Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-08
DESCRIBES F|L|P|NOS
Gen. Macarthur Before the
Senate Committee.
VALUE OF THE ISLANDS
WAR HAS BEEN CONDUCTED HU-
NAMELY.
Believes That the Archipelago Should
Be Held Permanently-Ideas
of the People.

| Gen Macarthur today continued his tes-
| tmony concerning conditions in the Philip
| pine archipelago before the Senate commit
| tee on the Philippines. His discussion at
| the beginning of the session was devoted to
| review of the conditions which led up to
| the present state of mind of the Philippine
| people. He said that long before the ad-
| vent of the Americans the germs of democ-
| racy had been planted and that these had
| originated in the agitations in Spain of a
! century ago, which had been reflected in
| the Spanish colonies.
He also described the conditions in the
| archipelago at the time of the American oc-
| cupation, saying that at that time the Fill
| ipinos We're in a vindictive and resentful
mood toward Spain, with a general yearn-
| ing for liberty Taking these psychologist
| cal conditions into account. and also Civ
| ing due heed to the chara cter of the people
he had felt when he assumed command of
| the islands that there was to be found the
| most fertile soil for the planting of the best
| type of republican Institutions
Islands Strategic Value
Gen. Macarthur then took up and dis
| cussed economic conditions in the archipel-
| ago, saying that they are the finest group
| OF Islands in the world occupying a stra-
| tegic position absolutely unexcelled.
| Continuing, he said that the archipelago
| must necessarily exert an active and po-
| tentlal influence upon the affairs Of the
| entire east in both political and mill
! tary way. The China sea. only 80 miles
| wide, he considered only safety maat.
| The islands would therefore stand t. pro-
| tect our interests in the orient without the
| exerton of much physical power on cur
| part. Hence, he concluded that cur pres
ence in the Philippines will always insure
| all the protection we need in the east and
no one can now say how great those needs
may be. Their position is such, he said,
| that from these islands we may observe
whatever passes along the coast of Asa,
| as 1t must pass under the shadow Of our
! flag. He therefore concluded that "the pos
session, the permanent possession, of the
Philippine archipelago is not only of SUI
| preme Importance but absolutely essential
| to American interests
Mission of the Americans
| He believed, he added, that when the
Philippine people come to realize the mis-
! sion Of the American people among them
and that they were a chosen people for the
dissemination of American ideas they would
rally to this inspiring thought and cheer
fuily follow and support the American flag.
Continuing, Gen. Macarthur grew elo-
quent in describing the mission of the
Americans. Our presence in the islands,
he said, was to his mind a process of
spontaneous evolution, and added that he
believed the permanent occupation was a
necessary consequence, the logical Sc
quence of our national prosperity and he
added that to doubt this is to doubt the
wisdom of our institutions. We should, he
went on, regard ourselves as a people the
custodians of an imperishable idea held in
trust for mankind, and We should pro-
| claim this message to the world
He also expressed the opinion that the
Fiipinos could be rapidly organized into
| political bodies, and he said that they were
eager to obtain educational facilities. Be
| cause of his opinion that the Philippines
afford splendid opportunities for the dis
semination of American ideas he had de-
cided when he assumed command at Ma
! Mia to conduct military operations with a
drastic hand, while he, at the same time
tried to give them the most enlightened
civil government wherever opportunity Of
fered.
War Humanely Conducted.
Concerning the conduct of the war in
the Philippines he said that while it was
war, he doubted whether if any war of
| modern times had been conducted with
as much humanity and self-restraint as
| this war had been.
In this connection Senator Lodge asked a
number of questions bearing upon the re-
ports of cruelties practiced by American
soldiers, to which the witness replied that
while there doubtless had been instances
of excesses the general conduct on the
part of our troops had been of an op-
j posite character the general orders had
been. Moreover, all violations of the rules
| OF war had been instantly punished.
The Filipino's Ideal
Replying to questions by Senator Car
mack, he said that the Fiipinos like our
American ideas of personal liberty as en-
bodied in our Institutions. This" he
said. realizes an ideal of their own"
Then they have an ideal?" interjected
Senator Carmack. The reply was: They
have-most decidedly.
You do not then regard them miser-
able corrupt. cruel and degraded race?"
BY no means. Such view is to nv
mind mistaken view
Senator Carmack also asked about the
exploitation of the material resources of
| the islands, and Gen. Macarthur replied
that one Of the great apprehenSions of the
people was that they might be deprived of
these resources and thus be relegated to
position OF social lnferlority in the islands
| On this point he said they were very SEN
sitive. They did not. he said, care so much
| for their treatment outside the islands, but
were very particular on the point of So
cial equality when in their own country.
In reply to n question from Senator Cul-
| berSon, Gen, Macarthur declined to insti-
tate a comparison between the Filipino and
pretty good people" he said, but l have
never had occasion to compare them with
other people and l don't want to attempt
such a comparison which might be unjust
| to both"
Voice in the Government
DO you not Think Senator Carmack
| asked, that the Filpinos ought to have a
voice in their governmental affairs, where
| they have to do with franchises and con-
cessions?"
THAT question is somewhat hypotheti-
| ca.," replied Gen. Macarthur" We are ap-
proXimating that condition now. | would
however, like to see the Filipinos pretty
well represented in their central govern
ment, and should like to the question
of franchises, except for railroads, held in
allegiance until the evolution proceeds fur
| ther.''
The committee adjourned until Thursday.
Report Sent to the Committee.
| Secretary Root this afternoon transmit
| ted to the Senate committee on the Philip
| pine Islands a copy of the report of the
civil government of Tayabas, which is said
to have been the principal basis of Lieut.
Gen. Miles statement in his letter to the
| President that the war in the Philippines