Albuquerque citizen., 1908-06-15

Oriental. The experience of genera
tions had confirmed them in that be-
lief. The only government in their
knowledge was tyranny. The only
education in their history was deceit
The only tradition they possessed
was hatred of oppression. made con-
crete for them by their experience
with western domination.
That was what Mr.. Taft had to
face, and in three years he had over
come and changed II all. He did 1t by
the persuasive power OF the most
winning personality the Filipinos had
ever known. He met them on their
own level. ell lived with them. ate
with them, drank with them, danced
with them, and he showed them that
here was an Occidental who could
read and sympathize with the orient
al heart. He gave them new con-
ception of justice, and they saw with
amazement that II was even-handed,
respecting neither person nor con-
dition. great leveler. equalizing all
before the law. They saw Mr.. Taft
understanding them better than they
had understood themselves compre-
hending their problems more wisely
standing all the time like a rock sol
idly for their interests. They saw
him opposed by almost all his coun-
trymen in their islands denounced
and assailed with the utmost vehem-
ence and venom by Americans simply
because he steadfastly resisted Amer
lean exploitation and persisted in his
declaration that the Philippines
should be for the Filipinos. They saw
him laboring day and night in their
behalf and facing death itself with
cheerful resignation in order to carry
on their cause. 1t was a revelation to
them. 1t was something beyond their
previous ken, outside of all their ex-
perience, their education and their
tradition. 1t convinced them.
An Unparalleled Achievement.
1t was a practical demonstration of
honesty and good faith such as the
Philippines had never known 1t was
a showing of sympathy. justice and
comprehension which could not oe
resisted. Conviction followed it in
evitably. The whole people knew
because they saw-that the Philip
pines We're to be maintained for the
Filipinos. and they recognized their
own unfitness for the fun responsible
tiles of independent government,
and cheerfully set themselves to the
task of preparation.
That is the achievement OF Mr..
Taft in the Philippines. 1t has scarce
ly a parallel in history. What it cost
him he paid without question or COM
plant He had given up his judicial
career when he went to Manila. But
three times In the course of his SER
vice for the Fifipinos the opportun-
ity to re-enter ii came to him, each
time with an offer of a place on the
supreme court which had been his
lifelong goal Each time he refused
it. Not even President Roosevelt un-
derstood the call to Mr.. Taft from the
Filipinos and when he offered su-
preme court justiceship to Mr.. Taft
he accompanied it with almost a COM
mand. But Mr.. Taft declined. He
saw clearly his duty to the people
whom he had led to believe in him
as the personiflcaton of American
Justice and good faith, and he made
the president see it, too. How the
Filipinos felt was shown when on
hearing of the danger that Mr.. Taft
might be called away from Manila,
they flocked in thousands about his
residence and begged him not to 60
When ultimately he did leave the
islands it was only to come home as
secretary of war, in which office he
could continue his direction of Phil
ippine affairs and make sure that
there should be no deviation from
the successful line of policy he had
marked out.
Secretary of War.
1t is not important here to discuss
in detail Mr.. Taft's administration of
the war department since he succeed
ed Elihu Root as secretary of war on
February /, 1904. He has been at
the head of it during the years of its
greatest range of activity. He is not
merely secretary of the army, as al
most all his predecessors were. He
Is secretary of the colonies. Under
his direction fall matters of the ut
most Importance affecting every one
of the oversee possessions of the
United States. The affairs of the
army alone have often proved sufti-
cient to occupy the whole attention
of an able secretary. Mr.. Taft has
had to handle not only those and the
Philippine and Cuban business, but to
direct the construction of the Panama
canal as well. And at not infrequent
intervals he has been called on to
participate in the direction of other
weighty affairs of government. He
has been the general adviser of Presi-
dent Roosevelt and has been called
into consultation on every important
matter which has required govern
mental action.
The administration of canal affairs
has required in a high degree that
quality described as executive ability.
The building Of a canal is a tremen-
dous enterprise, calling constantly for
the exercise Of sound business judg-
ment In it Mr.. Taft has displayed In
ripcncd proportions the abilities he
foreshadowed when solicitor general
and collector Of internal revenue.
Building the Canal.
When Mr. Taft became secretary of
al