The Van Buren press., 1904-08-13
WINNING THE FlLIPlNOS.
More Speedily Accomplished by Meet
ing Them with Amiability
Than in Any Other Way.

Following up what we were saying
the other day as to the probable con-
sequences Of the education OF the la
boring classes upon the agricultural
interests and other Industries OF the
Islands. II should be borne In mind.
writes William +. Curtis. in a special
correspondence of the Chicago Record
Herald, that conditions here are very
different from those existing In the
Malay peninsula India, Java. Sumatra,
Borneo and other East India colonies.
from which our knowledge Of the hab-
It's and prOcliyities Of the Malay race
is drawn. As told you the other day.
DR.. Barrows superintendent OF educa-
tion, who has made the ethnology OF
the Filipinos a subject OF special study.
and was at the head OF the ethnolog-
lcal bureau before his promotion to
his present position, declares that the
Filipino has more OF the characteris-
ties OF the japanese than Of the Hin
dus or Malays but during my brief
observation | have not been able To
recognize many Of them.
He undoubtedly has The same love
Of music and lighting, the same pow
ers Of imitation and love OF country.
but he certainly lacks the energy. en-
durance, industry and sturdy perse-
verance of the japanese You seldom
see a loafer in Japan; the people OF
that remarkable country are always
busy. You never see Japanese sleep
ing on doorstep W in a carriage, and
the FillpInos are always asleep or
leaning up against something The
japanese love work; they love to ac-
complish things, and with the limited
area and resources Of their empire
have hard struggle to acquire wealth
or even TO sustain life; while the Fill
pino has never done anything TO de-
yelop the marvellous industries of these
islands, and is perfectly willing 10 live
from hand 10 mouth and subslst upon
the bananas that rlpen over the roof
Of his cottage,
DR.. Barrows is something OF an
Ideaist and is pleased at the sympa-
thetlc response which the educational
plans of the government have met
with Or Washburn, chairman OF the
civil service commission. Is equally
sanguine as TO the future OF the Fill
plno aud the effect of education upo
him, because, like Dr. Barrows, he has
had gratifying experience with the
eagerness Of the native TO acquire edu-
cation enough TO qualify himself for
an oflice. But It certainly must be ad-
mitted that the broad and generous
plans OF the government for an educa-
tional system here would not have
been successful or even practicable
had they not been demanded by the
common people themselves.
The Filipino, as DR.. Barrows says
Is essentially radical. lie Is one OF
the least conservative types Of the hui
man race, and In that he resembles
the japanese Thoroughly American
and advanced as tho school system
here In, II Is not too much so to suit
the progressive desires OF the Filipino
lie demands free secular schools, open
on equal terms to all Of the inhabit'
ants OF the Islands, and wants to
abandon the Spanish for the English
language. His experience with the
spaniards convinced him that they
are governed In thought and action by
medieval ideas and proJudlces that
are no longer useful In the world, and
his sympathles are entirely with prog
ress. But It seems TO me that here. AZ
everywhere else, the consequence OF
education must depend very largely
upon the personal qualities and char
acter OF the student and quite AZ much
upon the personal qualities and char
acter OF the teachers As DR. Barrows
said In the interview | sent you the
other day, the Filipino is phcnomen-
ally keen In his perceptions and pow
ers OF imitation He IL ready 10 adopt
new Ideas, loves novelties, and the IN
nuenco and example Of his teacher Will
go very far with him
Fortunately the great majo.lty Of
the teachers who have come over here
from tho United States are men and
women Of principle and sterling char
actor, and the government Is 20 be con-
graduated upon the record they have
made under difficult and svnetlmes
embarrassing circumstances They
came among a dIstrustful and suspl-
clous people, who looked upon tho
government OF the United States az
nm invader OF their rights ard priyi-
leges, too strong for them 10 resist,
Their homes had been DESTROYED their
communities had been demorall,ed by
years OF war their fields were untitled.
their cattle had been killed or stolen.
and their material condition was at a
very low stage, II was not favorable
time for introducing new Ideas. but
the American teacher succeeded In
overcoming the dlstrust OF the people,
In gaining their confidence and lnstill-
Ing courage and ambition among them.
How successfully this was done IL
shown by the demands that come In
every mail from every part OF the
archipelago for schools and American
teachers
HHHa.#