El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-11-09

in the Philippines who have no protec-
ton against their Christian" neigh
bOrsl
Naturally, Prof. Worcester's recent
report on the subject of slavery in the
Philippines has ELECTED indignant de-
malls and contradictions 1t might be
said that Prof. Worcester, who has
been secretary of the interior in the
archipelago for number of years, and
who has done more than any other Nv
ing man to promote the welfare of the
wild tribes, ought to know what he is
talking about But, fortunately, il is
possible to refer the matter to certain
definite facts of which there can be no
dispute-facts which are furnished by
the Tagals themselves
The Filipino legislature has control
over all the island of LuzOn with the
exception of Mountain Province lem
bracing seven SubprOvinces} and the
provinces of Nueva ViZcaya and Agu-
san For years past the Philippines
commission, representing the United
states government, has tried in vain
to persuade this assembly TO make
law fOrbidding slavery and the sale and
purchase of human beings The as
Sembly has shown that it is definitely
measure In fact, this is not surprising,
inasmuch as many OF its members are
themselves, though more or less sur
reptitioUsly, owners Of slaves
LeEisIates Against Slavery
The Philippines commission recently
adopted a regulation which establishes
a penalty of one to 20 years imprisOn-
m emtnand $3.50 to $500 fine for the
offense of holding any person in slave
~, or delivering person to be held
in involuntary servitude. Furthermore.
any person who is compelled against
his will to labor for the payment OF
a debt is considered to be a victim OF
"peOnage," and the individual respon-
slble for such cOmpulsiOn is liable to
Imprisonment for six months to five
years, and to fine Of $50 to $500
One-half of anV fine collected uu6pr
this regulation goes to the person held
IN slavery or sold as a slave
This, of course is very drastic. But,
unhapplIy- the commission has author
ity in such matters only over the
Mountain Province and the provinces
OF Nueva NiZcaya and Agusan. Else
where the regulation has no force. un-
less indOrsed by the action Of the Fill
pinO legislature As already stated.
the legislature has declined TO pass any
such act, and consequently slavery is
still an accepted institution in the
Philippines
Upon this question, then. the fight
row about to begin in congress will
to q considerable extent be made
There viii be assertions. denials. and
counter denials- But among those
VINO possess a real acquaintance with
affairs in the Philippines there is no
dispute whatever. The TagalS have
small regard for free institutions as
we know them, and for the rights and
welfare Of the wild people they have
shown that they care less than Moth
ing II. allowed, they would do much
worse to the nOnchristian tribes than
merely enslaTe them They would DO
again what they were accustomed to
do before the arrival of the Americans
Viewed merely as a business prOpO-
sitiOn, the Philippines may or may not
be worth while for US But the real
question involved is not this. nor any
sentimental feeling of obligation TO
give liberty to the Tagals- It is
whether we have right TO abandon
10 their tender mercies the helpless
nOnchTistian tribes. The wild people
can look only to the Americans for
help and protection Their future is
wholly in our hands We have ac-
cepted them as wards of this nation,
and have begun TO uplift them. They
look upon US with gratitude and affec-
ton Shall we now show them how
baseless is their confidence in US by
dropping them again into the abyss2