New-York tribune., 1904-10-10
FORNOEA AND THE PHILIPPINES.

F0RN0SA AND THE PHILiFF4NHS'
"Tbe London Times" publishes letter on
conditions I'm Formosa which is worthy OF lhe
attention of American students OF the Fhinp-
pine problem, particularly those sruaenss WIZ
have been shocked at the suppression Oh lllsuI-
rectioD in the archipelago and the government
Of the Filipinos by laws adapted to their slIu1-
ton ifStead Of by our own. The Times cor-
respondent says:
When Japan entered Formosa she founo tne
coast at the mercy Of pirates. The interior was
ruled partly by the savage aboriglnes party
by organized bands Of outlaws ana roDDeIs' ~ ~
plundered ships wrecked on the coast anu ~ ~.
dered the crews who approached the LStaIio SHi
While ForTnosa was in the possession Ok N1Ilt.e' N'
trouble with the United States and other couh-
tries was frequently caused by these m 9
attacks on the crews OF foreign ships. ChlIa
was probably glad to get rid OF the uIHuy
island Owing to the lawless state OF FornoSa
it was not possible for Japan 10 organic a. a.
once a peaceful administration OF the isiand' ioI
peaceful administration had never peen known
IN FOrnosa- In fact. the lsland hau 10 pe Cot'-
ouered inch by inch, and the savages had 10 be
tanned before the country could be orsaIlzeu
The conquesE OF the island took year. ana on
March 81 iS96. IL was placed under civil ad-
ministration. But the former Chinese ofnceIs
and officials who used TO be on duty IN the Isl
and and who feared to be deprived OF their po-
sition. Joined hands with the unruly elements OF
Forrnosa, instigated them TO revolt against thelr
new rulers. and the country was constantly IN
a state Of restlessness and turmoil UP 70 tne emu
freed the island at last OF its revolutionary ee-
ments.
By a policy OF judicious moderation and Sc
verify combined the Japanese have put For
mosa on the road 10 prosperity ana clVlllza-
tion. The japanese there are compelled TO i've
up to the japanese standard OF conduct Our
for the natives the laws are specially adapted.
Thus their opium habit IS so far respected that
natives are not punished for indulgence. The
traffic is a government monopoly. Only con-
frmed and licensed native smokers can obtain
the drug, and physicians and school teachers
are busy warning against the habit. The agr1-
cultural population is protected from the raw
ages of robher bands, the health Of the coun-
try is safeguarded and a great educational sys-
lem has been established This is the result
Of the handing over by China Of Formosa 10 oe
governed without the consent OF its people py
Japan.
The history Of FOrmosa is closely paraIIeI 10
that Of the Philippines. Substitute Spain TOT
China. the United States for Japan and the
Philippines for Formosa, and the Times
story in its outline would still be true 1ne
United states became responsible for a group
Of islands the haunt Of barbarism ana the re-
sort OF pirates Instead of leaving theH 10
lapso into savagery and menace the whoie
Orient it suppressed disorder, established
schools and protected the peacefui popuiatol,
Instead Of giving them laws the people "o"iu
not understand and 4 liberty they could not
use. the Americans, like the japanese uled 10
oaant institutions 10 their needs. That the peo-
-, ~ tho pbiIipnInes and Formosa have both
i,one6ted bv this policy is beyond question
So,ne nersons here have been greatly troubled
over the alleged wrongs OF the Fllipinos un-
der American tyranny" but so far as we
know, the same policy pursued in Formosa mas
been accepted as entirely proper. IL Is only
savages anu pirates In resistance TO the Unlteu
states who have an inalienable right. accord
inc 70 some Americans. TO continue their ma
rauding unmOlested.