The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-08

tablishment OF the summer capitai ~
Bag uio, the Simla Of the Philippines.
but more eligible and accessible than
the indian summer capital, being within
$50 miles Of Manila. For IL wan on the
rather vague report Of an employee OF
the spanish bureau Of forestry that
there wus within such a distance Of the
capital an extensive region grown with
oaks and pines which Of course means
In the temperate zone. that Mr.. Wor-
cester was induced to explore II. Hither
II was that Gov. Taft resorted In the
early days to be rid Of some complaint
incident to the lowlands. and cabled to
the Secretary Of War that he had ridden
on horseback twenty-five miles to an
elevation Of 5000 feet without expert
encing any personal inconvenience and
received from the Secretary Of War in
reply the lacOnic and unfeeling inquiry:
How IL horse? Root" Baguio il now
accessible by q road. capable Of carrying
freight autos. which was estimated to
cost $4,000 and has cost nearer ten
times that, but Is evidently we'll worth
tho money.
About all these departments Mr.
Worcester enters into an anectionate
and enthusiastic detail which will not be
tedious to any reader really interested
in the subject. as every American
reader ought to be. The question OF
practical politics Is, shall we continue
this great work for civilization or shall
We abandon Il? Mr.. Worcester fears
that We have already begun to abandon
Il. by giving more power TO the F1lipinos
than they are AZ yet nt to exercise and
BY pursuing in the islands that lowering
Of the tone Of the civil service which
has unfortunately been no much in evi.
dence In other departments of the gov.
eminent during the present administra-
ton. The personnel" IL evidently
everything in q great enterprise like
this which imperatively demands en-
thusiasm and devotion. In his tribute(
to the showing OF these qualities by
some Of his colleagues the author rises
to eloQuence. After considering what
has been accomplished by our Official
pioneers In the Philippines the reader
Of these pages viii bs apt TO experience
shudders or stomachlc qualms upon
reading the remark. quoted by Mr.
Worcester. OF the new Governor Of the
islands: For years have been OF the
minority in Congress, and have seen
the Democrats Kicked about. trampled
upon. and otherwise manhandled by Re-
publcans, so that ! must confess II now
gives me Il saturnine pleasure to see
the Democrats In a position to do the
same thing to the Republicans" But
1t is merely pathetic to find the new
Governor, according TO Mr.. Worcester's
report. kicking about. tramplinR upon
and manhandling efficient and faithful
civil servants in the Philippines in
order to AL their places with persons
selected with no more pretence OF fit-
ness than have been Mr.. Bryan's diplo-
matte officers in Latin America. There
could be no surer way 10 convert the
adm. Illustration OF TIE Philippines from
a national pride TO a national disgrace
Mr.. Worcester quotes the report OF th'
Philippines Commission OF 1901, to III,
effect that the maintenance Of the high
| est and strictest standard Of efiicienc!
| In the civil service Of the Philippines /,
! the bnly alternative to national huml
liatlon." and adds: IT signed that report
I haw since seen no reason to change
my mind"