New-York tribune., 1902-07-04
THE FOURTH IN THE PHILIPPINES.

The FUGRTH IN The PHILiPFINES-
There is every reason to believe that to-day
and hereafter the Fourth of July will be cele-
! brated as the beginning of a new era in the
Philippines. 1t is true that to the great ma
jority of the inhabitants of the archipelago no
striking change will be Immediately apparent,
inasmuch as under firm and wise administra-
tion of their affairs the conditions contemplated
in the measure just enacted by Congress have
already been established almost everywhere,
and the new law is therefore rather a formal
recognition of what has been accomplished than
a transforming agency. If patience, sagacity
and necessary application of force had not, in
the opinion of those fully qualified to judge,
fitted the Filipinos to occupy the status now
explicitly guaranteed to them it would not have
been granted. How nearly finished is the work
of preparation for a peaceful and prosperous
development of the islands under civil law this
peculiarly timely and gratifying dispatch of
Acting Governor Wright received yesterday,
clearly shows:
Provincial government was inaugurated In
Laguna July /, thus completing the estab-
lishment of civil government over all civilized
people Of the archipelago The acceptance of
American authority and general pacifcation
complete. ! beg to offer congratulations to you,
and through TO the President, on the sue
cess of the wise and humane policy inaugurated
by President Mckinley and continued by Presi-
dent Roosevelt.
There may possibly be citizens of the United
States to whom this message will be unwel-
come. 1t refutes their assertions. exposes
their ignorance, discredts their eager forebod-
ingS and annuls their latest appeal to public
sentiment for a reversal of the governments
policy toward its dependents. Yet it may be
hoped that there are very few misguided Ameri-
who will not find some measure of salts
faction in seeing their case disprOved once
more just as an act of good faith and magma
nimity is going into effect.
In the Moro country there is still some dis
order, but except as respects the savages of
that region the transfer of authority from the
military TO the civil authorities is complete.
The armed forces, already greatly reduced will
presently number less than eighteen thousand
men, The census. on which natives are to be
employed far as possible and which will be
undertaken Immediately and perhaps completed
within year, will not merely be Indispensable
for the purposes of a permanent government,
but is likely to exert in the process a salutary
influence. Opinions will differ as to how much
may reasonably be expected in the near future
of the legislative assembly, but that feature of
the scheme is most heartily commended by
some of those who have been doubtful as to
the future of the islands. LAS to the general
effect Of the act we have just passed. says
Chairman Cooper of the House Committee on
Insular Affairs. 'I share the view of Governor
Taft. who said that if this bill became a law
1--WE should hear no more Of the Philippines
"than do of Porto Rico, and that the Philip
"pine problem would gradually disappear" 1t
is open TO any one to entertain a less sanguine
expectation, but 1t appears to us a mark both
of sense and Of patriotism not to undervalue
the judgment of the man who is more compe-
tent TO judge than any other. 1t cannot be
doubted that il opinions which have been over
thrown by events had not been ignorantly
formed and sedulously cultivated the existing
situation would have been attained earlier and
with less difficulty.
The Presidents amnesty proclamation, which
is to be appropriately issued to-day will not
include criminals whose offences the necessary
license of a state of war cannot safely or de-
Gently be made TO cover. nor will it operate in
the case of the MOros who are still hostile But
it will be a liberal, indeed an extremely gener-
Gus, exercise of clemency, and will doubtless
make strong appeal to the selfnterest as well
as to the better feelings of the FiIipinos. 1t
will fitly crown the arduous work Of the last
four years-work undertaken and prosecuted in
obedience to the most solemn obligations, with
out vindictiveness, but bravely, Loyalty and
humanely. 1t is especially gratifying that the
beginning of the era, made possible by the
wellnigh universal suppression Of the spirit of
resistance to the government Of the United
States was preceded by the submission of con-
vincng proofs that our soldiers in the Philip
pines have been with rare exceptions guiItless
of the charges brought against them. On the
fighting line and at Washington the American
character has been nobly illustrated.