Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-29

of the islands from according TO the people
Of the Philippines the material privileges
and rights which We're denied to them by
Spain and to which they are entitled. 1t IL
much TO be desired that the next session or
Congress shall not pass without adequate
| relief in this respect by appropriate legis-
iation along the lines above indicated.
Lands OF Religious Orders.
zone of the purposes for which the Dor
| rowing of money should be authorized Is
the acquisition of the tracts of land held
| by religious orders In the island. Three re-
| ligious orders. the Dominicaps, Augustin-
ians and Recolletos, who were established
under Spanish rule had at the time or
American occupation a holding Of about
100000 acres of agricultural lands. These
lands are occupied by a native tenantry in
tensely hostile to the friars. and that hos
tility is unquestionably shared by the vast
majority of the people of the islands. The
relation of these landlords TO their tenants
and to the entire people was one of the
| chief causes OF irritation and rebellion UNI
der the Spanish government.
THE new conditions make IL ma nifestly for
the interest of the religious orders that they
should convert into money this property,
which they can manifestly no longer peace
| fully enjoy practically make useful. AT
the same time the peace and order of the
community, the good will OF the people to-
ward the government of the United States,
and the interest of an effective settlement
and disposition of all questions arising be-
tween the church and state In the islands,
make it equally desirable that these lands
should be purchased by the state and that
title upon proper and reasonable terms
should be offered to the tenants or to the
other people of the islands. For this pur-
pose it will be necessary that money should
be obtained from other sources than the orr
binary revenues OF the Philippine govern
ment. The receipts from sales of the lands
to natives can be devoted to the payment
of any bonds issued TO raise money for
the purchase
1T is gratifying to report that the efforts
of the American officers to bring about a
cessation of the practice OF slavery among
the Moros are not fruitless All who seek
freedom receive IT upon coming into the
American lines.
Progress of Government.
'In general the progress OF good governs
| ment In the Philippines during the past
| year has been greater than the most SAN
| guine American familiar with the obstacles
| to be overcome could have anticipated.
Mutual understanding and confidence are
necessary elements TO success in such a
field. These cannot be extemporized or
forced; they must come freely. naturally
and slowly. / think our Legislators and ad-
ministrators In the Philippines are winning
the confidence of the people by deserving H.
For hundreds of years the Filipino people
had been accustomed TO fair promises never
fulfilled. We have made similar promises,
and what we have already done in TIE way
unexpected good faith.
Il believe that each successive step in the
practical development of American purpose
in the Philippines will result in wider ap-
probation and approval In the islands, and
that we may reasonably look forward TO a
time not far distant which will be charac-
terized by general good feeling, established
confidence and active cooperation on the
part of all the peoples of the archipelago in
our efforts for their benefit. The course
will not be without its difficulties. discour-
agements and reverses. but cheerful and
persistent courage, faithful to the spirit OF
our institutions, will prevail.
General Policy of Government.
'fThe policy followed by the American exc
ecutive In dealing with the government OF
the Philippines land also in dealing with
the government of the other islands ceded
or yielded by Spain which have been under
the control of the War Department. has
been to determine and prescribe the France
work Of insular government, TO lay down
the rules of policy to be followed upon the
great questions of government as they are
foreseen or arise, to obtain the best and
ablest men possible for insuar officers, to
distribute and define their powers, and then
10 hold them responsible for the conduct of
government in the islands with the least
possible interference from Washington.
Notwithstanding rigid adherence to this
policy, and consistently with Il, the de-
mands upon the department for action in
the vast and complicated business OF the
island governments have been constant and
Imperative.
Expenditures, Appropriations and Es.
Inmates.
''The summary Of expenditures for the fis.
cal year 1901, appropriations for 1902 and
estimates for 1903 is as follows: