The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-09-29
HOW TT COULD BE DONE.

in some Of tho newspapers TO find
fault with the administration Of the
Philippine Islands in the matter Of
slavery. There is a auerulous tone Of
| incrudulity In some quarters as though
the government officials in the Philip
pines had neglected their duty all
these years in not suppressing slavery
if slavery, in fact. exists in those
islands. The government Of the Phil.
ippines has undoubtedly done all that
it could TO stamp out slavery. but the
continuance OF the evil Is the fault Of
! the Filipinos themselves, and it has
undoubtedly been surreptitious. Their
native legislature has persistently re
! fused to enact law forbdding slav-
cry or doing anything to interfere with
or punish it,
The Philadelphia Record has a ouri-
Gus editorial upon it, the gist Of which
seems to be a denial that slavery ex-
lists by sanctity of law; the Record g
comment being as follows.
1t is possible that the report charging
the Fflipinos with practcing slavery
may have been inspired by desire to
SehS Delay the concession sl7d OF political indie
herring to this institution might very
properly. be regarded as unfit for free
dom. The report, however, fails to show
that slavery in tho Philippines exists by
sanction OF law: and the system OF
peonage. whereby persons can be kept
In state Of uncompensated servitude
In satisfaction OF a debt, could he wiped
conditions disclosed by the report are
really matters OF morals and customs !:
and il the grant Of independence should
be delayed until the F1lipinos have de-
ethics Identical with our own, the day
of their deliverance would be postponed
TO long-distant future.
OF course slavery does not exist in
the Philippines, or anywhere else,
where the United States has any au-
thority, under the sanction of law; but
that it does exist in the Philippines is
not subject of any further doubt
1t is evident, however, that the Fill
pinos sanction it, since they refuse to
legislate against it. But that it must
cease is tho general consensus Of opin-
ion. Thus the Deseret News of Satur-
day evening says:
That slavery existed in the Philippines
during Spanish rule was commonly
known, but 1t was as commonly sup
posed that 1t had been suppressed with
was therefore somewhat Of shock to
the American people generally TO learn
that slavery in certain parts Of the
islands is not occurring only ,spasmod-
question now is, what are we going to
do about it7 1t is an abominnble in
stitution which cannot be tolerated un-
der the American flag, though Il does
aid Of the Catholic religion. was able to
suppress It,
The News is quite right in asserting
that slavery must be e1tirpated where
ever it exists under the American
slavery there has been SO thoroughly
established, 1t would be a shame to
the United States to permit its fur
ther continuance. Among the Moros
Of the Southern islands, polygamy also
exists openly and unafraid. The in
fluence of the United States has been
against It., however, but not TO the
extent Of extirpating new polygamy or
of breaking up the polygamy already |
Those who claim that the United !
States ought TO have extirpated slav-
cry in the Philippines long ago, do
not give due heed to the conditions |
under which an evil Of that kind can |
exist in defiance Of law. The exist |
ence Of slavery has been persistently |
denied all the time. Delegate Quezon |
sprang to the front with prompt de- |
NAL Of Dean Worcester's charge that
slavery exists in the islands, and de- |
Worcester as a liar and SLAM
derer. But the proof of the existence
Of slavery followed so closely that de-
nia] was not longer possible The ac-
tion of Quezon forms key which |
explains the whole matter. Tt is evi- |
dent that the community custom |
among the Filipinos sanctions, and the |
community sentiment defends, slavery. |
1t is evident that slavery exists gen
orally, in the islands, and it is evident, |
further, that all the native population
concerned in it and having to do with |
it, deny the existence Of slavery when |
ever it is charged. They not only deny
it, they protest that those who claim |
it are falsifiers; and when whole com
Of people are banded together
to conceal and protect an evil or crime |
of this sort, it is very hard to get |
legal proof OF any punishable cases
All concerned in any such attempt, |
defy the law, going upon the witness |
stand and unflincbingly perjuring them
selves in the upholding Of the institu-
tion. Those who are concerned in it |
will declare that they know nothing
about it, and swear that the particular |
instance which may be under investi- |
cation is, in fact, false charge |
throughout, Persons engaged in this |
sort of thwarting Of the law will even
go to prison for contempt of cour, |
rather than tell the truth, and tboy |
will be even more willing to send their
women folks to prison for like con
tempt. The men who stand out thus
are hailed as martyrs. but tho women