The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-29
JUDGE GARY TELLS OF HIS RECENT
VISIT TO THE NATIONS OF THE ORIENT

! most hospital and generous treatment,
and the frankest expression of sentiment
toward the people of the United States.
Also our diplomatic representatives, with
| out exception, were courteous, helpful
and hospitable; they are rendering faith
full and efficient service.
THE PHILIPPINES
| The Philippine Islands, with proper de-
! velopment and modern practice, are capa
! BILE of supporting comfortably 10 times
or more, the number of people now liv-
| ing within their territory. There can be
| produced everything Indigenous to semi
| tropical ATTITUDES and many things to
| better advantage than on any other lands
within the same proximity to the equa-
| tor. Hemp, tobacco. sugar, rice, cocoa
| nut oils, coffee, fruits, vegetables, grains,
| choicest timber and mutitudes of other
valuable products can be raised in as
| large or larger abundance than in any
other country, with comparatively slight
| exception. The natural requisites, includ-
! ing moisture water power and particu-
| larly richness of soil, are all sufficient
| The climate is equable and excellent. In
: the summer it is warm during the mid
/ die of the day. but the nights are agree
able, and on the whole, the temperature
| seemed to me very much better than the
! average. No doubt the records will show
| favorably by comparison. The Filipinos,
| as a race. are a fine people, intelligent,
of good disposition and possessed of ca
! pacity for success l met large numbers
of them, confined perhaps to the better
| educated classes, but nevertheless repre-
sentative With opportunity, example and
precept, they will take desirable place
in the ranks of progressive and worthy
citizens,
When the United States paid nearly
| SIC, 900 to Spain, the owner, for the
title to the Philippine Islands, she &C
| quired a territory possessed of all the
essentials for building up a rich, health
full and desirable extension of its do
mnions as valuable and necessary sup
plement to the immense productive ca
pacity which she already possessed; and
it was inhabited by a people who, by
J nature, would readily become loyal ano
faithful citizens of our country. Wher
| the United States, by mere chance, OF
as the result of an overriding providence
became responsible for the future vel
; fare of the inhabitants of the islands
and for the conditions which might dl'
| rectly and seriously affect other coun-
tries, especially those in proximity, there
was much in the condition of the people
to be deplored. The masses were ignor-
anti perhaps purposely deprived of edu
cation: and they were subjected to
tyranny and cruelty. They were poor
unhealthy, diseased, overtaxed and
wretched. They were more or less at
war with each other and with their
government. Every influence, every ten
dency, was bad. They had no hope for
the future. Intelligent happiness was nei-
tker a Renaissance nor even an aspir-
alton. Because of the diseases preva-
lent. both the people and their beasts
of burden were a@menace to the out
side world. The Filipinos were not
blamable for this situation: they de-
served a better fate
The United States was a good Samar-
itan. The splendid men who were duly
appointed by our country, including both
military and civil representatives, with
fortitude and judgment and human in
| stincts took up and carried on the work
of renovating and rejuvenating this con-
glomerate of physical and moral cor
rupton, which had developed without the
fault or the understanding of the peo-
pie themselves. The results Of their eff
forts will stand for all time to come
as a monument to the generous, humane
and intelligent policy of an enlightened
and unselfish nation, unless something
| shall be done in the future to counter
act or neutralize the results of the course
which has been pursued. All those who
| have represented the United States in
| bringing about the wonderful changes In
tho Phlllpplne lSidIuS are eHIilleu "
the highest commentator. Their work
has not been fully appreciated by the
/ average citizen of this country.
SOUND GOVERNMENT
There has been established a sound and
exemplary government. The laws are
wisely and justly administered by able
/ and impartial judges; modern and COM
modious hospitals have been built and
are in charge of competent practical and
humane doctors and nurses; plaques and
dreadful contagious and infectious dis
7 eases have been largely stamped out;
model schools, special and common, have
been established and they are filled with
eager and industrious Filipinos taught in
the English language. Good roads have
been built; agriculture, horticulture and
: forestry have been improved; means and
methods for civilization and for mod
ern practical results have been taught
though of course, much remains to be
done.
There has been a general cleaning up
and the best results of experience in 9TH
er up-to-date countries are being ap-
piled so far as possible. Filipinos un-
derstand and appreciate what has beer
done, and they are a grateful people. Of
4 co,,rSe the large majority are referred