The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-11-26

papers that established civil government
behind the army as 1t swept on, that
ended the rule Of the bayonet, SUBSTITUTE
ing the rule of peace, and that raised
s, zoo, 900 human beings from the ground,
stood them on their legs, and liberated
them from Spanish tyranny and hordes
Of robbers of their own blood. Die
tated II, / say, ofrhand, should like
to live under those instructions myself.
Some day we Americans will under
standingly realize what Mckinley Root,
and Taft have achieved in the cause or
civilization.
STILL the directors say, the Philip
pines are costing this country whole
lot Of money Save for the soldiers who
are there-1l, 900. and half OF them Will
soon be coming home-the Islands are
self-supporting. They are paying for
everything as they go along. All told.
they are not costing the United states
S, o0o. 900 a year. About $1,000, 900 has been
spent on the harbor Of Manila. The
largest steamships can now tie up at
three modern steel piers, paid for with
Philippine money. Properly, the cost OF
sinking Admiral Montojos fleet, the cap
ture of Manila by Merritt and Dewey.
and the necessary defeat of Aguinaldo,
the rebel against American authority.
cannot be charged to the Philippines.
Why not charge 1t to Spain? All were
acts Of war and war measures.
Anyway the critics say. taking their
last stand in a refuge of fancy that -
far from the fact. the islands were
Spanish territory. and Americans are op-
posed TO wars OF conquest Spanish, yes
nominally, but wholly for exploitation.
Not Spanish in feeling, however. The ma
tives spoke sixteen Malay dialects, and
strangers could no. understand one an
other. More Filipinos are speaking Eng
lish right now than ever spoke Spanish.
They were a neglected and plundered peo-
pie, and most of them were densely and
pitifully ignorant.
Now, under the folds Of the Stars and
Stripes. they are learning with marvellous
rapidity. Youths brought to American
schools forge to the head Of their classes
Their expenses are paid by their own
government. Some of them fell behind
and called for more money. I looked
over their accounts and found that thay
were buying scented soaps and perfum.
cry. Initiating the Spanish they had
seen at home. you understand. The hope
less ones were sent back. and then
called for boys who would hoe potatoes.
husk corn. and hustle when they needed
extra money. They came, and put them
into schools out West.
Grew Long FingernaiIs.
are doing for the Misunderstanding them
that labor is not dishonorable. The edu-
Gated Filipinos. when first knew them.
wanted to clerk in offices, where they
sat on stools, grew long fingernails, and
sneered at those who worked with their
hands. We have put the management of
the schools into the hands OF the com
missioner Of agriculture. Hoes, axes
saws, and plows, we say, are more i'm
portant than ancient languages. The ad-
vantages Of fertiliZation-Of Just plain
bone dust and stable offal-is more to the
Philippine purpose than TRANSACTIONS of
Caesar. Land to be cultivated. is now
adjacent to every high school. Trades
are being taught. Progress is seen every
where. Wages have advanced from .
cents a day to 81. There is no hope for
any backward people on earth unless the
time comes when they want more than
they have got. The barefooted Filipino
OF the past is wearing shoes. His de-
mands are multipl: 1g. Stores are being
opened to supply his wants. Ten years
renee. I predict. we shall be selling from
800, 900, 900 to 32OooOO,OO0 of manufactured
goods to the Filipinos annually.
There is room in the Philippines for
active and intelligent Americans having,
say, $4,000 apiece for investment. The
journey OF 1908 miles from San Fran
cisco can be made in twenty-three days.