The Washington herald., 1908-05-07
The Chinaman as a Citizen.

The reports which are coming into the
War Department from the civil authori-
ties in charge Of affairs in the Philippines
contain much information which viii en-
tighten the public concerning the Chinese.
All through these reports there are trib-
utes, perhaps unintentional, TO the China
man as a citizen. A typical state OF
affairs is described as existing in Fam
bOanga in the Moro province, where the
municipal council includes one Chinese.
along with five Americans, five Filipinos.
and one European. The great difficulty
there, as elsewhere. says the report, is
that the only idle element, the only ele-
ment with time for political work Is the
Filipino in whose behalf the government
has been established and is being main
tained. The Americans, the European.
and the Chinese are all hard at work
improving and developing the country.
The hope. however Is held out that the
Filipino will eventually get to work. and
viii settle down TO a steadfast adherence
10 legitimate occupation. instead Of spend
ing hls time in the fruitless endeavor Of
political chieanery. The Filipino evidently
has q prediction for politics as distin-
guished from the everyday prosy affairs Of
labor in the fields and toll in the fac
tories.
It reads something like an indictment
of the Filipino character. or, at least, the
Filipino sentiment and habit. to encounter
this passage In the report Of the district
governor of Zamboanga:
The Chinese business interests Of Zamboanga are
larger than al Of the other interests combined.
These people are not only merchants, but land
| holders. They are not parasites, but producers.
Their voices not heard in the legislative halls
nor are they seeking political aggrandzement or Of
fetal position. They pre-eminently traders and
producers. The Chinese Of Zamboanga are pro
/ verbally generous IN the support Of every public
measure improvement, amusement that will make
for the welfare Of all concerned. The largest aud
best plantations on the plains Of zamboanga are not
only owned but are worked by Chinese. There is no
display about this industrial gasp and control but
/ the work mOFes with that delbeTati0n patience
persistence conservatism. and keen knowledge Of ma
/ tive customs that mean permanent Success. The
Filipino farmer IS still gTumbng about the loss OF
his carabaos from disease. and that therefore he is
forced 70 neglect the rice paddles and most other
forms Of cultivation The Chinese farmer has had to
meet The same difficulties, but be sUmOunts them
by harder personal labor and the adoption OF the
most le1slDie EcneIltb 10 liQS over the temporary
] interruption OF bis plans. The Filipino farmer Is
inclined to view these difficulties Yistations OF
Providence, with which he should not meddle. nol
attempt 70 eircumvent.
| Perhaps some of the people who regard
| the Cinnamon as in need of special at
| ltention from the missionary will read with
/ interest the information. also impaired
| from this same source, that the Chinese
at Zamboanga recently subscribed liber-
/ ally to d fund to pay Tor the debt on
| the rectory of the Episcopal church in
that place" IL Zamboanga and the other
places in the Philippines are to be re-
claimed from the devastation of human
neglect. it will evidently be through the
industry of the Chinese, and only by the
Filipino when the example of the invad-
ing Mongolian has spurred the native to
doing something for himself, and depend
/ ing less upon politics and Providence.