Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-12-07
PHILIPPINE CONDITIONS.
Natives Coming to Recognise Advan-
tages Following Advent Of
Americans.

The recent visit of Secretary Taft'i
party to the Philippines on tour Of
investigation gives added interest tC
the utterances Of Gen. Leonard Wood
on conditions as they exist in the
islands. Gen. Wood is as we'll qualified
to speak of the situation In our east,
ern possessions to-day as anybody, and
making all due allowance for any re-
straint he might feel In making plain
everything relative to our relations
with the natives 1t is clear from his
statements since reaching the United
States that the pacifcation Of the Fill.
pinos. is nearer contamination than the
public was generally aware. The re-
cent outbreaks in Samar, where Gen
Woods troops hunted down the depre
dators, were, he declares, fomented by
pirates who escaped from Borneo while
under sentence Of death from the Brit
ish government, and the natives were
in no way responsible for the trouble.
In other portions Of the archipelago
peace reigns, and In nearly all the
islands safety is assured in all walks OF
life.
Gradually the F1lipinos, aside from
the lawless element, who have always
stood out against anything resembling
restraint, are coming to recognize the
advantages following the advent OF
Americans in the iGIands and the bene-
fits accruing under our administration
Of affairs. The introduction Of Ameri-
can capital and American enterprises
has resulted in developing the Islands
to degree hitherto unknown, and the
movement 10 still In It's infancy. The
depression which existed under Span.
ish rule has passed away; the restraint
which exerted q blightlng influence Ia
no more. New avenues for commercial
activity are being opened on every
side, new opportunities for the better
lment Of individual conditions are be-
ing created daily. The construction Of
the railways contemplated, bids foi
about 1900 miles OF which will be
opened by the war department next
fall, will open up the islands In a man.
ner never before possible The hemp
tobacco and sugar lands Of the interior.
now isolated and Of little value, win
be brought In close touch with the
worlds markets. Inc mineral deposits
in which the islands are said to be
rich can be developed and their output
handled with dispatch and economy
sufficient to induce the investment Of
capital In such enterprises. Railways
are the worst foe Of lawlessness Their
advent brings q community in touch
with civilization and exercises a beno-
Acial influence.
The greatest drawback TO the coun-
try at present is the tarifr schedule
maintained. Under existing conditions
American people investing American
pay tariff charges to get goods into
their own country. The abolition of
the tariff on Philippine sugar and to-
bacco shipped to the United States has
long been advocated by Secretary Taft.
Overcoming the sentiment in opposi-
ton to such q move has been a tre-
mendous task but the light is begin
ming to break. Reciprocity for Cuba
came after hope had practically been
abandoned, and the same may prove
true Of the Philippines. With this an
accomplished fact, with railroads trav-
ersing the islands and with the self
government to be instituted In 1907
the future for the Philippines appears
bright. The change which the islands
have undergone since they came into +
our possession has been marked, but
from now on their advancement prom
ises to be more rapid than ever, ana
the benefits to themselves and the |
United States bid fair to increase pro-
portionately.