New-York tribune., 1904-10-18
COST OF PHILIPPINES.
FACTS VERSUS FICTION.
Grossly Exaggerated Statements
Reiterated By Judge Parker.
IFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU,l

Washington. Oct. 1.-THE avidity with which
Judge Parker and ex-secretary Olney swallowed
the statement that the Philippines had cost this
country $3.50 100000. and the pertinacity with
which they cling 10 II. after its fasity has been
proved again and again, are past the couprehen-
sion Of persons in Washington who are familiar
with the real conditions in the Philippines.
That the cost Of the Philippines including the
S2OOO0OOO paid TO Spain. amounted, up to May
1. 1902. TO S1S9O0O.0O0, has been established be-
yond dispute. No Democratic member OF either
house Of Congress dared to challenge Secretary
Roots statement to that effect. The cost to this
country for the following year has been shown
to De S3,0S0OOO. and for the year just ended
S2,1OO.OOO. a total Of S194. 10000. That has
been the actual cost of the Philippines UP to
June 80 1904
The statement Mr.. Parker permitted himself
to repeat when he declared that over 2OO.OOo
lives have been sacrificed is equally false. The
total loss Of life Of American troops and Fill
pinos in the American army from all causes has
amounted TO 4.O67 privates and 155 officers,
total OF 4 ODD men. Even adding to this number
the loss Of Filipino insurgents. a liberal esti-
mate of which is less than 10000 the grand to-
tai aggregates 1900. against Mr.. Parker's
100000. Moreover, the totals here given in
clude deaths from wounds. sickness, drowning
and other accidents and. important contrib
utory cause the contagious diseases which.
restrained. ravaged Americans and Filipinos
when American occupation began. Only 1876,
600 American soldiers. all told. have been sent
20 the Philippines.
As an offset TO this loss Of life should be set
the magnificent work of the army medical corps
and CT the health officers Of the Philippine Com
mission. whose unremitting efforts have stamped
out the plague. reduced smallpox and other con-
pfO n mir irT7l1YY nd
the Philippines as healthful as Cuba
That uninteiligent campaign speakers should
voice the extravagant charges OF the partisan
press without taking the trouble TO investigate
then, may not be surprising. but that men Of
higher standing should reiterate them. espe-
ciaIly in the race Of the testimony OF high
minded and unimpeachable witnesses is a
sources OF amazement. The InsuIar Bureau
points 10 the interview with the Most Reverend
J. J. Harty. the Roman Catholic Archbishop Of
Manila, cabled from the Philippines. as indis-
putable evidence Of existing conditions in the
Philippines Archbishop Hartys testimony
agrees with that of DR.. Brent the Episcopal
Bishop Of Manila, who is now in this country
The Archbishop. after returning from an extend
ed tour through the islands. declared his hope
that Theodore Roosevelt would be elected Presi-
dent OF the United States and said:
was impressed during my tourneyings by
the progress Of American Institutions among the
masses Of the people. the general happiness, the
security OF person and property, and the
pren1acy Of order and justice. I believe that
under divine guidance the benehcenr rule OF
America Is destined ultimately 70 place the
Christian Malay race on a moral and political
plane that as yet has never been attained BY
an Oriental people. This task that the Au7eri-
cans have assumed they cannot shirk or abaa-
don This work that Governor Taft so auspi-
ciously began and that Governor Wright con-
tinues must be carried TO a triumphant conclu-
sion
Archbishop Harry IS enircutIy qualified 70
Judge Of the situation. In his nine months resi-
dence AT Manila he has held exhaustive con-
ferences with the bishops and provincial priests
He has spent months living with the people.
travelling practically alone and ungua-ded even
IN the renotest provinces. inspecting parishes
and visiting the people N their homes. In some
OF the districts he visited It had been thirty
years since bishop had been there.
Nor is the testimony Of these churchmen iso-
lated. Every one who has had an opportunity
TO Judge OF conditions n the Philippines
they actually exist brings 70 Washington the
same story ot progress. The Philippine gov
ernment Is being Judiciously administered the
people are prosperous. Christianity IS thriving
under the freedom or American policies. and the
pernicious influence on n few excitable FIJI
pinos Of the false assertions OF Democratic
candidates and speakers IS now the only men
, ace 70 uninterrupted peace and prosperity in
the Philippines.