The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1913-05-08
PROGRESS IN ORIENT
Rapid Development in Philippine Is
lands Since Archipelago Was
Acquired by America.
Interesting Article Written by Prof.
O'Reilly, Who Has Lived Is
Years Among Filipinos.

Years among F1llplnOS.
The following interesting article
was written expressly for the Union
by Professor P. S. O'Reilly, superin-
tendent of public instruction for the
Philippine islands, who is now visit
ing relatives in Princeton:
Very few Americans seem to realize
the great work that has been done in
the Philippine islands during the
past twelve years, nor do they seem
to appreciate the conditions in that
country as they are today. We have
been in possession of the Philippine
islands since 1898. but the real work
of educating and lifting up the Fill
lipino did not begin until 1900 and
1901, when the instruction closed
and the natives began to settle down
and take an active interest in their
own affairs.
In order to get an idea of what
has been done we must first look at
conditions as we found them, say in
1900. From the year 1895 the Span
ish began to lose control of the
Philippines due to instructions on
the part of the Filipino against the
government. When the Americans
arrived in 1898 the Spanish had lost
control Of practically all the Philip
pine islands with the exception of
Manila and some of the important
centers. The Filipinos, having had
practically entire control of their
affairs during these two or three
years, allowed everything to go down
and the Americans, upon arrival in
the islands, found the country in
very bad state of affairs. On top of
all this came the Philippine insur-
rection against the American govern
ment which lasted until tie latter
part of the year 1900. During this
insurrection of course the Filipinos
dropped everything that. tended to
better their own economic conditions
and devoted their entire time and
energy to war. Upon our arrival in
the islands we found the country in
most unsanitary condition. I can
we'll remember the unsight]y appear
ance of the city Of Manila when I ar
rived some thirteen years ago. dirty
streets, filthy hotels, impure water
and in general everything that was
undesirable in city of 100000 in
habitants. Disease was common
everywhere-bubonic plague, Asiatic
cholera, smallpox and other epidemics
were common. The country was
without roads, very few railroads,
and ohe railroads that were there
were perhaps among the poorest in
the world, and the boat service be-
tween the different islands was any
thing but desirable. The schools
under the Spanish government were
few and far between, nearly all of
the large cities had what was called
the centric school, but in the out
lying districts the poor people and,
in the larger cities: the poorer peo-
pie, had very little access to public
school instruction. The instruction
| that was given in these schools was
not of very high order and the ed
vocational qualifications of the Philip
pine people in 1901 was nothing to be
proud of. The rich ruled the coun-
try. The courts, especially the lower
courts of justice in the municipali-
ties, were very partial to the rich,
that are commonly known through
out the islands as caciques. The
government was in the hands of a.
few and was government of a few.
The country was overrun with la
drones and poverty was in evidence
everywhere.
| These were some of the conditions
as we found them in 1900 and 1901.
The American teachers arrived in
the early dawn of the occupation
and have been hard at work ever
since. I have had occasion to visit
about all Of the principal cities and
provinces and I speak from actual
observation and from contact with
persons and things. It is pleasure
at this time to look back over it all
and see the changes that have been
made and to know that I have
played some part in bringing about
these changes. ....
Today the islands are cleaned, the
epidemic diseases, such as bubonic
plague and Asiatic cholera, have en-
uire]y disappeared and their recru-
descence under present conditions is
practically an impossibility. The
bureau of health is established in
every part of the islands and has
worked in harmony with the public
schools to bring about this sanitary
condition and nduco tion ond orran