Evening star., 1902-03-15
ORDER IN PHILIPPINES
PEACE COMING OUT OF CHAOS IN
THE ISLANDS.
British Observer Comments on Good
Work Done by United
States.
From the Shanghai Mercury,

From the Shanghai Mercury.
If the year has been in some respects dis
appointing. it cannot be said that the eff
forts of the United States government to
create order out Of disorder in the Philip
pine Islands have been altogether unavail-
ing As a fact the problem has proved
more complicated than was at first sight
apparent; but the fault is to be found not
III any shortcomings OF the new govern
ment. but in the absence of any system OF
control in the DID, Between an effete civil
administration and grasping ecclesiastical
hierarchy which by the foreclosure of mort
cages effected at exorbitant rates, and by
acting on the suDerstitious fears of the dy-
ing. had succeeded in getting into Its
clutches one-half Of the arabic land of the
islands. the Philippines were rapidly drift
ing into a condition of helpless anarchy.
Aguinaldo's Vanity.
Displcased at the rude light thrown on
their methods the ecclesiastcs left no
means unturned to prolong the disorders
that were eating like cancer into the state.
In any case the period G transition was
bound to be long and trying. and 1t was
aggravated by the presence of irreconcil-
ables, such as Aguinaldo. who for personal
reasons. of which probably vanity was by
no means the least kept the country in a
disturbed state during the year. The task
was by no means unlike that that met the
British government in South Africa. and
was instrumental in bringing about a very
similar series of results, wherein to gratify
the personal conceit of few leaders a
whole country was kept for the year in a
state of. terror and confusion.
Embers Of Rebellion.
troops an enormous amount Of trouble
Aguinaldo was captured by stratagem.
Though this capture was of inestimable
benefit it did not at once put an end to
the armed resistance. and the embers of
rebellion still smolder. waiting for an op-
portunity to break out anew The govern
ment Of the United States has shown a
laudable desire to reintroduce civil gov
ernment and has taken every measure pos
sible. 1t was. however. on account of
these disturbances. which were degenerat-
ing into mere occasions of plunder. found
impossible to make a complete transfer,
and the year closed with the military oc-
cEpation still continuing. As tn England,
the difficulties of the settlement were much
Increased by small but blatant faction,
who gave as much countenance as they
dared to the insurgents and by such means
encouraged their further resistance.
General Ignorance.
The almost complete absence of any set
tied government when the United States
took possession of the islands. and the pro-
found ignorance of the most primitive pr.n-
ciples of administration prevailing as the
natural result of the ecclesiastical system
introduced under Spanish rule, Increased
many fold the difficulties OF the new gov
ernment, who had to create everything
anew. More especially was this want felt
In the absence of any principles regulati ting
the titles to property. Not only did no
system of registration exist but the greater
part or the land was held without any deed
Whatever TO prove transfers or ownership
AT best transfers OF property We're noted
Dy notary. but no deeds passed between
the parties. and to escape extravagant fees
even this slender evidence was for the most
part wanting. few properties accordingly
are held on any other title than possession
but posse eSSOn In the absence of SURVEYS is
most difficult to prove, and there are ac-
tually no surveys existing: the Spanish gov
ernment even In its best days, caring moth
ing for such matters.
Extortion by Clerics.
OF the land available for agricultural pur-
poses nearly one-half has passed into the
hands of the ecclesiastical corporations,
with the inevitable result of having become
unproductive. Most Of the rest is so bur
dened with mortgages that the nominal pro-
prietor is little more than factor for the
MORTGAGE SO that the islands with the
richest soil in Asia have actually to i'm
port rice for the sustenance of a popula lion
calculated not to exceed sixty to the square
mile.
Currency Troubles.
Little less unsatisfactory is the currency.
The Spanish government in q feeble, half
hearted sort of way presumed it was gold.
but took no steps to keep it to the stand
ard. Mexican dollars, 1t was presumed,
were not to be imported. but there were no
imports of Spanish coin to make up the
deficiency. SO as matter OF necessity Mex
lean coins came to be the common currency,
with many restrictions OF an arbitrary ma
ture, depending apparently on the caprice
Of the officials Of the moment. When the
Americans arrived they. as a temporary
measure. decreed that two Mexican dollars
should circulate as one United States dol
lar. but, as in similar cases elsewhere this
did not work, and the MeXicans, as soon as
their value rose a little elsewhere, were
exported by the banks in quantities suffi-
cient to cause Inconvenience.
To stop this export an export duty of 10
per cent was imposed with the result of
still further complicating matters. With
ieAio hSSt pdHhiuS OuSiAcSS 10 90, the
banks became exchange shops, whose prof
Its were made out OF the local differences
from day to day In the values OF gold and
silver.
Checks Against Peace.
All the evils under which the China trade
groans from its double currency were in the
Philippines exaggerated, and these have
acted as so many checks on the establish
ment OF a settled government.
The administration of the. islands has
thus had many peculiar difficulties dur
ing the past year to surmount. but In the
end may be congratulated perhaps rather
than the reverse on the progress already
made.
The problem before the government of
the states Is an interesting one, and the &C.
tion OF that government In the past, It is
agreeable to notice. has been actuated by
the highest principles OF rectitude. II mis-
takes have been committed It 10 right to
acknowledge they have not proceeded from
any sordid loyS of- CaiA.