The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-09
WAR BETWEEN RUSSIA
AND JAPAN DOUBTFUL
Traveller Says There Is Much Ignor-
ance in America About Conditions
in the Philippines.

David F. Morris. who has soldiered
and done newspaper work In the Philip
pines since 1895. Is at the Raleigh. Mr.
Morris carries letters from the leading
officials Of the islands saying he is an
unusually capable and accurate obser-
yer, and that they place great conf
dence in hts reports
Mr.. Morris stopped fl India on his way
from Manila. He says that neither IN
the Philippines nor in India is 1t thought
there is any serious prospect Of war
between Russia and Japan. All the
alarming news on the subject comes
from the American and European papers.
but the correspondents Of the Oriental
papers do not take a gloomy view Of
the situation. Mr.. Morris says;
Observers in the Far East do not
think Japan has the slightest intention
Of going TO war If she can help it. The
country has trouble now to make It's
finances support the army on a peace
footing, and japanese statesmen ap-
pear TO be unable TO make sufficient ar
rangements to support and keep equip
ped a large army in war. The Japanese
are strong on patriotism. and are clever
fighters, but 1t takes real money to buy
arms and ammunition, ships. and other
equipments, and in the East they do
not think the Japs have enough for the
purpose.
In the Philippines a great mistake
is made by appointing natives to re-
sponsibIe offices for which they are
not fitted by education or training. Not
only have untitled natives been appoint
ed, but some OF those who are known
to have instigated the vilest Of the out
RACES against Americans are now In
,1o - g,g,
tied opportunities TO stir up trouble
and embarrass islanders.
1.-THE natives are like children, and
allowing them to have control is like
letting a kindergarten class run itself
and the teacher. They have no concep-
ton Of the moral obligations Of hon.
esty and fairness imposed by accept
ing a public Office. but are thoroughly
imbued with the Spanish idea that a
public Office Is to be accepted only for
whaT money il can bring by fair means
or foul
1.-THE presidentes of the villages abuse
their constituents at VIII. Frequently an
American innocently causes a native TO
suffer extcrtion. If the American is a
man whom the presidente wishes to
curry favor with. he is almost sure to
receive presents of various kinds, de-
liNereu Win the most HOWery aSSur~
ances Of regard. The American accepts
the present in the spirit in which he
thinks it IS given, and thereby becomes
a party to the robbery of the native
from whom the presidente has taken it,
for it is a sure proposition that the willy
giyer forcibly took the gift from some
native.
I do not blame people who have not
been to the islands for not crediting the
tales Of the true conditions there.
doubt If 1 would believe them myself If
l had not lived among those conditions
under varying circumstances for the
past five years. There is a vast amount
of work TO be done in this country in
the way of dislIlusioning the theorists
who are harping on the liberty of the
and the sooner the disllusion-
ment takes place the better 1t will be
for all concerned"