Evening star., 1909-03-04
His Youth Surrounded by an
Atmosphere of Regard for
Public Duty and Responsibility
of Citizenship ---Formative Peri
cd of T His Life Greatly Influenced
by His Mother r---ByHer He Was
Taught That ''Conscience is the
Arbiter of Action and Duty
Performed the Goal of Service"

changed 1t all. He did it by the per-
suasive power OF the most winning per-
sonality the Filipinos had ever known.
He met them on their own level. He
lived with them. ate with them. drank
with them. danced with them. and he
showed them that here was an occi-
dental who could read and sympathfze
with the oriental heart. He gave them
a new conception of justice, and they
saw with ama2ement that 1t was even
handed, respecting neither person nor
condition. a great leveler. equalizing all
before the law. They saw Mr. Taft un-
derstanding them better than they had
understood themselves. comprehending
own leaders had done. and standing All
the time like rock solidly for their
interests. They saw him opposed by al
most all his countrymen In their IS
lands. denounced and assailed with the
utmost vehemence and venom by Ameri-
cans simply because he steadfastiy re-
sisted American exploitation and per-
sisted in his declaration that the Philip
pines should be for the Filipinos Ihey
saw him laboring day and night g IN se sne,l
full resignation in order to carry on their
cause. It was a revelation to them II
was something beyond their previous
ken, outside Of all their experience. their
vinced them.
"Mr. Taft gave them concrete examples
Of disiuterestedness and good faith, whicn
they could not fail to comprehend he
gave them schools and the opportunity OF
education, one OF the dearest "iehee VI
the whole people.
.'Mr. Taft gave the Filipinos the oppor-
tunity to own their own homes. II was
another concrete example OF simple JUS
tice. When they saw him negotiating Tor
for HiItn1n0S
the right to buy those lands on easy
terms, it went home to the dullest among
them that he was working unselhshfy In
their behalf
"And they saw his justice IN their
courts. For the first time in all their ex-
perience the poorest and humblest FILL
pino found himself able to secure an
even-handed honest decision. without pur-
chase and without influence.
Birth Of a Nation.
''what is the result? The birth Of ma
ton. The great. powerful American peo-
ple. through the compelling agency OF Mr..
Taft. has paused ever 30 slightly IN us
triumphant onward march, to stoop down
and lift up feeble. ignorant and helpless
people and set it on the broad highway
10 liberty. Vaguely, uncertainty. not
comprehending clearly just what 1t was
doing. not understanding always fully
either the object or the means or accom-
plishment, but its heart right, ana SUD-
mitting confidently to the ieaoershp ,;csti Ii tb;s
nation has assisted in a new birth OK
freedom for a lowly and oppressed people.
To William Howard Taft belongs the
lions share Of the credit. Not often Is II
given to one man to do such work for
humanity. Seldom is such altruism as his
displayed. Many other honors have come
to him; many others will yet come.
Among them all none will be Of greater
Significance or Of more lasting value tnan
his work for the Filipinos."
High Diplomatic Ability.
Almost at the beginning OF his work in
the Philippines the new governor general
was confronted with situation which
required for its adjustment the very high
est grade Of diplomatic ability. A large
proportion Of the lands In the islands
were in the undisputed possession OF GER
tain religious orders. which had title
dating back for hundreds of years. ana
backed up by the royal patents OF Spain.
The conditions in the islands were such
that the continued occupation OF these
lands by the religious orders would surely
have provoked continuous instructions.
1t was absolutely indispensable that these
lands should be withdrawn from their re-
ligious ownership and distributed among
the people, it being evident that popular
ownership in the Philippines, as else
where, would be the surest guarantee OF
peace.
The point Of view of the religious orders
and Of the people was diametrically op-
posite. This government had no ma
chinery for dealing with such question.
It was necessary to pacify the people,
but the legal titles to the lands were un-
retary Taft was dispatched direct to the
pope of Rome. 1t was an extraordinary
mission. He was called upon to pego-
tiate with a religious prince with whom
this government could have no diplomatic
relations. The question at issue was a
DANGEROUS one, because 1t involved the
creation Of relations between church and
state, which are absolutely foreign to the
form Of government OF the United States.
The latter had taken the islands from
suming> to build up new civilization
there in which the church was to be di-
vorced once and for all from the govern
ment.
Conference Unique in History.
This historic conference between the
holy father and the governor general of
the Philippines Is almost unique in diplo-
macy The results obtained by clear un-
derstanding between these two men were
almost stupendous. It was necessary to
eliminate the religious orders as agricul-
tural landlords. and at the same time
this had to be done without infringing in
any way upon the rights Of the Roman
Catholic Church. whose great influence
for good in the islands no one denied. A
basis OF agreement was found. The
United States agreed to pay a sum con-
siderably in excess OF what 1t believed
the lands were worth. but it did SO be-
cause prompt action was necessary to
prevent continuous revolutions.
The visit to the pope and the personal
intercession OF the governor general re-
suited in the holy father sending an apos-
tolic delegate to the islands with adequate
powers, as a result of which the lands
were turned over to the insular govern
ment for $7OOO.O0O and the hierarchy
agreed to send no friars as parish priests
in any case where the governor general
makes final objection.
government and the adjustment OF diff
ferences as to the employment of friars as
parish priests brought peace to the is
lands, and it was done in such way that
the strongest supporter and admirer Of
the American government In the Philip
pines today is the Church of Rome.
Becomes Secretary Of War.
Mr.. Taft became Secretary of War Feb
ruary 1. 1904. During his administration
the office has taken widely expanded
range Of duty and responsibility He
has been not only the head Of the mill
tary establishment. but has been prac-
tically secretary OF the insular posses
sions as well. He has directed affairs in
A. hno H,nI aIo 40 ~