Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-02

ever left the islands. even to 60 TO Cnlnas
Of ono island to visit another. Few have
ever been fifty miles from their homes.
They are very tenacious In their attach
ments and very reluctant to leave their
1t was only by the application Of military
discipline that the members of the bat
ta1ions OF scouts and constabulary could
be induced to 60 to the St. Louis EXPOSE
ton, and there was great difficulty in ind
ing sufficient number OF workmen will
ing to cross the great ocean to an unknown
land to build the houses and make other
preparations for the Filipino village on the
exposition grounds. If 1t had not been for
the excitement and enthusiasm that at
tended the proceedings of their departure
many Of the first detachment of students
pier. either from their own fear and home
sickness. or because Of the lamentations Of
their families Hence 1t was not consid-
cred wise to attempt to send any young
had been tried with boys and proved sue
cessful. 1t has been such success how
ever that no fear Is felt for the future.
The vanity and ambition of the Filipino
youth and the pride of their families is
SO great that no considerations of affec-
tion or fear can possibly detain any young
man or young woman who may hereafter
be selected.
Much Wasted Sarcasm.
There has been great deal of criticism
OF the government for insisting upon Eng
fish education. and large amount of sar-
casm has been wasted upon the desire and
the EFFORTS of the government to American
lie the natives over here. But you may be
sure that none Of these criticisms come
from Filipinos, and their eagerness to learn
English, the urgency of their demands for
EnsHSh schools and English teachers
would justify the government in furnish
ing them, even If there were no other mo-
tive ~
But it has been the policy of the admin
istration at Washington ever since the
treaty OF Paris was concluded, and 1t was
the uppermost thought in the mind of Pres
ident Mckinley. to Amercanize the inhabi-
tants of this archipelago as RAPIDLY and as
completely as possible President Mckinley
was continually talking on that subject He
was eager to see the effect of the American
lzat1on OF an oriental race. He wanted to
Americanize the church. the schools the
system of government, the industries and
the methods of agriculture, but at the same
time was particular In his cautions to the
commission and other officials not to go up
against or Interfere with the established
customs and habits of the people. 1t was
his idea that we could educate by example
and by precept without procaiming regula-
lions and enforcing arbitrary rules. and he
considered the education of the people in
the English language to be the necessary
fundamental basis of their Americaniza-
ton.
4Ae C11lpluoS 0yIHpdIueIlC.
Speaking of this subject, DR.. Barrows.
superintendent of education, said the other
day:
Opponents of English education find few
sympathizers among the Filipino people,
The movement seems to be limited for it's
support to academic circles and certain
newspapers of the United States. and to the
congressional halls Of the nation. The adj
vantage which the possession of the Eng
lish language will give him Is readily I'M
derstood by the Filipino and 1t is fortunate
that the acquisition of the Spanish tongue
was largely denied him and that 1t never
won his affection. English is the lingua
franco of the far east: 1t Is spoken In al
the ports from Hakodate to Australia. 1t
is the common language of business and So
cial intercourse between the different ma
tions from America westward to the Lee
want 1t is without rival the most useful
language man can know 1t will be more
used within the next ten years, and to the
Filipino the possession of English Is the
passport into that busy life of commerce.
of modern science of diplomacy and of pol
itics in which he aspires to shine.
knowledge of English is more than this
1t is a possession as valuab Die TO the nuInDie
peasant for his social protection as II Is TO
the man of wealth for his social distinction
If we can give the Filipino husbandman a
knowledge of the English language and
even the most elemental acquaintance with
English writings we will free him from
fiuence of his own race which made possible
not merely Instruction, but that unparal-
leled epidemic of crime which we have seen
in these islands during the past few years.
Increased School Attendance.
Secretary Taft, in his final report as gov
ernor of the Philippines, says: "One of
the most gratifying things to report this
year is the great increase in school attend
ance in all the provinces but one. This in
crease is seen both in the attendance Of
children in the day school and also in the
double attendance at night schools by
adults. There is intense desire throughout
the islands to learn English, and when one
is familiar with the number of requests for
American teachers and for the establish
ment of schools in which English can be
taught, from Aparii to Mindanao, he is JUS
titled in smiling at the utterly unfounded
charge made by persons protesting to have
some knowledge in respect to the islands.
that we are forcing the English language
upon an unwilling people"