The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-07-23
A USEFUL LIFE
How an American Soldier Took up
"The White Mans Burden"
Much has been said and writer

me white MANS BURDEN.
Much has been said and written in
criticism of the holding of the Phil
ippine islands by the United States.
Il has been urged that our rule has
been oppressive. that We have de-
prived an ambitious people of the
rights of self government and that
we would be in a better position
without the islands than we are with
the responsibility for them.
Probably more has been said re-
garding our mistakes and alleged OBJ
preston than concerning the good
We have done in the archipelago. The
recent death by drowning of Lieut.
Edward Y. Miller, oath Infantry, calls
attention to the good work done in an
inconspicuous manner by one Amer
lean soldier With the outbreak of the
Spanish-American War Miller, then
- years old, and an officer in
Chicago regiment of militia, enlisted
He saw service as an officer of the
9Th Illinois regiment in Porto Rico
and later was made q captain Of the
Goth L s. Volunteer Infantry. When
this regiment was disbanded Miller
was appointed a lieutenant in the
regular army and was made governor
of Palawan Island in the Philippine
group Here in this lonely island
on which he and his wife were prac-
tically the only white persons he
sought to improve the condition of
$4,000 natives, of whom 5000 We're
classified as belonging to wild tribes.
He has a few scattered Philippine
scouts as guard but no American
troops
A news dispatch says of his work.
His whole activities were devoted
10 educating his uncivillZed and half
! civilized charges for their own bene-
| fiji and he soon won their confidence
and highest esteem. They came to
him when he had been only few
months on the islands and told him
Of an expected annual visit by Moros
and other piratical tribes for tribute.
! The Palawans had been the unresist-
/ ing prey Of these robbers for genera
/ tons Lieutenant Miller told his PEG
/ pie not to pay and led his handful of
scouts against the tribute seekers,
/ thrashed them soundly and drove
them off the islands. The news
spread and all the savage tribes who
had been accustomed to live on trib-
ute from the Palawans joined in an
attack to prevent determination of
that easy source Of living.
With the scouts and a few bands
OF the better armed and trained Pal
awans Lieutenant Miller drove off
the combined forces in defeat and
panic, and the Palawans have ever
since been left to profit in peace by
the lessons in improved agricultural
methods, the application of crops
the introduction of rubber planting
and other methods whereby they have
grown richer and more prosperous
He showed them how they we're be-
ing robbed by money lenders and en-
tirely upset that graft i'm the Islands
That the Palawans worshipped Lieu
tenant Miller is literally true and
they took all their affairs to him foi
settlement His word was law and
his favor was sought above that of all
things
while he was continually asking
the government for means to further
improve the Palawans Lieutenant
| Miller never asked anything for him
self. not even promotion and drew
his $1S3.33 a month. lived on IL and
said nothing"
Seldom has it been possible for an
officer Of low rank TO do so much fol-
simple and an alien people Last
winter General Franklin Bell, in ar
guiug the need of more officers before
the House Committee on Military AZ
fairs had this to say Of this gallant
officer:
Lieutenant Miller while yolun
teer officer commanded some troops
IN the island Of palawan, which Is
very isolated and distant from tbs
others and the seat OF government
He acquired such an influence Will
the people and so gained their con
hdence that the War department
simply left him there as governor II,
Is practically alone and controls IN,
people entirely through the force o
his personality and their deep REGARD
for him. lie has never Joined tn,
regiment of which he was made an
officer when he was appointed TO The
regular army. He has never seen hil
regiment ! have heard Il insiste,
that he could not he replaced. Ger
tainly not by a company, prohabl!
not by a battalion and possibly no
by a regiment OF troops"
Any man might well ne proud o
such a tribute This is not an isola
ted instance Under United StateI
authority wonderful progress hai
been made In the Philippines. Mis-
takes have been made and many IN
efficient men have been assigned e
duty. Nevertheless the cause of civ
ilization has been advanced 10 q re
markable degree by United State
officials.
When a man can leave behind
record like that of Lieutenant Mile
90 cannot be said that the age of he
roes has departed. Not In tourna
ments on a Field of the Cloth of Col
] L.. 4 a.