New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-03

Christians, pagans or Mahometans. untamed
and savage. None are restrained by our moral
codes, none are afraid, none are mean antag-
onists in arms In breaking up their tribal
feuds, protecting Christian provinces from their
raids and them from the rapscity Of their
Christian brothers, as we'll as in bringing them
under government influence, the constabulsry
has found great field of usefulness, intimately
connected with the general maintenance of or
der in the islands
The constabulary methods used are unique
in the Orient. The senior Inspector in prov
ince is stationed in its capital, in close touch
and confidence with its Governor. He divides
the province into sections and places the re-
sponsbty for patrolling and policing on the
Each municipality has local police under con-
troll of its president and council and supported
from local revenues. These police are inspect
ed by constabulsry officers.
The provincial Governor appoints the chief
and has general supervision over them. They
constitute local auxiliary to the constabulary,
a provision of law existing by which their
active control may be vested in the senior in
spector. A recent law has given the municipal
police a definite term Of enlistment and pro-
lection from summary removal during good
behavior
KHAKI AND SCARLET SYMBOLS OF
GOVERNMENT
Cooperation between constabulary officers
and Filipino officials is the soul of the organi-
cation and the secret of whatever success has
been achieved. 1t means interest in the people,
cultivating the acquaintance of Filipinos of all
grades, allaying their disagreements and fusing
their factions and harmonizing their differ
ences Remote from the centres of commerce
and politics the constabulary khaki and scarlet
are almost the only visible symbols OF govern
ment to the people whose knowledge of the
lawmaking and other branches of the govern
ment and Of the agitation for independence is
shadowy and vague. The officer of the right
sort thrown in such community becomes the
friend and counsellor OF hundreds, who give
him respect and affection.
Outside of the Moro country there is not
to-day an organized band OF outlaws in the
islands, and the numbers of the constabulary
have been reduced from 800 in 1863 stations
to 1872 commissioned officers and S733 men
distributed in l24 stations. The cost is about
S375 per soldier per annum, the expense being
borne entirely from the Philippine revenues.
These Eastern isles have afforded oppor-
tunity for some very gallant deeds Magtsaon
is not unworthy of MARSHA Tour, Balaclava
or the Alamo and lives in constabulary annals
as the highland hamlet in Samar where Jones
and Bowers and Puno, with fifty constabulary,
were treacherously attacked under pretence Of
truce by 1870 pulajanes under their most fanat-
ical leaders. When the last pulajan vanished
there remained but seven constabulary able TO
stand, twenty-five were dead and the others
wounded including Jones and Bowers. Forty
three dead outlaws were buried, and the num-
Der of their wounded remains unknown And
so instances might be multiplied which in other
lands would have brought the Victoria Cross
or the Legion of Honor So, too. the story
might be prolonged, of weary days and nights
on tropical trails OF young manhood sapped
by pernicious malaria OF deaths from the dead
ly dysentery. of the burning fevers, the heart.
aches from struggle under adverse cireum-
stances. the ageing from responsibilities and
the Encouragement from indifference and in
gratitude; but those things have been part Of
the days work and have been so accepted and
borne, and the net result OF these after twelve
years existence of the constabulary is peace
and quiet in the Christian Philippines.