New-York tribune., 1908-01-27
TAFT ON PROGRESS
IN THE PHILIPPINES.
ON BENEFITS OF
AMERICAN RULE.
President Transmits Findings to
Congress, zcith Message of
Strong endorsement.

OtrOHg IHdOfSeW6RI.
Washington. Jan. 26-Nine years after ths
battle of Manila Bay Secretary Taft records the
results Of the American occupation of the arcli-
peago and forecasts the future Of the Filipinos
in an exhaustive report transmitted TO Congress
by the President with letter written by the
Chief Executive commencing in the hgnesc
terms the Secretary's conclusions
The President declares that ruin would have
followed the adoption Of any other policy
toward the Philippines than that outlined 5y
William Mckinley and carried forward through
these nine years and asserts triumohantly that
there is no brighter page in history than that
dealing with the relations between the strong
and the weak in those islands He adds that the
Filipinos have yet a long way to travel before
they will be fit for complete self-government-"
Secretary Taft's report records his observa-
tions on ahis recent visit the islands 90 the
extent of nearly eighty printed pages Cen
orally speaking. the Secretary is optimistic in q
high degree in treating of this subject. even
though he cannot fix a time for declaring the
independence OF the island In answer TO the
critics who have made ''the most astounding and
unfair statements in respect 10 the cost TO the
United States of the Philippines he figures out
a total annual expenditure of S5,0oOOoo
He vigorously denies the failure of the Philip
pine policy. He says that great changes have
anxious to have the American soldiers retained
There is a high standard of administration OF
Justice Nothing is more popular than the con-
stabuary. There no questions between the
government and the Catholic Church. unless the
Aglipyan schism can be said to be involved.
Peace prevails in greater degree than ever
before in the history of the islands The mag
nifcent Benguet road is now justified by the re-
suits obtained
vz-iI1 to limit
of sugar and tobacco that can be exported TO the
United States. He predicts a development Of
business within twenty-five years that will make
the Fipinos themselves stand high in the
worlds industrial populations. His recommen-
dations are:
First-That legislation be adopted by Con-
gress admitting the products Of the Philippine
Islands TO the markets of the United States.
with such reasonable limitations as may remove
fear of interference with the tobacco and sugar
interests in the United States
Second-That the present restrictions be re-
moved as to the acquisition Of mining claims
and the holding of lands by corporations in the
Philippines
Third-That further legislation be passed
thorizing the Philippine government, II it
chooses, TO open and conduct an agricultural
bank, with a capital not exceeding s20G0.000
FOurth-That the coastvise laws Of the United
States be made rmsnentIy fnapPlicable 10 the
trade between the ports OF the islands and the
ports of the United States
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE TO CONGRESS.
The following message from the President TO
Congress will accompany the report;
To the Senate and House Of Representatives:
] transmit herewith the report Of Secretary Taft
upon his recent trip TO the Philippines I
heartily concur In the recommendations he
makes. and L call especial attention TO the ad-
u1irable work of Governor Smith and his asso-
ciates-
1t is a subject for just national qualification
that such a report this can be made. No
great civilized power has ever managed with
such wisdom and disfnterestedness the affairs
OF people committed by the accident of war
TO its hands If We had followed the advice
of the misguided persons who wished US to turn
the islands loose and let them suffer whatever
fate might bpfaII them they would have already
passed through . period of complete and bloody
chaos and would now undoubtedly be the pos
session Of some other power, which there is
10 believe would not have done as We have DONE
that it would not have striven to teach them
how to govern themselves TO have developed
them. as We have developed them. primarily in
their interest
Save only our attitude toward Cuba r ques-
tion whether there IS brighter page in the an
nails of international dealing between the strong
and the weak than the page which tells Of our
dOingS in the Philippines.
I call especial attention TO the admirably clear
showing made by Secretary Taft of the fact
that IT would have been equally ru1nous II ~
had yielded to the desires of those who wished
to go faster in the direction Of giving tbs
FiIipfnos self government and il We had fol-
lowed the policy advocated by others. who de-
sired simply to rule the Islands without any
thought at ali of fitting them for seif-gOvern-
ment. The islanders have made real advances
in hopeful direction. and they have opened
well with the new Philippine Assembly They
have yet long way to travel before they viii
be fit for complete self government. and for
deciding, il will then be their duty to do,
whether this self government shall be accom-
panied by complete independence.
Ii will probably be a generation. II may
be longer, before this point is reached. but il
is most gratifying that such substantial prog
ress toward this goal has already been ae-
cOmplished. We desire that il be reached at -
early date possible for the sake of the Fill
pinOS and for our own sake. But Improperly
endeaTor to hurry the time will probably mean
that the goal will not be attained all
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The White House. Jan. %. 1903
SECRETARY TAFyTS REPORT.
ports of the United States to the free inpOrta-
tion of Philippine sugar and tobacco Mr. Taft
says:
There is a good deal Of land available for sugar
in the Philippines but there IS very little of IL
good that in Cuba. and the amount of capital
the possibility of the extension Of the sugar preduc-
tion is quite remote The moment il expands the
- cent. Will have another increase. All that
really be expected is that the sugar industry
he restored TO its former prosperity in the earlier
Spanish times. when the highest export Of sugar
reached 2S5.01o tons TO all the world
The tobacco industry needs a careful cultivation.
which under present conditions il very difficult d
grown and the defective character of leaves
such make the manufacturer OF cigars and
product without the addition Of the wrappers either
from sumatra or the United states
is that the sugar and tobacco Industries shall re-
gain their former reasonably prosperous conditions
direction The question of labor and capital both
must always seriously hamper the growth of susar
result for the Philippine Islands to have the fields
OF those Islands turned exclusively 70 the gTowth er