Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-06
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE
General Review Of Conditions
;, in the Philippines.
CREDIT DUE OFFICIALS
CRITICS OF THE GOVERNMENT
SHOULD VISIT ISLANDS.
Congress Must Lend Helping Hand
Philippines Not Exclusively
for Filipinos.
CREDIT DUE OFFICIALS

for Filipinos.
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star and
Chicago Record Herald.
MANILA. July T. 1904.
have endeavored in series Of eighty
letters. which must conclude with this,
to give you an accurate account of the sit
uatton. political. commercial and econOmi-
cal. in the Philippine Islands. from different
points of view. I have quoted the most i'm
portant and reliable authorities upon ques-
lions that are disputed and have endeavor-
ed to point out where the government has
made mistakes as well where it has
accomplished it's purposes which, from the
beginning, have been patriotic and benevO-
lent. If the critics of the administration
would come to Manila and see for them
selves what has been done, what Is doing
and what is planned for the Improvement
and benefit of these people, perhaps they
would be more reasonable in their criti-
cisms. To those who have habtually at
tackled and condemned the policy of the
government in the Philippines it Is useless
to appeal. Several prominent men have
done irreparable injustice to all concerned.
and their only excuse Is a desire to obtain
political advantages. in which they have
failed. Honest men, who from sentimental
other reasons are demanding indepand-
ence or self-gOvernment for these islands,
do not know what they ask. If they would
spend few weeks here Investigating con-
ditiOns and inquiring into the character and
capacity of the people, they would never
cease to regret the mistake they have made.
To Secretary Taft. Governor Wright and
their associates the people of the United
States. as well as the inhabitants of the
Philippines, owe debt of honor and graft
tude that can never be fully paid: and Gov
crnor Wright and his associates and subor-
dinateS at least entitled to the conf
dence and encouragement of all who recog-
niZe the national duty that has to be per-
formed here. They have made mistakes, to
be sure, and are likely to make many m ore.
but few men could have done better or so
we'll
Congress Must Help.
The degree of success to be realized under
the present administrative policy depends
quite as much upon what may be done in
the United States as here. and several i'm
portant measures must be adopted by Con-
gress before the results desired may be ac-
complished. In the first place. political
tranquility is absolutely necessary to the
prosperity and material development of
these islands. AS long the question of
independence or self-government is agitated
there will be SpaSmodic political disturb
ances. Until irresponsible political adven-
turers are convinced that their demOnstra-
lions are futile they will continue to create
distrust and apprehension among investors
and business men and prevent the cOntri
button of capital and labor TO the develop
ment of the mines, the forests the planta-
lions and the commerce of the country.
Some positive declaration from the Pres
ident or from Congress that self-goyern-
ment must be postponed for several genera
tions and that independence is imprac
ticable. is absolutely necessary to secure
permanent tranquility and induce revoiu-
tionary agitators to divert their talents and
energies to useful purposes
A promise of independence without a date
will provoke eternal turmoil. A promise of
self-government without date will stimu-
late conspiracy and intrigue and continual
plotting to secure political advantage. The
danger does not lie among the sober. think
ing. responsible classes of the people, who
have interests at stake and to whom peace
and prosperity mean something. They do
not want independence, nor do they wish
any further extension of self-government.
The only men who demand either are those
who should not and cannot be trusted and
who are keeping alive what is falsely called
patriotic spirit among the ignorant masses
for their own selfish and corrupt reasons.
Foreigners Welcome.
1t must be made clear also that the shib-
boleth uttered by the late President Nc
Kinley. 1.-THE Philippines for the FiIipinos,"
does not mean the Punishment of all for
eigners and the surrender of all the ma
terial interests acquired by the United
States under the treaty of Paris. Secretary
Taft, during the last few months of his ad-
miniStration of the government. endeavored
to correct that impression. and Governor
Wright has utilized every possible oppor-
tunity to convince the restless nation that
President Mcknley's promise must not be
civ en- literal Interpretation. But 1 sup
pose that time and experience alone will
convince the vain and deluded portion of
the population that the American people
have no idea of ever abandoning these fair
islands and the treasures which nature has
stored under their soil.
In order to promote the development of
these resources the tariff of the United
States should be amended so as to admit
into our ports free of duty all the products
of the Philippines. and the customs duties
of the Philippines should be abolished so
far as manufactured products of the United
States are concerned If we cannot have
free trade between the United States and
the Philippines there should be al least an
opportunity for the introduction here with
out the payment of duty. of the machinery
ana implements necessary for agriculture
and mining, numbering, railway building
manufacturing and other purposes that are
absolutely essential to prosperity. There
are no manufacturing Industries in the
Philippines to be protected and the govern
ment could obtain many times the revenues
1t collects in duties upon implements and
hochilefy by encoura ging them.
Encouragement Needed.
On the other hand, the United States
needs the sugar and tobacco of the Philip
pines. and 1t Is not necessary to place an
import duty upon them to protect those
who produce such staples at home. AS long
as we find 1t necessary to buy STO 1000 600 or
$oo.OOo,O0 worth of sugar a year from
Cuba and other countries and $4,000 600 or
$12,CO0,0O0 worth of tobacco from Cuba. Su-
matra and elsewhere, we can afford to fur
nish the planters of the Philippine Islands
free market. At present nearly all the
raw Philippine tobacco and more than half
the cigars and cigarettes go to SPAIN Aus
tria is the next best customer. while the re-
mafnder of the exports are scattered among
the countries of Asia, from India to Japan.
Very little goes to the United States yet
every year we buy in other parts of East
India several times much tobacco as is
produced in the entire Philippines
With all the encourag cement we might
give the planters here, with all the capitai
that might be invested in agricultural in
dustry, 1t will be a century before the
Philippine Islands could produce enough of
either sugar or tobacco to interfere with
those staples at home.
1t is equally important that there should
be modern hotel in Manila, so that
strangers who visit these islands may be