The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-08-02
America in The Philippines
By Fredsric J. Hsskin.
UPLIFTING THE FILLPN

disregarded. a country filled with
cholera. bubonic plague. smallpox.
beri-beri and other diseases OF like
character. The plague has been elm.
MATED, the endemic cholera 10 now
quickly stamped out whenever II APP
pears and beri-beri is almost q thing
OF the past The Bureau of Health
works constantly to prevent epidemic
diseases and Is educating the people to
take precautions The Bureau CT Sci
ence Is studying tropical diseases, and
has not only worked wonders in inn
proving the animal and vegetable
health Of the islands, but has brought
the medical profession of the world to
q better understanding of the problems
Of tropical diseases.
America found the prisons conducted
like the prisons of the middle ages.
heartless cruelties being inflicted upon
the unfortunates who were, cast into
jail regardless of the nature of their
crime or the hope of reformation. The
prisons have been converted into re.
formatory institutions, and every prie.
oner is given the opportunity to At
himself for rejoining society as an
honest man. A penal colony on an is
land paradise is governed by the pris-
oners themselves unoer republican
forms.
America found the mountains inhab-
tied by wild tribes who knew nothing
of civilization, and which were con-
stantly at deadly war with each 9TH
err, seeking heads of the enemy as
trophies The Americans have reached
out among these people. have persuade
ed them to cease their war-like habits.
have stopped the practice of head
hunting, and are bringing the wild
tribes into touch with the civilization
of their Christian brothers of the low
lands.
America found a civil service system
which was entirely controlled by ia
voritism, and in which Offices were al
most openly bought and sold. Oficers
of the civil government were expected
to add to their meagre salaries by
graft, and the expectation was always
realized. Graft was universal and un-
condemned. The greet majority of the
people had no conception of the posi-
bility of honest administration. The
Americans put grafters and defaulters
into JAIL and, wonder of wonder to the
Fiiipinos. the American CRATER went
TO prison just as quickly as the native
defaulter.
America found a judiciary system
sadly in need of reform. Litigation
was protracted, expensive and uncer-,
tain. "a man accused of crime need not
be confronted by the witness against
him, and he had no compulsory right to
subpoena witnesses In his own behalf.
He was railroaded to prison without
anything approaching the American
understanding of a fair trial The
Americans have established a new ju-
dicial system, from the justice of the
peace to the supreme court. although
they have maintained In force the
Spanish or Roman system Of law. The
trial courts are presided over by
American and Filipino judges, and ali
-. - Il,
to the higher courts are matter OF
right, and the old summary injustice
Is a thing Of the past.
America found a taxation system
which laid all the burden upon the
very poor Persons of property or
wealth were required to contribute lit.
tie or nothing to the support of the
government, and all taxes were wrung
from the poverty stricken by cruel
methods. The Americans established u
system OF taxation which secured the
necessary revenues by levy upon the
people In proportion t. their ability to
pay. The taxes are almost as high as
during the Spanish regime. but the
burden is more equitably distributed
and the expenditures OF revenue are of
vastly more beneft to the people at
large.
America found a people which nat
urally divided itself into two classes,
the aristocrats who looked upon work
as degrading. and the masses who
worked only enough to supply them
selves with the most meagre necessi-
ties. The Americans have been en-
deavoring to teach the Filipinos, of
high and low degree, that honest labor
is not disgracefuL To some extent this
effort has been successful The Amer
leans have taught the people to want
more things, and they must work more
to have them. But ten years Is too
short time to make over the habits
of race which has run in the same
groove for ages.
America found the Philippines eleven
years ago. The accomplishments of
that brief period are wonderful-yet
the march of progress there is consid-
cred as hardly well under way. Moth
ing in the whole history of the United
States Is more significant than what 1t
has done for the Philippines and the
Filipinos.
Tomorrow, America in the Philip
pines.
IL. Manila, An American City.