The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-08
MR.. TAFT'S DIFFICULTIES
AMERICANS IN MANILA WHO OPPOSE
HIS IDEAS AND HIS RULE.
Commission Deserves the Warm Sup
port of True Americans-Diner-
ing Points of View.
Correspondence Boston Transcript.


cinnati business man who travels all over
those islands. this morning we rode into
Aguinaldo's old capital. This estimate Is
approximately correct, but the fact reflects
discredit on Governor Taft and his asso-
ciates. Their civil government scheme here
is really Native Protective Rights Asso-
citation" 1t represents the conscience or
the American people; II stands for the per-
Torrance of the ideahstic promises which
we have made Of bringing the blessings OF
liberty and opportunity to these islands.
The American majority here, outside the
civil service. does not like any such ar
rangement any more than the whites OF
South Carolina would like a government
agency for the purpose OF securing TO the
blacks the fullest possible measure OF po-
litical freedom. The Taft regime Is not
native rule; in fact, 1t is scheme of gov
eminent so loaded that ultimate power al
ways rests in the hands of the whites, but
1t is essentially benevolent enterprise,
aiming to lead the native into the largest
degree Of political and industrial oppor-
tunity. Taft's idea has been that this is a
Filipino country that 100000 Asiatics
should not be governed solely for the con-
venience and profit of 10000 Americans
But this policy is meeting bitter resistance
one does not need to stay here long to real
ize that the Taft government needs the
strongest moral support Of the American
people in order that 1t may stand and that
we may not be wholly faithless in our obli-
cation to the duskier races.
Before considering the criticisms OF the
necessary to inquire into the makeup Of
the American population. Here extremes
meet. There are people OF the highest cui-
ture and nOblest motives. men and women
who are a credit TO the best life and as
piration of our Republic. Their presence
here Is a constant source of helpfuiness 10
the native races. Governor Taft himselr Is
a magnificent representative of this type.
And there are others, government experts
in the scientific bureaus, teachers an oc-
casional high-minded merchant. editor or
engineer.
A TROUBLESOME ELEMENT.
But this class is in a great numerical mi
nority. The discharged soldier forms the
mainstay, and this does not generally mean
the patriotic volunteer of the Cuban war,
but the rougher element, which enlisted Tor
tropical service in the regular army after
wards Ali new places" whether In Alas
ka or in the Colorado mines. attract and
retain "a tough crowd" Conditions OF labor
and of life in such a place as this produce
a sort of survival of the fittest. Every
body here will inform you conhdentially
that there is an American element that does
the home Republic little credit The news
papers are full of reports of defalcations
and embezzlements. Every day, nearly, mas
its story of an American who has gone
wrong" The government Is relentless ID
its pursuit Of the rascals, and the American
colony at Bilibid is growing. And still the
defalcations go merrily on. Old-time Span
ish and German merchants assert tna'
grating" was not more prevalent under
the diScredited CaStilians. Americans can
only reply that they bring their culprits to
justice. 1 reproduce a paragraph from a
weekly newspaper here, merely om1ttlns
names, since by the time this letter is pub
lished. such of these men as have In the
meantime been acquitted might have a
grievance against me:
Is all Of Manila going wrong? The past
week has been replete with cases or rob-
berry, embezzlement, trusted employees going
wrong, etc. One civil employe of the gov
eminent, A. 3. c., cashier of the -, is
accused of having embezzled some $500
gold; D. z. F., cashier for banking firm
is an eagerly sought man, il being alleged
that he has embezzled some $3.50, gold, and
81, $50, Mexican; 1t is alleged by the Manila
American that an attempt was made the
other night to enter the vaults of the Guar
antee Trust Company; a trusted employe
of the constabulary has resigned suddenly
department, and there are various other
Inducements Of rascality. Can 1T be that
immortality is epidemic in the Philippines
or Is ii that the defalcations and rascality
of a considerable period of time are just
coming to light?
A prominent officer Of the civil govern
ment was asked to explain the many crimes
involving financial responsibility with
which the newspapers and the club CONVEX
sations are full. This was his answer;
Don't quote me, II sounds bad for an
American to berate his own people, but
since you ask will tell you the truth. We
have one of the biggest assortment OF
scoundrels right here in these islands that
is gathered on the face of the earth Many
of them are bright and will pass a sufh-
GENTLY good civl-service examination; they
are rapidly promoted. because are short
of material here all the time. These men
often left the States under cloud, but
anew here, only under greater temptations
and without the better restraints OF an old
civilized community. l know one officer
who has urgently recommended to Gov
ernor Taft that a quiet inquiry be made
by secret service agents into the antece-
dents in the States of every man drawing
over s., 500 a year in the insular govern
ment. His idea is that we would not suffer
so heavily from losses il We know more
about the history of the men that We have
to rely on"
BAD LESSON LEARNED.
This is universal testimony. Private bust.
ness houses have the same trouble. AT the
Ermita Methodist Church last Sunday the
minister related a characteristic incident
while preaching from the text, "Hallowed
be Thy Name" He was one day in an un.
familiar quarter of the city and desired in.
formation from some one who could speal
English. Suddenly he heard little brown
cochero pour forth volleys of crisp Amer.
lean profanity, displaying vocabulary il
that line which the clergyman had never
heard equaled. While regretting the sac
exhibition, the clergyman could not help re
| joicing that he had by accident come into
contact with native who was so familiar
with the English language. few inquire:
| were accordingly addressed 10 the native
| but with no results. He was a specialist IL
| English; he knew nothing but its oaths.
And still the clergyman in his opening
prayer alluded. to the Providence that hae
| brought our people to this distant archi
pelagO to lead its children who sat in dark
| ness into the light of liberty and a purel
| heart religion. From his own anecdote, the
| native is seemingly acquiring merely a CLOS
! sary of sacred terms. OF course, the nativ'
| did not learn this profanity from Governor
| Taft or the Methodist missionaries, bu
| there is no way of limiting the American
| ingress to such good persons. There is M
tariff on American ne'er-dow wells; there II
| no way of excluding an intending residen
| by an analysis OF his motives.
The civil government has thus som'
rather troublesome material on its hands
| at the start To imply that its critics be
| long to this Objectionable element would b
highly unjust. All the relation that tn
| two have is that the Objectionable elemen
! forms a sort of American background. TAX
/ ing an attitude toward the native which Il
| embarrassing to right-thinking people. and
| ers of thought among the better element
| Resides foreign merchants, highly re