The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-08-08
TEACHERS In PHILIPPINES.

IL uVSlllS 10 LUX as though the Ell
fort to establish American schools in
the Philippines is failure. The
authorities find it difficult to supply
American teachers. The Philippine
commission had no difficulty at first in
supplying all the teachers needed.
Through the efforts of the administers
ton and the press people in this coun-
try have been led to believe that the
Philippines We're well adapted as an
abode for the white man. Americans
are now beginning to learn what the
history of centuries has taught. that
equatorial regions are not fitted as
abodes for the white race. The white
man can endure those regions for a
time, he can even live there life
time. but he never fouriSlleS and pro-
crosses in such places. The young
men and women who Went to the is
lands Il couple of years ago with fiat
tering hopes of success have not found
existence there what they expected
They were told that they could live
as comfortably there as they could in
the United States. They have found
the temperature averaging above 90
degrees the year around. They are
unable to dress as do the natives. and
cannot accustom themselves to the diet
which is suitable to the climate. They
have not been we'll received by the ma
tives. and altogether life has been
anything but pleasant for the Ameri-
can teacher in the Philippines. They
have found the country cxhausting
and facilitating to both mind and
body. They are resigning as fast as
they find reasonable excuses for doing
so, and there is no rush of applicants
to fill the vacancies. 1t seems that
the work of teaching the Filipinos
American ideas, customs and language
through government schools is a fail
ure. The work begun with so much
flourish and hope. has not made the
Roadway expected. The parish
schools will take up the work where it
was broken up by the war; and under
the guidance of American bishODs.
the f'ilipinos may gradually learn
American ways. 1t would be folly for
this government to try to force upon
the people of the islands Il corps OF
teachers and Il system of education to
hi, 1,,
of the American teachers are returnin"
to this country. bringing with them
the same impressions which the
American soldiers gained during the
military occupation. The Philippine
question is not settled. We are quite
in fashion in having an Eastern cues
ton which is as impossible of solu-
ton as the traditional Eastern ques-
ton which has troubled and battled
Europe since the days of the crlsades.
In the settlement Of this question we
have as our chief obstacle the in
surmountable laws of nature. Some
men were made white and some
'i'I'N anu SoIIlt !ellOW. LII tle ulS-
tribution of the races upon the face
OF the earth. Providence assigned the
northern ATTITUDES to the whites and
the equatorial regions to the black
and yellow races. In our insane desire
to own and control lands we have ur-
dertaken to set aside the work of
Providence and to establish Il new
system Our efforts 50 far have been
met with obstacle after obstacle, and
IN the end it will be found that the
American people do rot care for the
islands and will refuse to live there.
Had we olteycd the law of nature in
orr first dealing with the negro and
left him in those lands where nature
placed him. wc would not now have
Il race question upon our hands in this
country. No one advocates the assim-
ilation and amalgamation of the negro
race i'll this country with the whites
What do our imperialistic statesmen
propose to do with the Filipino in case
the whites should go in large number
to the Philippines? Are we to have
another race question?