St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1903-06-03

and that the government VI 'ne
States did not propose to lay down the
work which Providence and c,rcum
stances had imposed upon it; but 1t pro-
nosed to carry that WORK through, 10y
ally. to its logical conclusion, and to inn-
plant in the Philippine Islands institn.
tions largely upon American lines, tnat
should secure to all the inha bltants there
OF individual liberty and freedom, pro-
lection of property and person, peace
and good order. Upon this great WORK
our government had entered, anu tnat
work could not cease until the results
sought for were accomplished. The army
necessarily had to pave the way. IL
must suppress Instruction; it must
make the flag respected, and it performed
it's task well and thoroughly. Armies DO
not 90 into countries on missions o.
peace; they 60 to fight. Necessarily peo'
nle were hurt, MANY were killed; the H.
nocent suffered-as they must suffer IN
all wars-yet out of it all came peace ano
good order, and the Inauguration OF clVi
regime. AS member of the civil COM
mission. l cannot fail to recognize the
distinguished services that were rendered
bv the ilustrious generals, and other
officers and privates of the army OF the
United States in the Philippines, and the
glory and renown that have been added
70 the American name by their sacrifices
and achievements. -,
It should not be forgotten that ASIDE
from purely military functions, the army
Tor a time, had great work 10 perform IN
civil and administrative capacities. lie
rudments of an educational system were
inaugurated. A custom service, ana
other means of collection OF revenue were
SIT in motion. Measures were taken to
protect the inhabitants against the IN.
vasion of small pox, bubonic plague, and
other contagious diseases. Courts were
established 10 certain regions where con-
ditions warranted their establishment.
The maintenance of good order IN paci-
fed provinces was necessarily IN the
hands of the army. The work OF admin,
istration was carried on by army officers,
or subordinates detailed by them for that
purpose. In many cases, officers or sol
diers of the army voluntarily engaged in
the work of teaching English in the
schools, and showed themselves to be
true friends of the Filipino people. and,
they, like all other people, soon discover
who their true friends are. Many officers
of the army and navy have continued
under the civil regime to perform i'm
| portant administrative duties by detail
for that purpose. The work which was
thus commenced by the army has been
continued by ecivil government. While
there are discouraging features attending
every great movement, yet, every period
of six months, if looked at by itself,
shows tremendous progress in the Phil
| ippine Islands towards the accomplish
ing. Courts have been established in
every province, and able and upright
judges are there administering justice.
new procedure for courts has been es
tablished, which has simpihed and ex.
pedited work vastly. The judges, Amer
can and Filipino, are performing their
work with industry, fidelity and ability
and are bringing home to the minds o.
the Filipinos comprehension Of some
thing that they never before experience
or dreamed o:-an administration ofjus
tice-un bought, independent and fearless
Nearly 1000 teachers brought in from
the states are engaged in teaching the
English language throughout the prov
inces and in teaching Filipino teachers
bow to teach. Filipinos show great
ability and avidity in the acquisition o.
the Euglish language. The teachers are
without exception, cordially welcomed
by the people, and kindly treated. Thi:
work is one OF the great triumphs of the
American idea. The maintenance o
good order is now almost wholly en-
trusted to the native constabulary anG
scouts, under American officers. Since
the close of active hostlities, the worL
of preserving peace has been performed
almost wholly by natives, and it is re
markable commentary upon their fidelity
and cooperation with the American
authorities to say that assertions hav.
been very infrequent.
The insular government has paid it.
own way, and there is every indication
that it will be able permanently to pay
all its disbursements from it's own re
sources. The city of Manila is one OF the
great ports of the United States. Its
customs receipts for the last year were
substantially the same as those OF the
city of San Francisco-which is one Of
the great American ports $500 although
customs duties are only one. half as high
tor the admission of goods into tht
Philippines as into the United States
speaking in round numbers. There is {
civil service in the Philippine Islands
governed by rigid law, which is probably
better enforced, and is more stringent il
its requirements than in any state in tn
American Union. This is an unsuitable
time tor me to rehearse the work tina
has been accomplished. have mentioned
these things only that you may see tina
the work did not come to an end wher
the army, which had laid the founda
lions, ceased from the work of war. TIL,
work OF peace has gone on, and is steadil,
going on, and the ideals and purposes il
the Philippine Islands, for the FL pine
people, which President Mckinley, Presi
dent Roosevelt and Secretary Root hav,
steadily kept before their eyes, are beins
more and more realized as time goes on
and we are justified in entertaining til,
strongest belief in the ultimate success O
American institutions, with all thei
benehcent accomplishments of indi
vidual freedom, protection of person an,
property, and elevation OF the people.
cannot better close this brief address
than by quoting from tribute recent
paid to our army by our great war sec
rotary, Elihu Root, "The establishment
OF these governmental far distant Chin
and the islands of the East, making 70