The times., 1901-05-09
Circulation statement.
Moral Conditions in ManiIn.

Moral Conditions i'm Manila.
Some time ago General Macarthur.
Governor General Of the Philippine
Islands. received very severely critical
letters from certain representatives Of
the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union relative to alleged conditions in
Manila connected with the liquor traf-
fic and the social evil. To these he has
referred, in a report to the Adjutant
General. in which he says that the
writers have been misled as to the
facts. and have also failed to take into
proper consideration the disturbed state
of the islands He adds: Il am con-
WINGED that the city Of Manila may to-
dav challenge comparison as TO its NOR
al and orderly condition with any city
in the United States" Also he says:
sThe care Of the soldiers health is almost
the first duty OF the officer, and far from PAN
deriug TO his vices and encouraging HIM IN
dissipation every effort is made 10 maintain
true standard OF manhood in the young soldier
and return him to his country when his service
is over citizen who viii be a credit TO the
hard school from which he has graduated.
Thus far. General Macarthur is 50
evidently in the right that comment
upon his reply is unnecessary We are
not. however, able to agree with him in
his suggestion to the Government that
the authors of these Iong-range denun-
Citations of his military administration
be given a free junket TO the Philip
pines at the expense Of the Government
in order that they may satisfy them
selves that they are wrong in their sUs-
picions and distant conclusions.
We are surprised that man hold
ing The place General Macarthur
does should suggest such recogni-
tion of wholly self-created and ire
sponsibIe censOrs. he has heard, Of
course, that the same element through
its fanatical Indifference to facts and
common sense. has been able TO greatly
reduce the standards Of good order and
discipline in the army by soaring a COW
ardly lot of national legislators into
abolishing that best means of pTomot-
ing sobriety and self respecting man
hood in the military establishment the
post exchange. Now he recommends
that lot Of the same meddlers be
given free passes and their expenses
10 the Philippines that they may pit
their ignorance and prejudices against
the administration of trained and ear
nest men. bound to accomplish in ef-
feet what they shrek for in theory, but
in no way TO accomplish desirable re-
suits
In fact, this Macarthur development
is extremely disappointing. We have
always regarded the general as a man
Of parts, and, probably barring some
suPerseusitiveness in matters Of whathe
may imagine is public opinion at home.
he is such man. But he ought TO see
the idiocy Of his proposition. If the
Columbus Wisconsin sisters who have
found fault with him are entitled TO a
Philippine excursion, he will quickly
discover that the other sisters Of Osh- !
kosh. Kalamazoo, and Medicine Lodge
must be accorded the same courtesy. |
In a short time he would have more sis
ters on his hands than the Filipinos
used to have friars; and we are in
clined to think that the natives would
not be better disposed to the former
than they were to the latter.
General Mac Arthur has been such a
monumental Improvement upon his
predecessor that we distinctly dislike
10 say thing in criticism Of his course
in any direction. His idea Of carrying
the canteen sisters over to sit upou
his moral government, after the man
ner of jury of matrons, savors so
much Of nonsense that it would be
wrong 10 pass II by. He asserts that
the city Of Manila may today chal- !
lenge a comparison as TO its moral and |
orderly condition with any city in the 1
United States" The American people, /
conhding in his bravery. his ability as |
soldier and trusting TO the evidences !
Of the past as to his administrative 4
ability, are quite ready TO believe his /
declaration. The sisters would be en-
tirely superfiuous, and he would find /
them n severe embarrassment