The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-06-19
MASON 5. STONE.

In private letter to the editor of the
WATcHMAN Hon. Mason s. Stone, YER
m)nt's former superintendent of educs
ton, now department superintendent of
public instruction in the Philippines, writes
many things which will be OF interest to his
friends in this State, and to the public gener-
ally. So the editor ventures to give public
ity to the letter. Writing from Manila, un.
der date Of May 8. Mr. Stone says
Generally the less a man knows OF a stu
alton the more willing he is to express an
opinion. Have been here three weeks and
meanwhile have been rapidly revising
opinions held by myself. or one thing I
have become confident, namely, that no
general statement concerning the islands
can be made without danger of contradic-
ton. There is such complexity OF influ-
ences, diversity Of conditions, medley OF
people and variety OF customs that 1t is i'm
possible to judge all by any one place or
people.
Apparently the climate has been the most
maligned Of any of the conditions. In
all this confusion OF tongues, 1t is re-
msrkable that each race aud tribe has 80
exclusively maintained its own character
istics. Two tribes living on opposite banks
OF the same river may not understand the
others language.
American customs do not impress them.
selves upon the natives to any large extent:
however, it is noticeable that some Ameri-
cans have adopted the native customs
Some American women have unwisely at
tempted to introduce hats and high collars,
ignorant OF the tendency in the States. The
people here turn to the left in proper and
European manner A woman was arrested
this week for taking her bath at the public
hydrant. This was contrary to the city or
dinance established by military authority,
and fear 1t will discourage cleanliness
The natives have standards OF personal
decsncy, honesty and general morality, diff
fering much from American standards.
They have been well informed, through the
Spaniards, in regard to our American vices,
social and political; hence look upon us
with some suspicion. think they are Ca
pabe OF great Improvement and eventually
will be ready for self-government.
When races are mixed too frequently the
vices OF the component races survive the
virtues. Consequently the whole problem
at present must be handled most carefully.
Blunders have already been made, and the
whole scheme Is sure to be wrecked il the
Archipelago becomes the prey of the pol
iticians.
The people are remarkable in manual and
musical skill, have great initiative lpowers,
but lack the thought powers of originality
and reasoning. They are courteous and
Kind, graceful and suave in manners, and
surpass the Americans in many of the deli
CaI6 Hftbs
You must understand that 1 am writing
concerning observations about Manila, and
the statements may not be applicable to all
the islands. However, I understand con-
ditions in some of the islands surpass those
in Manila.
Am assigned to Negros to which island I
expect to go next week. Negros is the
wealthiest OF all the islands, most civilized,
first to acknowledge the sovereignty OF the
United States, and the first TO receive a
division superintendent My headquarters
are to be at Bacolod, am to have two as
sistants, office and clerks, and shall hope TO
have several teachers from Vermont as
signed to my Jurisdiction. Cebu and Bohol
were also assigned me, but are not sufic-
iently pacihed to be amenable to successful
work at present, and eventually will have
division superintendent together.
The commission has just returned from a
tour among the southern islands. At Jolo
a bamboo and paper Goddess of Liberty
had been erected. On the four sides OF the
pedestal were placed respectively the
names, Washington" "Lincoln," "Mc.
Kinley," Taft" The last simply needed
~" to make 1t somewhat significant OF
the mission.