New-York tribune., 1907-12-22
PEACE IN PHILIPPINES.
Mr. Taft Gratifed scith Progress
He SdsU There.

Washington, Dec. H.-As he has disposed
of the vast amount Of department business which
has accumulated In his long absence, Secretary
Taft will begin the preparation of an extended re-
port his observations in the Philippines. In an
interview tonight Mr.. Taft discussed the situation
in the islands. from both political and material
point of view, and expressed himself as highly
gratifed with the progress that had been maze anu
the outlook for development in all lines
THE whole situation" he said, briefly, may be
summed up in this way: Peace prevails throughout
the Philippines to-day in a greater degree IMAM
In their history, either under Spanish or Amer
lean rule. Agriculture is nowhere now impeded ny
fear the part of the farmers OF predatory oaos'
Under the policy inaugurated by President Mchih-
ley in reference the establishment of temporary
government In the Philippines. community con-
sisting of seven million people fnhabittng thFee
hundred islands, many Of whom were In open re-
belon against the government OF the United States
for four years. with all the disturbances fohoWing
from robber and predatory bands. which broke OUT
from time 10 time due TO local causes. mas peeh
b-ought TO a state of profound peace and tranquil
lity In which the people, as a whole, are ioyaIly
,,,no-+ipp IN. government In the maintenance OF
order.
This IS a real peace. comprising all the word
ip,nries This is the first and possibly the most
important accomplishment Of the United states IN
the Philippines.
From an educational standpoint. too. FOUND
much to encourage the supporters OF our Iohcy III
the islands and those who share In our hopes IoF
the future The F4ipinos in state OF tuteiase,
r,ne To receive modern Western conceptions OF re-
I,p,on and politics as they shall be educated &c
understand them This is the reason why believe
tha. the whole Christian Filipino people are capaofe
by training and experience of becoming Seii-so
ern,ns people The common Filipino agricultural
laborer sends his children 10 school to learn Eng
1,sb There is no real difference between the edu-
cated and the ignorant Filipino that cannot be
overcome by the education of one generation
EDUCATION BEFORE INDEPENDENCE
when do YOU think the people will be sufhcienuy
well educated enable them to govern thehi-
selyes?" the Secretary WAS asked
.-rhe Philippine government has not funds enough
70 educate in primary and Industrial schools all the
nresent generation Of school age. he replied, anu
unless some other source of funds or governments
means is found, 1t will take longer than genera
tion 10 complete the primary and inousuidi e"
tion of the common people tntii that Is uoiio "
ought not to lift our guiding hand from tie
THE total enrolment in the schools ior ING ser
rot including the Moro provinces. where the seioos
are conducted under a separate system was o'',E
,o,, thousands under five hundred thousand Fof
school purposes and new buildings thls yeai inv
central government has appropriated s0o"o pesos
The maintenance of primary schools imposed pS
law ,Ipon municipalities, involves an eHpeho''u'0
of nearly $4,000 pesos annually
,'T might refer TO certain admitted SHORTCOMINGS
in the conduct Of municipal affairs in the fhlhp-
pines which, however, should not have the eho0'
of discouraging those who are Interested IN 'ne
success of the experiment To effect these IL isi''
he remarked that even In the United states ihu-
nicipai government has not been slihlhs suCOe''
do not hesitate to say that autonomous niuilIcip
governments making good progress anu are
gradually accomplishing the purposes for which
they were created. We are in this ouahoars. when
we who are responsible for the policy OF autonomy
in municipal and provincial governments assert lha'
IL is proceeding satisfactorily We hnd that oui
words are apt TO be construed by enthusiastic lis-
orists who are convinced ofhand OF the compete
eess oF the FIIipuos to govern themselves. and SO
fully establishing the correctness or their views.
On the other hand, when the defects IN sucn ioc"
governments pointed out the cry Is raseu pS
pessimists and adherents OF the Enshsh crown
colony system that this is admission OF iaiiufe'
as we'll as a concession that we have gone 100 Iar
IN ,ntrusting local governmental power TO the FIJI
pinos The truth. as 1t is conceived oy me- ieS
between the two extreme positions The result inii-
Gates neither that the Fiipinos are htted at oiee
for complete seif-government. nor does II jusnty
the view that they may not be made ultimately
capable of complete self-soVernment by @ sraoIai
extension of partial self-government as they may
become more and more ht to exercise IT,
Mr. Taft was asked IT, IN his opinion, the people
were fit for the introduction OF the jury system
and could be permitted to bear arms
NO to both questions he said. There are
among the people men prone TO violence, and who,
with the use of arms. would at once resort to
,adropisn or robbery means of livelihood
The temptation would be too great Before jurors
can sit impartially between society and the pris-
oner at the bar the community must become
sufficiently frnbued with the sense Of responsibility
for the government and with its Identification with
the government Without this responsibility end
Identification. Jurors certain always to favor
The prisoner and to synipathze in the prosecution
a gainst him
Mr. Taft said that he delighted with tho
course Of the first Philippines Assembly and the