
gold head, gilt ferrule and black cor
and tassels." Such u cane or wand !
in itself q symbol of authority anon
all natives accustomed 10 Spanish au
thority not only in the Philippines, bu
in Mexico and South America,
II was considered a daring stroke O
policy to appoint as rulers Of some @
the provinces the more noted Of the II
surgent leaders lately in arms agains
the government; but. though the ris
was considered great, the lmmediat
effect upon those stlll in rebellion wa
marked and sanitary.
One Of the most conspicuous {
those appointment was that OF Ger
eral Mariana Trias. who was command
err In chief OF the Filipino forces viii
Aguinaldo was in hiding He surrende
ed in March and was recently mad
governor OF Cavite, Another, Ambr'
sio Flores, was installed as goyernt
Of Rial. But in both instances II
treasurers Of the provinces were Anne
lean military officers.