New-York tribune., 1905-08-04
AWAIT TAtTS ARRIVAL
F'hmnos Hope He Viii Unrauel
Many Knotty Tangles.

correspondent
Manila, p. l.. July 1.-The government and the
people are making extensive preparations to enter
tam the Secretary of War and his party during
their stay in the Philippines They will be met by
,ne Governor and Civil Commission. accompanied
py all the minor officials able be in Manila when
lhe party arrives The military will turn out in
iui iorce, and the different commercial and social
examinations have arranged a series of receptions
ano oianers only equaled by the similar chain of
n'ortalhnent rendered the Secretary OF War be-
tore ne left here two years ago
Inc visit of the Secretary at this time will be
' opportuhe. There are many knotty questions
winch II Is hoped his tact and sl1ilful persistence
WIZ help 10 unravel The opening OF the railways
1i'e Iihal settlement of the lands titles the
reduction of the civil staff the nization of
the constabulary and the readjustnent of the in
ternal revenue laws waiting his arrival
ohce secretary Taft's departure there has been
steady Improvement in conditions in the Philip
pines, but, unfortunately not as ranid nor as salts
factory as during his regime This is not the fault
OF Governor Wright or his Cabinet but is the re-
suit of certain unforeseen developments in the
general scheme Of pacifcaton exploitation
adopted by the United States government. While
Governor Wright IS looked upon with the greatest
honor and respect by the Filpinos, he has not so
wen developed a sense OF humor. has he the
patience and ''jolIying' power which enabled Sec
retary TAFT TO handle the intricate questions neces
sarily arising in the government Of foreign and
iliterate. people by American commission.
Inc character or the Filipino is unfathomable;
commented
VINO nave given thought to the question Proba-
bly, the best example possible of the inability of
the Caucasian 10 fathom the Malay was given by
a Spanish priest who years was supposed TO bs,
studying the Filipino character. recording his OBJ
serVauons in an immense tome which he kept un-
der lock and key giving instructions that il should
not be opened until his death In time the
venerable father was taken After due for
lnahty the book was opened in the presence of the
Archbishop and other high dgnitares of the
mo fn aaA fhn
blank Tucked carefully away in the corner of the
leather binding inside the last cover, feared
10 spon the Vlrgnlty of the white by his last
summing up. found, on which, in the
trembling hand of the aged investigator, was
ten; The foregoing pages contain all know of
the people Of the Philippine Islands"
recent example, showing how unreliable are
the Fihpinos, occurred the time President Roose-
welt offered Secretary Taft a position on the Su-
preme bench.
The native leaders afraid that change of
administration at this particular time might weaken
their power and bring a more unsettled state OF
affairs. Working along these lines, they nctitioned
the President that Taft be retained. The streets
of Manila placarded with signs reading
"Queremos Taft eve want Taft In the prov
inces even more striking and forcible sentiments
were expressed
1t remained for the town of Lipa noted as being
the hotbed of insurrection, cap the climax OF
this agitation by placing the Governor in the
equvocal position of leading an embryo insurrec-
tion.
The Governor accompanied by other members of
the commission, left Manila for the purpose of
investigating conditions in the Province of Batan-
gas. After ascending the Pasig River and cross
ing the Laguna de Bay Calamba, the Governor
took army escort wagons TO complete the overland
journey to the capital of the province.
The party was augmented from time to time
by native bands and walking delegations from the
different villages route. The last of any
size before reaching the city of Batangas
Lpa. Here gathered the entire populace OF the
puebos with three hundred four hun
dred natives marshalled in marching order, with
bands and iuEainations galore.
The Governor was much pleased with the ap
parent warmness Of his reception. and noticed
with pride" the banners bearin gthe inscription
'Queremos Taft" Viva los EE. UJ-.," and other
equally significant sentences.
As usual in such cases. the Governor made
short speech in which he thanked the worthy
people for their efforts behalf OF good govern
ment. and. leaning back in his impromptu carriage
of state, INDUCED in a dream of the days when
the military should be no more when the sweet
dove, OF peace should descend upon his beloved
people, and the world at large recognize that the
Taft e9nciiatory policy was the only one sure to
Darkness had descended in tropical splendor ere
the procession reached Batangas, which Illuminated
like scene from Fairyland The bands in the
populace was cheering, and all seemed festive
ana gay-and patriotic-as even the smiling Gov
Great was the applause. fervent the music, and
the procession wove it's way through the web
of streets and emerged TO the plaza, where the
Governor was to aght. the cheering OF the Ameri-
soldiers and civilians seemed add the
touch necessary to complete the picture of
which had occupied the Governors mind during the
last stages OF his journey.
Suddenly the cheering and the music stopped as
If by magic. and the strains OF "Agui-
naldos March, played in a most feeling manner by
the band which accompanied the Lpa contingent,
and horror of horrors, the Inscriptions on the ban
read:
''If we don't have Taft we insurrect'
Taft or war"
Taft the next king of the Philippines
Again had the willy Tagal got the best OF his
overlord. IT was of those situations which
called for that discreet silence and sweet
ableness which he had often preached 10 his
American confreres, and with sigh and wave
of his hand the worthy Governor dismissed his
escort of honor and his dream of peace and n
tered into the quarters prepared for him by the
military.