Amador ledger., 1907-08-09
Philippine
Correspondence
By S. h. DeRackin.
The Filipino People-Their QuaIifica-
tions for SeIf-fIovaYnmort

l, 1oO'. approaching the
consideration of this subject. the
woeful lack of mental DEVELOPMENT
of the native people as whole must
be somewhat understood before any
Intelligent opinion can be formed.
Figures showing the number of
natives who can read and write are
lamentably lame, and even misIead-
ing, ii used as basis to determine
the self-governing qualifications of
the Filipinos, as we understand the
term in the United States.
1t is safe to say that fully 50 per
cent of the native people are hope
lessly lacking in that mental develop
ment, discipline, and general know
ledge which Is so essential to pro-
gress, and which makes every Ameri-
can self-governing unit however
he may be as regards mere
book instruction. Many people ap-
proach the consideration of this SUBJ
Ject in total ignorance of these con.
ditions. In fact, many are found to
declara that the native has heen held
Id check in his national development
by the Spanlard, and if released from
the power of superior force, would
speedily take his place among the
nations of the East, such as they are.
when, as matter of truth, all pro-
gress so far made in these Islands is
due wholly to the white man, to the
blood he has left here, and to his
precept and example. This is con-
clusively proven by the fact that in
those parts of the Islands where the
white mans influence has never been
exerted, the people are still savages
In every sense Uf the word. And that
the white man, after 300 years. of
effort, has been able to instill western
civilization into more than per cent
Of the people, will be denied by au
overwhelming majority of both Ameri-
cans and Europeans here today.
When the history of these people is
inquired into, the true state of affairs
met with here comes as no surprise,
however disappointing it may be to
those who thought they we're able to
see the day when Filipino republic,
sitting docile at our feet, receiving
from US civilization, laws, manners.
and giving in turn everything the
gratitude of free people could give
love, obedience, trade,'' would be an
fact.
When the Spaniards arrived in
these Islands some 300 years ago, the
people found here were living in
tribes, possessing no written history,
no written laws, no literature, no art,
no agriculture, no manufactures; In
fact, they we're living practically in a
state of nature. At no time in the
past had they been subject to any
mental training other than that en-
ployed in comprising their simple
wants. When it is remembered that
about 300 years before Christ, when
the historic curtain first rises, the
white mans mental development and
the dlcipIine and control he exercised
over himself, was vastly superior to
that found here by the Spaniards only
300 short years ago, what hope can be
reasonably entertained that a natural
ly inferior people can cover a journey
in 300 years which has taken us some
5000 years to cover?
The 5 per cent of the people VINO,
if not overwhelmed by sea of ignor-
ance and savagery, are capable of
building nation and expanding
along the lines of western civilization,
are altogether men of mixed blood.
Among the full-blooded Filipinus, l
know of not one who has made a sue
cess in life worthy of the name, even
when measured by the low standards
of the East. Successful men among
the natives in law, medicine, art,
commerce, are confined to those of
mixed blood. This latter class, while
possessing No pride of ancestry. no
traditions, knowing no race, and with
no experience, yet could believe,
with its grounding of white blood,
found stable government and expand
along the lines of western civilization,
but they are incapable of holding in
check and guiding the 90 per cent
who are ignorant, lazy, Improvident,
recognizing no law which restraints
their desires, careless of human life,
cruel, untruthful and dishonest. The
b per cent are bright, intelligent men,
pleasant to meet, polite and consider
ate to degree, but their mental pro-
cesses are practically reversed as CON-
pared with the Americans. Temper
they are timid, never going
at anything, thus creating
the Impression at first blush of being
crafty and dishonest. They possess
in about equal parts, the character
istics, incllnations, tendencies and
of the two races from
which they spring. From the Spani-
ard they receive the undying love of
the game OF politics, art, literature,
music, and from the Malay the love
OF home, simplicity of lite, gambling
instinct, Indifference to commerce,
and the longing to abandon civiliza-
tion and take to the bosque. We're
thara INV considerable pumbar of