The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-27
ANTI-rMpERIALIsTs STILL AT IT.
\ Philippine Commissioner Describes
the Eject or the Circulation OF "indc'
pcndencc Literature" In the Islands

lNN''' Written from MAMMA Dy Ons VI th'
Presidents Commissioners to the Philip
pines give clear idea Of present conditions
In the islands and the problems Of admins
tratlon with which Governur-GeneralW rlght
and his associates are now dealing
! have entered upon my duties a. Philip
pine Commissioner and ind them in many
ways very delightful. although things are not
arranged yet as | should like 10 have them.
Inc hours Of the Commission are rather oner'
Gus. and have little time for the executive
part of my work.
! found the Commission TO be hardwork-
ing body of intelligent men who pave got a
sort OF esprit de corps which cFries them
Ike well trained crew at high speed over n
great many obstacles which would block them
II there were any fsotional disputes or dis
agreements. Everything il always passed
unanimously. and the discussions. although
iorcible. are always friendly. The Civil Gov
ernor declares what the sense OF the meeting
has been. after a reasonable time has passed.
and there is never any dispute with his ind
inRs. so II stands as the law OF the islands.
and II Is fortunate that he is as strong. safe and
taotful man as he II Everybody here wor'
ships him. Governor Wright is what might be
called a Liberal Democrat. and his decisions
are always on the side OF lberal,ty and elem
ency where he finds II in his conscience TO have
them 90
i went In 10 see him the other day and
found him much exercised because OF the
action OF the anti-imperislists. who. With mis-
taken zeal, are sending Independence litera-
ture among the natives. which is translated
and printed quite freely in the native papers.
II is not sort Of thing against which you
want TO legslsts. but II the people who do
these things understood what the practical
e1ect is they would not make themselves 80
nlischievous
The Islands are now pretty web pacihed.
but the mass OF Enorant Filipinos do notunder-
stand the American idea OF government,
their idea Of Independence being freedom OF
few 70 oppress the many. One Of the principal
difficulties with which the Governor finds him
self confronted IA keeping the native ofhoials
from depressing those under them. many IN
stances occur where one or another OF them
seems filed with the belief that this ia the pur-
pose for which they were elected or appointed.
As a matter Of fact, the Filipino has very
much more Of Enforcement now than he
ever had or dreamed Of having under the old
regime under the Spaniards. The towns are
all self governed. and the provinces have
Governors elected by the people The central
government is largely American in the high
positions in the executive five-el ghths Amer
lean IN the legislative. and one-half American
in the Judicial When ! say largely American
in the executive J mean that the bulk OF the
I.
the majority Of the employees are tulplnos
The peace Is wholly kept by native con-
stabulary and scouts. who. under American
officers. make extremely good soldiers under
native Officers they are much more likely 70
tyrannizs over every one and become upbear
able
The ignorant Filipino is very easily led
and is very supersttious. and 1t is surprising
that the American. who cannot speak his Ian
laa 81 he has
Any skiful orator can do as Marx Antony did
incite his hearers 10 rebellion Their idea OF
Independence s sometimes very humorous.
There is not one In hundred Of tho common
people that knows what it means. and when
the instruction was started they were just
told by their leaders that 1t Was good thing
10 get. and that satisfied them. As an example
Of what Independence means 10 these people.
they tell of native who told his hearers that
he would climb up into a tree and bring down
a box with Independence in IT, This he pro-
ceeded 70 do. and suggested that the people
should pay him money He said When he bad
received enough he would open the box and
let Independence out. He had nothing but
some old newspapers in the box Later he VAS
hanged Tor numbering some of his neighbors
Another man who was captured was asked
Why he had not come in and he said be was
waiting until he had got independence
when he was asked how he was going TO get
II he said his captain had gone over tosnother
island and was going to get II and bring back
with him. He seemed 10 have an idea il was
coming back in his pocket
The Fllipnos are pretty well satisfied on
the whole. with the Government. They are
suffering from hard times owing 10 tho dim
culties through which they have gone You
cannot change your government. yonr mar
ket. your currency. 90 through a war. lose
10 per cent. OF your draught animals from dis
ease 90 through tho sOourge of bubonic
pa que and Asiatic cholera 10 say nothing or
having devastation OF crops BY lOcusts, and
have these things all come within six years.
and stu have the country as prosperous as it
was before There is Just now an industrial
lnil but indications are that things ara begin
Ing to brighten up. and once the people get to
planting again instead OF plundering for a ltv-
ing tine country viii become prosperous.
The long aud short Of II is that there have
always been great many robbers or bandits
who. unwilling to work. have proved upon
those who are workers. These people. under
the g1iisc OF fighting for Independence 50 "a
to give themselves crcditabe name. band
together and threaten the working people
with all sorts Of atrocities If thoy do not give
them money and supplies II they have
Few guns in their Possession they very quickly
create "A reign OF terror and every once in a
while some Rtrocity Is perpetrated b. these
men In revenge on those who have given lnfor-
nation against them. or who have refused
10 give them money and assistance When |
called IN BatAugas a few days ago they told
me there wei, several men In the hospital
W hose lips had been cut on and faces other
wise mutilated by the ladrones because they
were suspected OF having given Information
as TO their whereabouts TO the troops
"Of course such performances mako these
patriots unpopular with their own people. |
There is only one possible way 70 handle !
these outlaws. and that is as IL done in the /
I nltod states and all other well governed /
10 send out police. run them down. /
shooting those who resist. and putting those Z
that are captured IN prison for long terms 1
Mess Filipino IA certain that one Of the-1 /
men is going 10 be convicted he will not testify
against him.
"Flskc Warren and other mon who believe as 4
he does have told mo that these outlaws are |
patriots and that they are Ike George Wash /
ngton and the Adamscs fighting Tor their .
As matter OF fact. they are as a
rule criminals who arc hghtng for their peck
cts II they can get started In Rny province |
with say twenty-five guns they compel what
ever mon they want to join them. using ynri-
ously eloquencc, promises Of commissions in a
new republic. orders OF nobility, booty and
other inducements. and unless checked they
soon have an uprising that sounds formidable
TO one not familiar with conditions. hut Is only