The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-08-21
III ~iihifippiries.

OCEdIS, ElkuG e III SOuLu SdTOllud jill ioA'
ty years ago thought the negro not qualified
10 vote, and In Florida and Georgia these
democrats are passing Acknowledgement bills
But since Roosevelt and Taft are running
things over about the China sea they want To
give them all the tr ouble possible. To hear q
man philosophize over the Philippine ques-
ton who doesn't know any thing about II
sounds to us like q blue walsted Yankee harp
ing on the negro question IN the South.
The Filipinos had q taste OF self govern
ment in certain parts OF the islands during the
Spanish-American war or a little thereafter
to be exact, during the interim between the
time of American occupation Of Manila and
pacihcation OF the islands. and a nice sell
government 1t was q beautiful spotted, 1.-THE
active self government, a self government
that would makes an ordinary American take
to a flying machine, and q government which
did make all the whites hit the gIit" thai
could get out.
One desultory Spanisrd was left In Albay
province, in southern Luzon, and only one
He would make a good referee for this ques
ton. He told what happened during thit
time OF Filipino self government, but wha1
he said has not been published In the reports
at Washington.
Santos was this Spaniard's name. He say
that things were in q most chaotic state aftel
the Spaniards left. The new Filipino govern
ment was organized exactly after the patterr
Of the Spanish government and things begar
to happen.
Santos lived in q own called Libog With hi
Filipino wife and children. BY lodging ant
perjury and brides he managed to preserve
his own life during this farcical experiment
A certain very Influential hombre lived on
In the hills OF the province near Libog Wht
had not been treated, as he thought, RICH
and proper by a certain reputable citizen D
Libog. This hombre Of the mountains hat
an immense backing in the way OF semi
| slaves and bolo men and tribal relations. es
pecially bolo men, and he knew 1t. So, Il
vent his spleen. he entered the town Of Liboi
one quiet morning with an immense FOLLOW
ing OF scabby ''gente," hunted up the reputa
BILE citizen with whom he had a grudge. HI
found him, and in order to make the proceed
ings as impressive as possible, took bis MAI
| TO the plaza before the mayors court and II
| plain sight Of the policemen and consejales o
the city proceeded himself to sever the repu
table citizens head from bis body with a Wa
bolo sharpened for that particular purpose
The eye sockets OF the citizens OF the towr
who Witnessed the proceedings suddenly
grew too small for their respective orbs snt
those who had any motive power left In theii
legs disappeared like rats at q cat congress-.
The policemen of the city knew what wal
going to happen, but for fear lest the nl-wil
Of the hombre of the mountains might ex
tend to them shot for their nips shaoks and
hid In the lofts.
After strutting around over the city fol
ONE time, intimidating the citizens and
gloating over bis deed the hombre OF the
mountains took himself and his back to bill
retreat.
A council meeting was called at which the
presidente and all the aldermen made speech
es. The city policemen were scored for al
lowing such q thing TO happen. Strange te
say, no policeman knew anything OF the az
fair and all were riotous with a desire for ven
geapce. So the mayor and the aldermen phi
~losophized and argued and prsted In grandil
oquent style. After . time they reached
%concensus OF opinion, which was something
like this:
The deed had been done.
The hombre Of the mountain had vented
his spleen.
No trouble might be expected from him IN
the future.
If the town attempted to punish him he
might oome again.
II he came again he would more than like
ly cut off a few more heads.
1t would be too mnch trouble TO corral him
any way.
The best policy is to let things stand as they
are.
And they did let things stand. They are
standing today in statue quo. and they are
going to stand SO as far az the consejales and
presidente OF LIBBY are concerned.
This is just q small sample OF Filipino sell
government. Hundreds Of just such In
stances could be cited.
Why talk about Filipino self government
The Anglo Saxon has reached his present
stage through long ages and cons OF educa'
ton, self denial, and propagation OF altruistic
principles. The theory OF evolution Is be-
yond dispute. We were not made In q day.
Long, trying years OF toll and sober industry
with q submission to the immutable laws oil
the Almighty have made rs what we are.
The Filipino has not been in this school
and It Is putting It mildly to say that he IL
thousands Of years behind the Saxon.
Can he be made equal to the Saxon In ten
years?
1t would probably be very much better for
the United States, viewing the question from
a selfish stsndpoint, II we were rid OF Phili.
pine. We have them on our hands, however,
and II we are TO get rid Of them we must look
not only to the interests OF the Americans,
Englishmen and Spaniards who have settled
there, but also to tho best interests OF the Fiji.
plDo as we'll.
Hitch the self government mule to the Fill
pino state wagon and give the dusky indians
the whip and lines, and in ten days you will
receive a t%elegraphic picture of MAUD" that
would make the eyes Of old "Si" himself
stand out like the blInkerB OF q snail.