Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1904-05-19

much as to ourselves, to rid the islands
of this vermin. Security and quiet
are essential to the industrial deyel
oprnent of the islands, but they cannot
be expected so long as these men arr
alive.
Another class, less brutally Grim
inal than the ladrones, but just as mis-
chleVous In It's influence, Is that OF the
professional intriguers, who are In
what they rightly call "the game" for
what they can get. With admirable
impartiality they use the government,
the criminal, the honestly patriotic
leader and the unthinking tauo to In
crease their influence and wealth.
They range In Importance of intelli-
gence and power for evil from Domin-
ador Gomez and Isabelle de los Reyes
down through smooth" politicians
like Xeres Burgos and Felipe Buen-
canine, to Agilpay. and the president
who shares the profits Of cattle lift
ing with the ladrones. They are very
quick to grasp flying opportunity, and
to work on the feelings Of the great
Filipino public by every specious ar.
gument. The chief remedy against
their success is such an increase in
the intelligence and prosperity OF this
public that the demagogue will find a
less willing and unoccupied audience.
For, in our opinion, the great mass
Of the population is a merry, light.
hearted, careless people, liking the
simple comforts of life, home and
babies, music and flestas, food and
cock fights far better than any more
strenuous activity, be it warlike, Grim
inal or industrial. The Filipinos are
q truly childlike race. Where wide
spread education has given them the
power to judge more correctly the ar
guments, or rather the rhetoric Of the
demagogues, and prosperity provides
that best of ballasts for the emotions
of a not highly idealistic race, property
at stake, we need expect no more dis
affection from them. 4
These disturbances, COMING at this
time, then, have just this much politi-
cal significance. The Filipinos Of all
classes have never learned to regard
government as an enduring thing, in
dependent of the personal motives,
character and kindness Of the few
high officials who to them are the
state. A change of officials leads to
uneasiness, even in America. In the
90 tc FOR
The criminal increases his activity till
he has learned the temper Of the new
administration. The intriguer, besides
this motive Of testing the ground he
stands on, is supplied with new oppor-
tunities Of stirring up the people and
the time Of disorder is his harvest
season. And the ordinary native in his
ignorance is ready to believe any wild
tales Of disagreement In America or Of
TIE coming of the days Of oppression
once more and goes forth in childlike
innocence to fight for his country or
more often merely for the excitement
OF the thing.
One lesson we need to learn There
must be as little change OF high Off
Gals as possible when once they have
demonstrated that they are the right
men in the right place. And the high.
est qualification, next to personal up
rightness, when new appointment is
to be made, should be that the man
know his Filipinos completely their
language, their country, their ways Of
thought and action, and hold their con-
hdence. This is far more important
than prominence in the circles Of gov
eminent, business or expert knowledge
| here at home.