The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-09-24
THE CONSTABULARY OF THE PHILIPPINES
Native Troops Pursue
OulIaWs-.As to
Brjgands.

MANILA-The Constabulary, the
three big departments of the Philip
pine civil government These branches,
Incorporating as they do the elemen
tary principles of government, will
fully test the efficiency of the Ameri-
can administration. The three divi-
sions are so closely related as to be
PARTIALLY inseparable. One could
hardly indure without the support OF
the other OF course, the first con-
sideration is the maintenance of order,
yet it follows that without justice
there can be no permanent peace; also
that it is impossible to maintain gov
eminent without a sound system of
finance.
The Constabulary, aside from being
the most expensive department under
the civil government, has been the
rock upon which both the governing
and the governed have split into fac
lions. There was debate over its Or
ganization, and there has been con-
tinuous debate concerning its opera
ton. While American public senti-
ment was unanimous in supporting the
Mckinley administration in the war
against Spain. one of the first things
which came home to the officials after
the acquisition of the Philippines had
resulted as one of the outcomes Of
that war, was that the American peo-
,0Io ant fn
nent military occupation of any of
the territory thus acquired. The prin-
ciple of liberty is so strong in the
United States that any policy SAVIOR
ing of the mailed fist is certain to
become unpopular. Realizing that a
permanent military program would be
sure to sink any administration that
championed it, the party leaders has
tened the formation of the civil gov
eminent.
CONSTABULARY A COMPROMISE.
When the decision was reached to
withdraw the American troops, diff
ference of opinion arose as to how
they should be replaced. Some of our
brightest men contended that the local
peace officers would be able to con-
troll the situation without any assist
ance while others argued that the
withdrawal of all armed forces would
simply promote brigandage and initi-
ate reign of terror While it was
admitted that the full force of the
military would not be necessary to
preserve order throughout the islands.
it was insisted that the local authori-
ties alone could not control the situa-
ton And so the Constabulary, being
native troops Differed by Americans,
was really a compromise between the
unnecessary strength of the military
and the inadequacy of the local off,
GERS.
1t did not take long to establish the
wisdom of those statesman who main
tanned that disorder would prevail I'M
less an armed force was kept on the
scene to hold the lawless in check.
The Constabulary has been kept busy
from the outset. It's members have
had no days off. While the country I
has in the main been pacified, there
are still rowing bands of ladrones or
outlaws, who infest certain sections. .
These desperadoes are not a new fea-
ture of Philippine life. They have
been practicing their depredations for
hundreds of years, the Spaniards
never being able to subdue them.
TAKEN AT THEIR OWN GAME.
The tactics of these brigandS are
such that large bodies of troops can
not operate against them. They hide (
in mountain Businesses and swoop
Town upon outlying villages or waylay
the traveller They will not make a d
stand against an equal force, but take
TO the mountains the approach of G
opposition. The only way to fight
hem is to follow them into their re- o
reat and play the game according to .
heir code. This the Constabulary has II
lone successfully. During the first d
fear after its organization 1,1S5 out /,
avs Were killed, and 2,722 We're cap q
ured.
With one or two exceptions the Con-
tabulary has been equal to the work
aid out for it in all parts OF the archi- NJ
,elago Mindanao and several other &C
IF the southern group of islands oc- ca