The sun., 1902-03-09

without payment: on the other hand, the
Government pays him for the rest OF his
work, or buys what he may choose to grow
privately at a fixed prico. The work Is
carried on under the direction Of native
chiefs or head men. The people have
been forced to rouse themselves from the
sloth natural TO them; have been organ
lied because Of the necessity Of number
| ing and arranging them in order to COM
pute their work; and, finally. they have
been taught the arts Of scientific agricul-
ture. In a word. they have been sub
, jected to the wholesome but unpleasant
discipline necessary for children. Mr..
Colquhoun points out that the Javanese.
who have submitted to this culture sys-
TEN, absolutely refused to pay a land tax
when that was imposed by Stamford Rafdes.
That administrator, whose merits our
author seems inclined 10 question, imagined
that land tax would be an effective and
merciful way Of collecting revenue. As a
a matter Of fact, the system broke down
almost at once in Java, even before is
originator was recalled. il turned out that
the Malay has deeply-rooted dislike
to any form Of land tax, because II seems
70 him to deprive him Of his freehold rights
In the soil.
Those who assume that American ad-
ministrators in the Philippines ought to
study and initiate the methods OF the
Dutch in tho East Indies will do well TO
examine the discussion OF the subject In
tho book before US. Our author holds
that the Malay, considered as a persistent
and trustworthy producer, has been raised
In the economical scale by the culture
system enforced in Java. but he invites
attention to the fact that the Dutch have
not deemed IL eIpedient to elevate the
Malay In any other way. They have never
regarded it as desirable that the Javanese
should receive a European education OF
be raised to their own lovel Of enlighten-
ment. Missionary efforts have been dis
couraged and, though native schools
are now established In most Javanese
villages, there has been a pronounced
tendency 70 keep the education Of the
natives on the most rudimcntary lines
Such a project as that adopted by the
United States. the project OF providing
European teachers for all the Filipinos
would seem revolutionary in the Dutch
East Indies. 1t is true that In Ceebes
there is a whole district Christianized
but in the thoroughly known and we'll
organized Java there has been practically
no attempt to interfere with the religion
OF the natives. The Minahasans Of Celebes
however, were pagans, while the Javanese
are, at least nominally. Mohammedans;
each Of their villages contains some deni
gems who have made the pilgrimage to
Mecca. Our author recognizes that 20
educate eight million Malays in the English
tongue. az we have undertaken to do in
the Philippines, is in itself a step fraught
with the most far-reaching consequences.
and he deems il impossible that the Java
nese. Celebeans, Borneans and the many
semi-independent tribes Of other islands
should not be swept up ultimately by the
wave Of civilization, which for good or
evil has at last caught great part Of their
race on its crest, and is bearing them on
toward an unknown future.
More than a quarter OF this volume In
devoted to q review of the expansion OF
the United States In tho Pacific, and.
especially 10 a consideration OF the
Filipino problem. Touching the various
methods of raising a revenue in the Philip
pines that have been suggested. our author
again observes that the Malay race has
rooted objection to land taxation. and
he says that the taxing Of land, II con-
sidered necessary, will have to be intro
duced with careful discrimination, and
cannot he vigorously enforced for a con-
siderable period. owing to the confusion
which prevails as 20 land ownership,
the lack OF registration, the loss of title
deeds and chaos resulting from a three
years state of war. Many districts. too,
are groaning under famine. owing TO the
non-cutivation of the land, 10 plaques Of
locusts or TO loss Of cattle With regard
20 the currency problem. Mr. Colquhoun
tells us that there seems to be a unanimous
opinion among local experts that TO place
the islands on a gold basis Immediately
would be injurious TO trade. There is
no doubt, however. that considerable in
convenience results from the present mixed
currency and from the fluctuations in
value Of the circulating medium. Legis-
lation has attempted 10 palliate the in
convenience by compelling the banks to
receive American money at the rate Of
two TO one. A step in the same direction
might be made by the establishment Of a
National Bank equipped with an ample
capital under the laws Of the United States.
At present the most important banks in
Manila are branches Of the British Hong
Kong and Shanghai and Chartered
banking institutions.
While our author in alive TO the fact that
thc United States are only on the threshold
OF the difficulties that await them in their
new phase Of Oriental expansion, he does
not share the impression which. he says.
prevails in Great Britain and English
speaking communities abroad. that the
Americans have met hitherto with little
success in dealing with the Philippines.
He himself thinks that, while there have
been many mistakes, no impartial critic
can deny that much has been already ac-
complished. Mr., Colquhoun testifes that
on the whole, the man on the spot has ac-
quilted himself well, and whatever there
has been of failure has been due chiefly
To politicians and sentimentalists at home
lie says that the revival Of the insurrection
which took place in the autumn OF 1901
was largely due 20 the demands that the
troops should be sent home. and that the
Philippines should be made over theo-
retcaly TO peaceful self-government.
The authors personal observations on
the subject are summed up in the con-
clusion that what is now wanted is not a
further statement as to the actual number
of pagans in certain districts or as to the