Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-06-27
FILIPINO PROBLEM.
INSURGENTS NOW AWAIT THE
OUTCOME.
Paternaiism in All Home Govern
ment Matters as 1t Was Con-
Quoted Under the Friars.

question, how shall the American Union
manage, control and practically rule
the Philippine Islands? The historic
decision of the Federal supreme court
recently handed down was q veritable
battle to the death between the old
Constituencies. represented by Mr..
Justice Harlan and Mr.. Justice Brew
er, and the new Opportunist School
represented by Mr. Justice Brown. The
| OpportunistS have won. 1t was a to
decision. Congress has power, ac-
cording to this decision, to manage our
new possessions.
In this management congress- may
| legislate, on a strictly emergency bas-
| is The federal constitution Is not to
BE set aside; but then congress, being
in these cases the responsible depart
ment of the government. is to do the
best possible thing. in the matter Of
customs. regulations and territorial
government in our new possessions,
without having the congressional
hands so tied as to leave the govern
ment absolutely powerless.
How is this program likely to work
in the Philippines? To aid in the in
tellgent solution of this important
question, we have sought to put to-
gether a few of the leading facts
throwing light upon the condition of
the Filipino population as whole.
The position of the Filipinos is alb
solutely unique among the many peo-
pies OF the earth whose peculiar con-
ditions have attracted the attention of
hnty not nol
ganization is Spanish; so are their re-
religion and their moral culture. Their
race, however. their very intimate
selves, all their natural characteristics,
are mainly Malayan. At bottom then,
it may be said that the Filipinos are
of the fierce, ungovernable, morally I'M
thinking Brown race. No wonder we
find that the United States government
is somewhat at loss to understand
just what it is that confronts the
people of this country in the manage
ment of the great archipelago AS to
the task before them of civilization
these poor people in the Philippine is
lands we learn on page 10 of the Re-
port of the Taft commission, senate
document No. 1l2 of the Congressional
Record, that the possibilities that pre-
sent themselves of improving the con-
dition of the people in education,
wealth. comfort and in the knowledge
of how to govern themselves cannot
but awaken the deepest enthusiasm on
the part of every friend of civilization
familiar with the actual conditions"
The commission fully realizes that
there are grave practical difficulties
to he overcome. On page 20 it is re-
marked that lin the outset it Is not
too severe to say that the percentage
Of Filipinos who cal be trusted to
handle public money or to exercise
any direct official control over their
fellow residents without peculation or
the imposition of Illegal charges. is
comparatively small. They must be
taught by better salaries and by the
example of the Americans different
standard of integrity" We see how
essential it is that all officials sent to
the Philippines shall be of the high
est type of office holder. the man who
cannot be bought. bullied or drawn in
to dishonest political rings' The
Filipinos," continues the Report, have
had no training except from being in
Spanish service or observing its work
ings. That service was VIGOROUSLY
corrupt"
With characteristic thoroughness
the commission goes on to say that the
Americans come with the idea of
a competence by their stay
in the islands. They are exposed to
constant temptations offered them by
interested persons seeking to escape
lawful burdens or to obtain fraudulent
advantage"
Agaist these dangers the commission
seeks TO guard by q system of legisla-
ton intended TO lessen the tempta-
tons, and supply to some extent the
lack OF honesty which IL breads In
Spaniards. Filipinos and Americans
alike. This system will have to re-
place a condition of paternalism that
has never had parallel in the history
OF the world n broad statement, but
it is essential that we should under
stand the statement is true. Ii is only
necessary TO look at the facts, as fur
nished by the Taft commission. The
American people would scarcely real
i2e such a condition as is here present
ed under ordinary circumstances, but
the fact is. we must come to realizing
sense in this case.
The problem centers around the
much talked OF Friars TO understand
how the Filipinos have existed under
Spanish rule for more than three hum
dred yeards we must understand what
the F'riars We're doing in all these
years Among numerous facts stated
by the commission as having been OBJ
tanned from interviews with the Pro
viucial of the Franciscan order. the
following are given as throwing most
light upon the everyday governmental
administration OF the archipelago,
They aid not have civil registrn-
ton here. and so they had TO depend
upon the books OF the parish priest.
These books were sent in for the pur-
pose of taxation bat were not receiv-
ed by the authorities unless yised By
the priest.
he was president OF the board OF
statistics because he was the only per-
son who had any education. He was
asked to do this work 50 that better
results could be obtained. II was
against the will OF the parish priest 70
do this hut he could only do as he