New-York tribune., 1901-01-29

happily and prohtably 10 a satisfactory solution
of the problem if the Roman Catholic Church
should itself effect such q change of base by
withdrawing the Spanish friars and replacing
them with native or American priests Such a
course would increase the affection Of the Fill
pinos for the Church and would conduce 10 the
pacifcation of the islands, and it would doubt
less enhance the prosperity OF the Church it.
self.
The property rights of the friars are an es-
sential factor In the problem. The friars own,
or hold, vast tracts of the best arabic land,
which they lease to the natives. 1t is said that
the frars have been paying no taxes on such
land, but have required the tenants to pay heavy
taxes. license fees, etc. In brief, many OF the
evils of landlordsm which have been COM
planned of in Ireland have long been complained
of in the Philippines For this state of affairs
the Commission proposes n definite cure, in a
system Of State purchase from the friars and re-
sale 10 the people. This was described the other
day by an ignorant and prejudced critic as a
proposal that the United States should throw
more good money down the Philippine rat hole
The fact is of course no such thing. 1t is not
proposed to take one cent of money from the
United States for that purpose The plan is for
the Philippine insular administration TO pur-
chase such lands as the friars legitimately own,
10 pay for them with Philippine money and TO
resell them to the Filpnos thus transforming
tenants into landed proprietors-a most salutary
and auspiciOus change. The most that is asked
of the United States is that it will loan the
money. If such a loan be needed, or guarantee
a Philippine loan for this purpose, Of the per
feet security of which there could be no ques-
tion Judge Taft further suggests that from the
proceeds OF the sale of the land school fund
could be formed, which would promote educa-
ton in the islands and thus further commend
the scheme to the FilipinOs. Whatever may
finally be decided TO these proposals, one
step is obvious and easy. If the lands of the
friars have escaped taxation hitherto, they
should escape it no longer. That alone might
presently do much TO clear up the situation. A
searching tax. that could not be evaded, has
often cured the disease of huge land holding by
absentee nOn-prOductive propretOrs.
AS TO further steps. it must be recognized that
operations of such magnitude and the settle
ment of so important problems are not to be
achieved instantaneously, ofhand and on the
first impulse The suggestions and proposals
of the Commission ere marked with thorough
information and deliberate and discriminating
judgment, and they are worthy Of cOnsidera-
ton by Congress in a spirit at once serious.
sympathetic and hopeful. The responsibilities
of this Nation in its insular possessions
must be met. They not TO be disposed OF
through procrastinatioD or evasion. The islands
are ours Our power to take them. TO hold them
and 10 crush inexOrably any rebellion against
our lawful title and dominion has been amply
demonstrated. 1t remains for us TO deal
with the problems of peaceful development and
administration. toward the solution of which
the report of the Commission does much to
nOnt the MaY.