Gilpin observer., 1902-04-17
GOVERNORS REPORT
MALTREArMENr OF NATIVES.
Major Gardener Severely critioIses Mil
itary Rule In the Philippines
States His Observations as Civil
Governor of Tayabas Province.

| April lS.-N ueu Tile
Senate committee on the Philippines
met Thursday Chairman Lodge pre-
sented the report Of Major Cornelius
Gardener, civil governor of the Phil
ippine province of Tayabas, to which
reference was made by General Miles
in his correspondence with Secretary
| Root. The report Is dated December
| 16, 1901.
In the course of the report the gov
ernOr says:
AS civil governor, l feel it my duty
| to say that 1T Is my firm conviction
| that the United States troops should
at the earliest opportunity be concen-
trated in one or two garrisons, If it is
! thought desirable that the good SEN
l'timent and loyalty that formerly ex-
| listed toward the United States among
the people of this province should. be
conserved and encouraged.
Being In close touch with the peo-
| pie, having visited all the pueblos one
or more times, having lived with them
| in their homes, l know that such a
sentiment once existed. or late, by
reason of the conduct of the troops,
such as the extensive burning of the
barrios in trying to lay waste the
country so that the insurgents cannot
| occupy 1t, the tOrturing of natives by
| so-called water cure and other meth
DDS, in order to obtain information, the
harsh treatment of natives generally
and the failure of Inexperienced lately
| appointed lieutenants commanding
posts to distinguish between those who
are friendly and those unfriendly ard
| to treat every native as il he We're,
whether or no, an insurgent at heart,
| this favorable sentiment above re-
| ferred to Is being fast destroyed and
n deep hatred toward us engendered.
If these things need be DONE they had
best be done by native troops, so that
the people of the United States will
not be credited herewith.
Almost without exception. soldiers
and also many officers, refer to natives
in their presence as 'niggers' and ma
tiyes are beginning to understand what
the word 'nigger' means.
THE course now being pursued in
this province and in the provinces of
Batangas, Laguna and Samar is, in
my opinion, sowing seeds for a per-
petual revelation against us hereafter
whenever good opportunity offers.
Under present conditions the political
situations in this province is slowly
is decreasing and we are daily making
permanent enemies.
I'm the course above referred to,
troops make no distinction often be-
tween the property of those natives
who are insurgent or insurgent sympa-
thizers, and the property of those who
heretofore have risked their lives by
being loyal to the United States and
giving us information against their
countrymen in arms. Often every
house in a barrio is burned
I'm my opinion the small number
of irreconcilable insurgents still in
arms although admittedly difficult to
catch, does not justify the means en-
ployed, especially when taking into
consideration the suffering that must
be undergone by the innocent and its
effect ON the relations with these peo-
pie hereafter.
THE work of the Philippine commits
sion and the laws that have been
enacted by it are everywhere favor
ably commented upon by the natives.
The efforts being made for the general
education of the people are appreciated
by all. The provincial government
and the municipal governments estab-
lished are slowly bringing order out
of chaos and anarchy, and there be-
gins to be visible everywhere in this
province progress and prosperity. True
loyalty and contentment can only
come under a benign civil government.
"The attitude of the army, thereby
meaning most of its officers and sol
diers, is, however, decidedly hostile
to the provincial and municipal gov
ernment in this province and to civil
in, Tel -
eral In Manila, especially, 1t Is in
tensely so, even among the higher Off
GERS. The work of the commission in
the establishment of provincial govern
ments Is ridlculed even In the presence
of tho natives. 1t is openly stated that
the army should remain in charge for
the next twenty years.
1T has been stated that Filipino or
an Oriental does not appreciate just or
kindly treatment, and that he consid-
ers 1t an evidence of weakness and
that severe and harsh measures are
the only ones that are permanently ef-
fective with Filipinos. l have found
that just and kind treatment, uniform
and continued, Is the only way by
which these people can become our
friends and satisfied with United
States sovereignty.
Having been stationed six years on
the Rio Grande, l am well acquainted
with the natives of the state OF Tam
aulipas, Mexico, and while stationed
in the province Of Santa Clara, Cuba,
visited every town in that province
and was able to observe the intelli-
gence and education there. believe
that the people of Tayabas province
are in every way superior In educa-
ton, Intelligence, morals and civiliza-
tion to the people Of Tamaulipas or
Santa Clara.
'As an officer OF the army, regret
that my duty rs civil governor of this