Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-14
TWOYEARS' EXPER|ENCE
Progress Made in the Phil
ippines.
UNDER CIVIL RULE
WORK ACCOMPLISHED BY THE
TAFT COMMISSION.
Secretary Ferguson Tells Of the
Gradual Advance of American
Ideas and Customs.
Written for The Evening Star.

written loT Tue ENeuiHs Sthr
The subject upon which I write covers
DO large a field, has been treated by such
able pens and so many changes have been
rung upon it that it seems scarcely posi-
bic to add to it's literature and 1 shall
confine myself, therefore, to what America
has really accomplished in the Philippines
rather than to consider the theme in its
broadest aspect. 1 shall limit myself more
especially to what the civil authorities have
done in quiet and unobtrusive way, since
the work of the army needs no praise here.
1t has become history. Its work has been
performed in the way the American army
has ever done it's part-thoroughly and
we'll
1t is not the province of any army to
come on a friendly visit to foreign shore;
armies are set in motion when all friendly
overtures have failed. Their task is to
bring about peace through the arbitrament
of the sword and the hoarse accents of the
cannon. America came to the Philippines
because the archipelago was considered a
vulnerable point in an erstwhile enemy's
territory. She had none but the kindliest
feelings toward the natives of the islands,
and there might never have been the slight
est ruction IN the amicable relations at.
first existing had not her intentions been
miscOnstrued; but in the controversies and
uncertainties which followed Dewey's en-
trance INTO the ndTDOr Oh Manila, extend
ing over a period of several months, mis-
understandings arose heads became heated
and reason fed from them the heels of
calmneSs. So the followed. But even
In war the Filipino learned the difference
between modern and fifteenth-century meth
DDS of doing things. He learned that an
enlightened nation uses it's weapons of
warfare TO enforce principle, and that
neither personal national hatred vim
dictiveness is the power behind the guns
Perhaps 1t is not too much to say that
even at this early date the more advanced
and enlightened F'ilipnos saw that even
ahe acquisition of territory a minor
consideration with the republic beyond the
seas. and that having acquired sovereignty
through no desire of her own, but from
overwhelming force of circumstances-over
5000 900 of people, it became her duty to
teach them those ideals and conceptions of
liberty that have made America great and
that stand for the best that is known of
civilization throughout the broad world.
Lessons of the Hour.
However this may be, the Filipinos. a
people. learned that though assault was
met with commensurate, yet friendly adj
vances were met with advances more
friendly still: they saw that though the
American soldier used his weapon aggres-
sively to enforce the recognition of his
country's duly acquired sovereignty yet he
had no desire either to reduce him to an
abject state or to impose burdens upon him
too heavy to be borne. These were the
lessons of the hour; but Notwithstanding
this it was not to be expected that a peo-
pie who for four centuries had suffered and
groaned under a monarchial and military
despotism that has hardly had a parallel in
history could be content under martial
government, however humane and conSid-
crate; they could not be expected to appre-
ciate the sentiment crystallized in the lines,
Underneath the starry flag
CiviliZe them with a Krag."
And though thousands returned from
the field and once more assumed the avo-
cations of peace and made friends of the
American officer and soldier in the towns
yet there was encouragement and assist
ance given to the man in the field. and the
spirit of rebellion was still rampant in
many breasts.
1t just at this juncture, two years
ago, when tie so-called Filipino army had
been scatter I'd in all directions, that the
patriotic and diplomatic Mckinley met the
situation with a fiank movement that is I'M
precedented in history. The islands We're in
state of instruction. and he sends to in
surrecto leaders and people--not peace mes
senSers. as is customary. who meet for for
NAL talk and lay propositions before con-
tending body which they may or may not
accept. men who are here today and gone
tomorrow; but he sends into the midst of
these people, supposed to be bitter of spirit
and evil of Incentive Americans of stall
wart brains and kindly hearts to live
among them and to say to them: I'VE are
here to tell you what peace really means;
We are here to show you the blessings of
liberty IL is known among enlightened
nations: we are here to admit you to brot H.
erhood with the American. to find out how
much you really know of what self govern
ment is, and so soon as you shall show
yourselves capable of it to bestow that
blessing upon you. Your plea that you are
capable of self-government has come be-
Tore our President; your cry for liberty has
been heard; your claim that you have been
kept in subsection and your capabilities
perverted and your best efforts stultfied
mas been given every consideration, and we
are mere TO tell you that America is ready
10 grant you every privilege and all the
liberty as you are ready for it that the
greatest of American citizens may have
except that she cannot yield to you the SOW
ereign power. She dare not leave you a
prey TO your own internal dssensions and
she cannot give you over to other nations"
Reception of the Commission.
No sooner had the ship that bore the COM
mission anchored in the beautiful bay of
Manila than they were visited by a large
BODY OF prominent natives, three at least
OF whom had been ministers and advisers
or Aguinaldo-men who had always favored
peace, and who had parted with him when
"a determined to follow the advice of the