The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-03-15
GOV. TAFT'S
LESSON

ed that knowledge of men which is the
genius of the great administrator.
Wisdom is justified of her children "
Today Gov. Taft's record in the Phil
ippines confirms McKinley's choice and
makes good the slogan The Philip
pines for the Filipino" of the Ameri-
can policy of empire, which four years
ago evoked a smile on two continents.
1t evidences moreover. that here is a
man who can initiate American prin-
ciples of government and American in
stitutions among a semi-barbaric alien
people in arms against the United
States. with minimum of friction and
maximum of success
Gov. Taft was a brilliant young man
to be sure, with his honors thick upon
Like Mckinley he possesses a personal
/ charm, which has made the little wrig-
! Cling Filipino love him, and Through
| him the country he represents. One ex-
poets inevitably great things from such
| a combination. and one has not been
disappointed,
Just what definitely did we expect?
At best the subduing of the Philip
pines, the approximate maintenance OF
| law and order, and the continuance Of
| United States control.
| What he accomplished in detail, it is
| beyond the scope of this brief survey to
Indicate. To sketch in roughly however
| he seems in the beginning TO have tax
en- his stand upon certain fundamental
principles, viz:
That the sacrifices and bravery of the
Filipino in his struggle for liberty and
free government bespeak a people
capable of better conditions.
That the conservation of the interests
of class whose public spirit protests
against progress, because of increased
taxation, is a death blow to the well
fare of the whole.
That it is the morale and enlighten-
ment of the body polite, which makes
a nation great
That the greatest good of American
institutions is in the reflex influence up
on the people themselves.
Accordingly Mr.. Taft commenced in
the face of the opposition of military
and local interests, to establish munich
pal civil government in the provinces
while a member of the Philippine Com
mission. In the furtherance of the
American idea that it is individual re-
sponsibility that trains and develops,
Gov. Taft has impressed his Filipino Of
ficials with the idea that the life and
prosperity of the people, and their own
political preferment depend upon their
ability to maintain law and order in the
territory allotted to them.
Gov Taft's important accomplish
ment in the Philippines must ALWAYS
be reckoned, THE Introduction of a
modified American system of govern
ment and laws" That he organized a
civil service, introduced mod
ern sanitation and sanitary methods
organized a native police force, extend
ed efficient postal service throughout
the islands by means of the newly Gre
ated Bureau of Coast Guard and Trans
portation, together with a vast array
of accomplishment which cannot be
mentioned here, was a logical outcome.
In this record Gov. Taft has filed i
larger order than any would have been
inspired to make out. What lesson
may we learn from it?
First, that knowledge of American
institutions. and love for them is fun
damenta1 essential to their establish
ment.
Gov. Taft was en- rapport with the
enlightened upward movement of the
great country which he represented.
He believed in the American quality,
and saw it to be the product of Ameri-
can institutions OF government and
education. Therefore he set about
achieving the advantages of these in
stitutions for the FiIipinos. If he had
been animated by the statesman-like
sentiment that municipal government
mi To
the American carpet Dagger and his
or curtaI his patronage as
chief executive, he would haye-done
Second. That conservative local
is not an insurinountabie bar
rier to progress, and often defeats it
self
When we read in Governor Taft's
address of December Il refuse to be-
lieve that the American merchant is
not as keen and not as quick to seek
advantages as any in the
world. 1 decline to admit that he will
continue to stand in his own light in
these islands as he has heretofore when
ne shall fully realize the absurd position
in which he now finds himself.
There is nothing Americans can bring,
and I do not except either education or
Il
make more for the elevation and civili-
zation of the F'ilipinos, than the invest !
nent of American capital in the de- |
of these islands. Civiliza- |
ton follows material development
We recognize the ring of a policy of |
progress.
When we read of the wholesale pub |
ic improvements which accompany this |
virile administration, of the extensive |
railroad developments, the new coast |
steamship service, of a sanitary up |
building for Manila which employs a |
1aily service of fifteen hundred Filipi |
nos in the city engineering and street
cleaning department of the city, we |
.ealize why it is that the Philippines |
ire forging ahead.
ANNA AWARD EAMES.
-~~-
ONE OF THE TRIUMPHS OF MOD |
ERIN SURGERY.-By applying an an