New-York tribune., 1908-01-27
uR yAF7rs PHILIPPINE REPORT.


Secretary Taft's report on conditions III lhe
Philippines just transmitted 10 congress- e0l
tains much information of general interest Ii
is a review of the situation in the archlpeiaeo'
industrial and political, made 10y an observer
excentionaliy qualified 10 give an nfelllgent
Indictment. Mr. Taft has devoted more Thought
time and rational consideration 10 the proDIemS
created by our occupation OF the fhuPpilieS
than any other American. He SPEAKS WIN
authority and It is q pleasure TO note Ihai he
renorts substantial progress in the execution
of the American policy of benevolent admins
,ration and gradual education of the Filipinos
for the task of self-improvenent ana seii gov
ernmont The report is optimistic in tone, De
causa if records a notable advance in native
canacitv for working out the problems OF mate
rial development and political autonomy
The Tribune has already commented ph the
unexpected success of the experiment OF esCt"
fishing a Philippine legislature. The lower
, bouso Of that ieciSlature-the AssembiE-is
elected Ivy popular vote and is controhed u!
tbe poIti,al element favoring immediate lhde-
nendencc But this body has shown an ad-
mirablc self-restraint and Il disposition 10 subor
dinate a distant aim 10 the present urgent need
of buiIdinc up agriculture and industry. OF
broadening, educational facilities and OF estab-
fishing tranquility and order. Mr.. Taft justly
saws of the record so far made by the Assem-
bly,:
The Assembly has shown most earnest &c
sire and its leaders have expressed with tle
utmost emphasis their intention. TO apor IoF the
-, orial ,,rosnerftv of the Philippines and to en-
courage the coming of capital and the develop
rnent of the various plans for the improvement
of the agriculture and business of the lSlahtlS
which have commended themselves TO those IN
the past responsible for the government lheI e
In other words, thus far the Assembly mas hoI
ma infested in any way that obstructive charac-
.ar which those who have prophesied Its tallure
expected to see and who. in this respect para,
doxcaI as il NAV seem, are equally disappointed
with those anti-impeTialists who have hopeIuliy
looked TO the Assembly as a means or en-
barrassing the present government
The Secretary of War renews his suggestion
n Congress that some equitable concession be
made in the tariff duties now laid at our ports
/ on Philippine sugar and tobacco. He dismlsses
as groundess the fears of the domestic fohac'o
and sugar interests that the unrestricted entry
here of such sugar and tobacco would break
/ down prices and ruin domestic industry. We are
| couaIIv convinced that such apprehensions are
! wholly imaginary. Yet 10 diSarm an irrauohai
/ opposifion which has more than once shown
its power to sidetrack legislation for the benefit
+ of the Philippines by blocking action in the
Senate Mr.. Taft suggests that from 29oo"'
! To 100000 tons of Philippine sugar he admitted
! free each wear. and that all imports above tho
! limit set nav as at present. ~ per cent Of the
y
I to The United States would restore the Philip
pine sugar industry TO the degree of prosperity
which il enjoyed prior to 1899. and such con-
ccssion would satisfy the I'ilipinos themselves;
for they have already asked Congress to allow
! This moderate concession in the instructions
/ given bv the Legislature TO the newly chosen
/ commissioners to the United States.
! It is not desired hy the inslllar government
/ to overstimulate the sugar industry Sugar
! production on Il large scale creates Industrial
! conditions not compatible with rapid social or
! nolfticaI progress Vast estates arc built M
with a dppendent. haIf-servile laboring class.
Z Secretary Taft is anxious only to restore the
equilibrium upset by the change in political con-
troll and to give back to the islands the market
( which they lost after the cessiOn of 1899 Con
grcsS can do this without In the least hamper
! ing the prosperity of domestic enterprises, and
il iS TO hc hoped that the Senate will no longer
! stuhbornIy resist proposal based so clearly on
! reason and equity.