The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-23
JUDGE TAFT ON THE PHILIPPINE
SITUATION.


Judge Taft, who has just returned TO
the United States after two years service
in the Philippines, gives a very encourage
ing report regarding conditions in the
islands. He went TO the Philippines as
president of the commission. in 1900, and
has been Civil Governor since June. 1901.
He is a very able man, and his opportuni-
ties for learning the true conditions in the
islands have been the best. There are, of
course, many things which he cannot say
in an interview before making his report
to the President. but what he does say is
altogether encouraging. Briefly. his state
ment is to the effect that the instruction
in the Philippines is now narrowed down
to small compass, which is growing small
er every day; that a large majority of the
people are in favor of peace and civil gov
eminent; that the most influential men
among the Filipinos are laboring to that
end. and that. excepting in the small area
where trouble still exists, civil government
in the islands is already well established
that it may be pronounced a success.
II wish to impress upon everybody" says
Judge Taft, that civil government is a
success" Again, he says: II have never
been so encouraged as to the prospects of
the Philippines as l have been within the
past three months" And finally he de-
clared that there has never been a time
since the United States became interested
in the islands that the attitude of the
friendly to the civil government established
by the United States as now" These state
ments, from such a man as Judge Taft,
leave no doubt that very satisfactory
progress has been made in pacifying the
islands and estab lishing civil government,
and that the complete success of the work
is not far distant. Read between the lines,
Judge Taft's statement seems to be a plea
for civil government in the islands as
against military government. For this
reason it may be antagonized in some
quarters, but if he is right in his facts,
as he is pretty sure to be. the country will
indorse his conclusions. There is every
reason why the use of force and military
authority in the Philippines should be less
ened rapidly possible and civil gov
eminent established instead. The army
of occupation should be reduced and mill
tary government subordinated to civil as
fast as circumstances will permit Judge
Taft evidently thinks that as events are
now moving this can soon be done through
out the entire archipelago.
! The encouraging and almost optimistic
statement Of Judge Taft is in marked con-
trast with one made a few days ago by
| Professor Schurman, of Cornell Universe
! ty. president of the first Philippine Com
mission. Professor Schurman spent most
of the year 1899 in the Philippines and
/ returned from there more than two years
| ago. He admits that he was always an
/ anti-expansionist. and he accepted a place
| on the commission in the belief that the
/ United States would eventually give the
people independence. In a speech delivered
| in Boston a few nights ago he argued that
the United States ought to withdraw from
/ the Philippines and declared that from
/ past and present conditions he saw nothing
ahead but growing liberty eliminating In
| independence. IN Otner WORDS ne mol
only believed it wrong for the United
! States TO try 20 establish it's sovereignty
over the islands, but he believed it i'm
possible. The United States has the same
rights in the Philippines that it has in
Porto Rico, and anti-expansicnist favors
the abandonment OF Porto Rico AS to
i the other branch of the question, the
| opinion of Judge Taft, who has spent two
years on the islands and knows how little
there is left OF the instruction, is much
better than that of Professor Schurman
who spent less than one year in the islands
and who left there more than two years
ago, when the insurrection was at its
height with Aguinaldo at its head. The
trouble with Professor Schurman is he is
welded 10 his original opinions and ignores
the great progress that has been made in
| pacifying the islands and establishing civi
! government during the last two years
Judge Tafts report to the President vii
be full of information for Congress and the
country regarding the true situation in the
! Philippines.