The Washington herald., 1911-09-23

the language Of the islands, and il will
be a great advantage, because English
is the language of the Orient 1t Is the
language of free institutions, and IT is the
language which will bring those who use
1t into free communication with modern
thought and modern progress.
RObber Bands Exterminated.
The islands for a long time were in
tested with robber bands-a feature that
extended far back into the Spanish rule.
They have been captured and destroyed.
and to-day. the islands are more peaceful
than ever in their history.
We have made arrangements for the
construction OF about a thousand miles of
railway, but business depression has pre-
vented the construction OF more than half
this mileage.
The finances of the islands have been
managed with consummate ability, and
they are on a most encouraging basis. A
revenue tariff, and a system of internal
revenue taxes on spirits and tobacco, fur
nish a large revenue. The revenue is not
large enough for the doing of things
which would facilitate the progress of the
islands toward a self-governing condI-
ton. If this government were to appro-
pirate g. 10000 more a year TO education
than can be devoted to II by the Islands, 1t
would reduce the number of years in
which the people can be prepared TO take
over their own government.
They were subjected to the dread
full destruction by rinderpest of three
fourths of their farm animals, and they
have had the visitations that tropical
countries are subject to in greater de-
gree than most countries similarly sit
uated.
Our Markets Now Open.
Until recently business was depress-
ed in the Philippines for nearly the
entire time of our occupation; but, after
a labor OF ten years, we succeeded in
inducing the United States to do the
lust thing by the Philippines and open
her markets to Philippine products in
Cunsidera ton OF the Philippines open
ing her markets to the United States
products. In order to allay the fears
of those who raised sugar in the United
States, and OF those who raised tobacco,
we were obliged to consent to a linn
itation of 25OUOO tons in the annual i'm
portation of sugar and a certain amount
Of tobacco and cigars. The effect of this
change has been marvellous
1T was supposed that 1t would deprive
the government of a very considerable
revenue derived by duties imposed on
the old system, and, therefore, that the
deficit would have to be made up by
internal revenue taxes. Instead of this
the increase in prices, due to access to
the United States market, in the prod
uCts of the islands has so increased
their purchasing power that they have
been able largely to increase the imports
from the United States and maintain
about the same imports from other
TNt1 f~ia FrnV1 yE-hf hfnh a Hn
customs revenue is received
Friar Land Disputes.
Going into the. friar land disputes.
which he settled when governor general
of the Philippines, the President said:
THE bitterness that had grown out OF
the relationship of landlord, due to the
political agitation of recent decades, and
the action of the so-called Philippine
government under Aguinaldo in confis-
eating the estates of the friars had
created a condition in which 1t was be-
yond the power of the government to
assert in favor of the friars' associations.
their legal ownership Of the lands
against their tenants. To have done so
through judicial Proceeding would have
caused a recurrence of the rebellion, and
would have disturbed greatly the busi-
ness of the islands. For that reason, l
was authorized by Congress and by
President Roosevelt and Secretary Root
to negotiate and purchase the lands, and
/ did so for something less than $7.O0O,-
OOO At the time I thought the price
was high, but was willing to pay it for
political reasons. ana not because 1t was
an Investment on a percentage basis.
II. am glad TO say, contrary to my eX-
pectation, the sales of the lands have
gone on with surprising success after
most laborious period of surveys and re-
until now a sufficient
amount of the land has been disposed
of at prices sufficiently high to indicate
that the sale OF all the lands viii re-
suit in giving a sinking fund, which Will
pay the entire Indebtedness and the in
terest when the capital becomes due in
1894. This is a most gratifying result,
and confirms the justice and wisdom OF
the purchase and the fairness Of the
price.
Cost Is Exaggerated.
Complaint is made of the burden of
cost upon the national government OF the |
Philippine Islands, This has been greatly |
The entire expense of the |
civil government is paid out of the taxes |
raised in the islands. The only expense |
that the national government has at all |