The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-08


a Christian population. Whatever may
be said OF the governmental methods
of Spain or of the political corruption
OF her colonial representatives, she es-
tablished the Christian faith in the
islands. Prior to American occupation
the higher officials of the church and
since 1900 American and Filipino
bishops and priests are being substi-
tuted. Under the lead of Archbishop
Harry, the work of the church is being
vigorously pushed and large number
Of baptisms are reported. Several Of
the Protestant churches are gaining a
ffoooothold, there being. upwards of TO-
900 Filpinos enrolled in the evangel-
church Of the Tondo district, Manila,
has something like 400 natives, Senior
Buencamino, secretary Of state under
Aguinaldo. and afterwards a member
of the civil service commission, being
president of the Tondo congregation.
No discussion of the religious situa-
ton in the Philippines would be COM
plete without reference. to the inde-
pendent Catholic church Of which Senior
pc Maxine Agilpay is a native Fill
Pine. 46 years old, with an intelligent
face and fine presence. In three and
half years he has established church
with some 800 priests and about 700
congregations. - He claims a member
ship of about 100000, but the clergy
of the regular Catholic church do not
concede nearly so large a following.
In fact, they deny that he has made
any considerable impression upon
the Catholic population, and as there is
no accurate church census it is impos-
sible to say in what proportion the
Catholic membership is divided between
these two church organizations.
+ j. i.
As to the honesty Of the average
Filipino, different opinions are to be
heard from Americans, but we were
told that less care was taken to lock
the doors than in America, which would
indicate less fear of burglary. The
Philippine court records would embar-
| rass us if we become too harsh in our
Filipinos, for during the years 1902-3-4-
thirty offce-holding Americans were
found guilty of shortages and defalca-
lions, the total amount embezzled ex-
ceeding $4,000 gold. Bilibid prison
at Manila is the penitentiary for the
northern islands and most I think ally
who receive more than Jail sentence
are confined here. There are now about
1900 prisoners in Bilibid, nearly LOO
| serving terms for brigandage, insur-
rection, rebellion and sedition, the re-
mainder for other crimes. If the con-
! victs average years sentence each,
the number Of natives sent to the peni-
| Tertiary during four years would have
to be about $4,000 to give the native
| population criminal class equal to the
/ proportion which the thirty convicted
| population in the islands. and it must
be remembered that the defalcations
have been among Americans selected
| because Of their supposed character and
| capacity. There have been many de-
falcations among the fiscal officers APP
pointed among the natives, but not
knowing the total number of the Filipi-
mos occupying fidiciary positions and
! the number of Americans occupying
similar positions, cannot make com.
parison. Our chief consolation is to be
found in the fact that Americans guilty
I of dishonesty have been promptly pun
ished by the American officials, but
this does not entirely remove the stain
which their conduct has brought upon
our nation s. good name.
!. !. !.
I cannot conclude this article without
expressing my appreciation of tho
courtesy shown me by Acting Governor
Ide, Secretary Ferguson, the members
or the Philippine commission and the
other officials, civil and military. They
were all willing to furnish information,
records and statistics regarding the
things done under American authority.
While mistakes have been made, some
of them expensive; while there have
been outrages by the constabulary
(Which is merely native army off
cered by Americans and serving under
another name), and while there have
been instances of seeming partially to
Americans where conflict has occurred
between them and natives. I believe that
the serious evils to be complained of
are not personal but are inherent in a
colonial system, and cannot be eradi-
Gated so long as such a system is
maintained.
!, The greatest need that I noted in the
islands is an increase in what we call
the middle class, but this need is notice
!; able in the other Spanish colonies which
| have visited and will be corrected as
: education increases among the masses.
With more education among the farmers
there will be improved methods of
agriculture, and with more education
among the artisans will come diversi-
: fcation of industry This middle class
will be balance wheel, as it were. to
regulate the machinery of society, and
twill furnish a public opinion which
will control official representatives.