The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-08-13

I judges of every bench, and they have en-
tire control of the lower house of the
/ legislature, with a respectable minority in
the upper house. -
The great diplomatic stroke Of the whole
experiment was The estab lishment Of the
assembly. Being entirely Filipino, elected
by the people, and having no responsible
1ty to tbs Americans in any way, the
sembly IS made to share in every positive
act Of the government. Nearly all the
politicians of influence are either mem
bers the assembly OF aspirants for mem
berShlp. Iney cannot adversely criticize
the administration in the islands without
rejecting upon their own body. As part
and parcel of the government. the assem-
blymen are forced to defend the admin
lStrauOn. As nearly every important
measure was passed with practical unan-
unity, and without party strife, the en-
tire assembly is thus held in pledge.
Among the people, also, this division
OF responsibility has its effect. Instead
of asking why the Americans do not do
thus ana so, they ask why the assembly
doesn't act The people write letters to
the assemblymen rather than to the
American commissioners In this cOndi-
| ton lies the beginning of the end of oppo-
sitiOn to American rule and the promise
Of the ultimate success Of the American
theory Of colonial government.
This theory is attacked BY two classes
Of Americans in the islands One is that
element in the army which regrets tn
abrOgatiOn OF the military government.
| The other is composed of that class of
Americans who, as business men. wish 10
exploit the islands, or those American
politicians who desire a control of the
offices for Americans. Fortunately, this
class is not very large, and, even more
fortunately, il has almost no influence
| There has been no disposition in the
| United States to regard the civil service
OF the Philippines as an asylum and pen
sion Tor young men not otherwise provided
for, and the attitude of the English peO-
nle toward colonial civil
known in the Philippines It is this fea-
ture OF the American policy which is
most puzzling to the English.
However desirable exploitation and
oftice-holdlng by Americans might be in
some respects, it must be remembered
that the Philippines are the natural HON
OF the Filipino, Il must be remembered
that the civil government of the Philip
pines Is self-suppOrting, and it must not
be forgotten that the Filipiuos pay prac-
ucSlly all Of the taxes. The American
government has remembered this Under
the military regime even the driver of a
mule team had to be an American the
theory being that no Filipino was cana
bic OF driving team. All that has dis
appeared long ago, Of course. and now
FilipinOs hold the majority of the offices
and clerkships, Americans. as a rule. are
not trying to stop their progress. and only
a sufficient number of American officers
are retained to keep the direction Of af-
fairs well in hand.
It is true that the Filipino has not man
Tested much gratitude. He probably
doesn't think il necessary when he is
obtaining only that which he thinks is
his very own. But with the masses of
the people the difficulty is the unfamiI-
arity with popular and benevolent gov
eminent The suffrage is limited by both
educational and properly qualifications
vet a very small proportion Of the quail
fled voters availed themselves of their
opportunity at the assembly election They
were not interested I'm something so far
away. They have been quick TO take sd-
vantage Of the gift Of municipal autono-
my, because they can understand that
The final triumph Of the American
policy, policy which proceeded in es-
sence from William II. Taft NAV not be
expected in this generation. As Mr.. Taft
has said, the question of ultimate indie
Dendence of the Philippines probably will
be decided by another generation both Of
Americans and FilipinOs. And while 1t is
too soon to make confident predictions.
the condition Of affairs On the Philippines
TODAY warrants the prophecy that when
the time does come that the FiliDinos are
selves choose relation ike that Of Aus
tralia or Canada to the home government
~ England, rather than entire separa-
ton.
In the meantime It behooves Americans
to take more interest in the policy Of the
government in the Philippines Regard
less of difference Of opinion as 10 whether
or not we ought to be in the Philippines
at all Americans viii find reason for lust
pride in the record Of what we have done
and what we are doing there-reason TO-
congratulatiOn on the establishment Of
the most fai! and humane theory OF CO.
loniaI government the world has vet seen.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS in the Philippines.
XIII-"The Little Brown Brother