The San Francisco call., 1903-12-10
GIVES SPAIN
SOME CREDIT
Professor Moses Says Influence
for Good of That Kingdom on
FiliDinos Is Underestimated
SPEAKS ABOUT MANNERS
Declares Polish of Castilian
Standard Could Not Have
Been Given by the Americans

Professor Bernard Moses, one of the
commissioners who represented the
United States Government in the Phil
ippines. and now Of the University of
California, delivered a most Interesting
address last night before the Claiming
Auxiliary and friends at the First Uni
tarian Church. Every seat in the edi-
nee. was occupied long before Mrs. c.
r. Grunsky introduced the lecturer.
The subject chosen by Professor
Moses was The Old and the New
Regime in the Philippines" He began
with an Illustration Of the character of
spain policy with reference to the
philippines and 10 her colonies gener-
ally.
professor Moses said in part:
Now that Spain has fallen from the
relatively high position which she once
occupied and her colonies have either
become independent states or been
brought under the authority of other
nations. it is almost inevitable that her
achievements should be- underesti-
mated: for failure in politics and war
leads the world generally to think
lightly OF all the other products Of a
nations activity.
SPANS ACHIEVEMENTS
The political and military decline Of
Spain are likely TO give rise to new
and lower estimates Of Spain's achieve
ments in behalf of civilization. and it
is quite possible that these estimates
viii be erroneous: that Spain in her
weakness viii not receive just credit
for her great achievements in the days
.of her power.
1T has, in fact. become fashionable
TO speak lightly Of Spain's work in ex-
plOring and colonizing America and the
islands Of the Pacific. But this fippant
judgment. uttered a thousand times
daily. is not the final word respecting
SPANS contribution 10 civilization
whether ii is rendered in reference to
the affairs OF the peninsula or of The
colonies. The American has always
found it difficult 10 appreciate the
achievements Of the Spaniards. partly
because Of political rivalry and partly
because Of the wide divergence Of their
aims and the unlikeness Of their ma
tional points Of view. The Spaniard is
conservative. while the American is
radical. The Spaniard is polite. and
attaches great Importance 10 forms of
speech and ceremonies in social inter
course. The American is unconven-
tional in speech. and regards the cere-
moniOus politeness Of the Spaniard as
the manifestation Of a certain human
weakness. The Spaniard is skillful in
formulating rules and methods. The
American is prompt in action.
In estimating the results Of Spain's
influence in the Philippine Islands we
have 10 take into consideration not
only the persistently benevolent inten-
tions OF the King. but also the uncon-
trolled malevolence Of subordinate ofs
hcers and irresponsible private per-
sons. The King might design the we'll
being Of the islanders, but if his agents
had other designs. he was pOwerless to
carry out his intentions; for it must
be remembered that during the greater
part Of the Spanish colonial period the
Crown had only the most infrequent
and often indirect communication with
the Philippines.
GAIN PRACTICAL IDEAS.
The Fuipinos under Spanish influence
became formally Christians and the
church, in the course Of the centuries
II has dominated them, has impressed
upon their mlnds large NUMBER or
practical ideas. Through the influence
Of these ideas the Filipinos have, to a
certain extent, been turned away from
the Oriental point Of view and made
TO see things as Spaniards see them.
They have been brought with respect
70 many particulars to occupy the
Spaniard's point of. view.
LAS the Spaniard, through long con-
tact with the Moors and theinfusion
OF q certain amount Of Jewish and
Moorish blood. has become something
OF an Oriental so the Filipino. through
long contact with the Spaniard and the
infusion Of a certain amount Of Euro
pean blood, has become something Of a
European.
The Importance OF bringing an ORR
entail people under European law can