The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1907-07-31
SELF GOVERNMENT
FOR THE F|L|P|N0s
THOROUGH CONSIDERATION OF
THEIR QUALIFICATIONS FOR
GOVERNING THEMSELVES.

Zamboanga, Moro Province. P. l.,
July 30.-In approaching the con-
sideration of this subject, the Woe
full 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 ma
tives who can read and write are
lamentably lame, and even mislead-
ing, II used as a 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 95 per
cent of the native people are hope
lessly lacking in that mental devel-
Opment, discipline and general
knowledge which is so essential TO
progress, and which makes every
American a self-goyerning unit how
ever illiterate he may be as regards
mere book instruction. Many peo-
pie approach the consideration of
this subject in total ignorance of
these conditions. In fact, many are
found to declare that the native has
been held in check in his national
development by the Spaniard, and
II released from the power fsu-
perior force, would speedily take his
place among the nations of the east.
such as they are, when, as a matter
of truth, all progress 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 conclusively 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 of the
word. And that the white man, af-
ter 800 years of effort, has been able
to instill western civilization into
more than 5 per cent Of the people,
will be denied by an overwhelming
majority of both Americans and Eu-
ropeans here today.
When the history of these people
is inquired into, the true state of
however disappointing 1t
may be to those who thought they
we're able to see the day when Fill
ipino republic, Sitting dOcileat our
feet, receiving from us civilization,
laws, manners, and giving in turn
everything the gratitude of free
obedience. trade,
would be an accomplished fact.
When the Spaniards arrived in
these islands some 800 years ago,
the people found here were living in
tribes, possessing no written history,
no written laws, no literature, no
art, no agriculture, no manufac-
lures; in fact, they were living
practically in a state Of nature. At
no time in the past had they been
subject to any mental training other
than that employed in composing
their simple wants. When 1t Is re-
that, about 5000 years
before Christ, when the historis cur
tain discs, the white mans develop
ment and the discipline and control
he exercised over himself, was vastly
superior to that found here by the
Spaniards only 800 short years ago,
what hope can be reasonably enter
tanned that a naturally inferior peo-
pie can cover journey in 800 years
which has taken us some 5000 years
to cover.
The per cent of the people who,
If not overwhelmed by sea of ig-
norance and savagery, are capable of
building a nation and expanding
along the lines of western civiliza-
ton, are altogether men of mixed
blood. Among the full-blooded Fill
pinos, know of not one who has
made a succecc in life worthy of the
name, even when measured by the
low standards of the east. Success
full men among the natives in law,
medicine, art, commerce, are con-
fined to those of mixed blood. This
latter class, while possessing no
pride of ancestry, no traditions,
knowing no race, and with no ex-
perience, yet could, believe. with
its grounding of white blood, found
a stable government and expand
along the lines of western civiliza-
ton, but they are incapable of hold
ing in check and guiding the 95 per
cent who are ignorant, lazy IMPROVE
dent, recognizing no law which re-
strains their desires, careless OF hui
man life, cruel, untruthful and dis
honest. The per cent are bright,
Intelligent men, pleasant to meet,
polite and considerate to degree.
but their mental processes are prac-
tically reversed as compared with
the Americans. Temperamentally.
they are timid, never going directly
at anything, thus creating the I'M
preston at first blush of being crafty
and dishonest. They possess, in
about equal parts the characterize
les, inclinations, tendencies and as
pirations of the two races from
which they spring. From the Span
iards they receive the undying love
of the game of politics, art, litera-
ture, music and from the Malay the
love of home, simplicity of life, gam
bling instinct, Indifference to COM
merce, and the longing to abandon
and take to the bosque.
Were there any considerable number
of this class in these islands, We
would not be here today, and Spain
would not have been here any time
within the past fifty years. 1t Is
for the very reason that there Is not
to exceed per cent of the people
here who are capable of founding
stable government and expanding ac-
ceptably to those nations whose
good opinion is so essential to prog
ress, that these people are not po-
litica1ly free.
So far, / have pointed out only
those influences which the inexperi-
ence, ignorance, passion and indiffer-
ence of the people themselves oppose
to colfoovorn mpnt 7 shall now DOfnt