The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-19
WHEN WILL THE FILIPINOS BECOME
REALLY GOOD AMERICANS?

A y army officer who has lately re-
Il turned to Washington from Ma
= Mia. in conversation with re-
porter for The Times one day last week
expressed his belief that il viii be a
long time before the Filipinos viii at
heart accept the benevolent government
Of the United States and become really
good American citizens IN support of
his pessjmistic views, based upon per
sonaI observation, the officer, whose
name is for obvious reasons withheld
from publication, produced copy of the
Manila Times which he brought with
him from the islands and pointed out the
following editorial:
A Sinister Outlook.
Friday afternoon one Of those in
dividuals popularity known as The Man
on The Street was sitting at a table in
one of the city's favorite dining resorts,
when a newsboy entered with his copies
Of the Manila Times. The Man on
the Street bought one and glanced at
the headlines The first thing that
caught his eye was the cablegram. an
Douncing that the lower house had
passed the bill appropriating s3.0e9 600
for the relief of the prevailing
agricultural distress in the Phil
ippfnes. Spontaneously there fell
from his lips the following.
addressed to everybody in general
and nobody IN particular. What do you
think Of that, The United States Gov
eminent has appropriated 100000 to
relieve the poor people of the Philip
pines. Yes. poor people! I'll bet my
life that -fourths OF that little sum
goes to buy guns and ammunition
A Storm Cloud Brewing.
In this rough and unvarnished crit
ique of our Governments policy We be
Heve there lies food for sober thought
and serious comment. We are not in
clincd to be alarmists. certain publ,
oracIcs to the contrary notwIthstand
ing. hut we 40 feel il is about time that
We should consider and appreciate some
of the sinister possibilities latent here
among these people. While as q rule
we are disposed 10 put the thought of
such behind us. yet now and then it
viii fntrude itself. Generally peaceful
as is the political sky yet the horizon
is not altogether without its suggestion
OF ominous cloud.
Native Dissatisfaction Apparent.
Take it right here in the city today.
in spite Of all our benevolent policy il Is
generally recognized that there is a
large element Of dissatisfaction. none
the less real because usually repressed,
and II the opportunity arose it would
not hesitate one doubling second in
dropping the mask of apparent quietude
and resignation and resuming its old
role Of insurrectionism. In spite Of per
functory denials from prominent Filipi-
nos it is patent to everyone that q large
part OF Toudo today is little better, so
far as the spirit Of its people is con
cerned. than in the early days Of 90
Even officials admit that it is the haunt
and breeding place of most OF the la
drones or seIf-styled TevoIutionists who
infest the cfty's environs In TCndo
these find a sympathetic atmosphere and
an easy refuge.
Noticeable IN the TheateTs.
Another significant feature is he tone
pervading many of he pieces row
played in the Tsgalog thealers. While
Hindi aeo Pstay,' just suppressed. was
the most glaring, yet through nearly al