The Topeka state journal. [volume], June 29, 1901, EDITORIAL SECTION, Image 14

About The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980

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t TT-iraiid StairraseU4erntr'4 Palace, v ifflf TJie lajnetia, manjla;.
f VennC. Henry gde. jjP""
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k. RTABIISHMRIT OF f!TVTT.
O V BKBJ I IBJ I Mil PMiliPFiiM ES
A
LMOST coirifMcntly iviih the
birih of the Australian com
monwealth south of the equa
tor comes the establishment
of civil government in the
Philippines. north of the
equator. Both events are of
worldwide interest, tor they will have
an Important b- arir.g upon oriental
problems.
The fourth day of July, on which the
Initial attempt at a civil government
in the Philippin-'s and the installation
of the new governor will occur, will
doubtWs be memorable to the Filipi
nos, and as the first American election '
in their islands took place on the ,
Fourth of July last year that date
Mill be doubly notable. Little more!
than three yens have elapsed since';
the boom of Dewey's cannon in the
harbor of Manila sounded the knell j
of Spanish rule m the Philippines, and ;
during that r.-riod a great deal has ',
transpired tending- toward the final def- j
initior: of the status of the archip"la- I
Kos inhabitants. Had. the 8.000.000 or!
10.0o0,Oy0 of people dwelling- there been ;
more homogeneous there might have '
been less difficulty in settling the vexd '
questions which have arisen in the ;
process of ratification: but as it is, '
considering: the multiplicity of the i
problems presented and the character :
of the people M'ith whom our soldiers
find civilians have had to deal, it must
be admiLted that great progress has !
been made. i
The Philippines' first American mill- I
tary governor, Major General Merritt, I
held his position for but a brief period j
.i:.a a succeeded in August, 1SSS, by
Major ..General Otis, who exercised su
preme military and civil authority until
the advent of Major General Mac Ar
thur in May, 1900. His successor. Gen
eral Chaffee, Mho commanded our mili
tary forces in China. Mill have no fur
ther civil functions to perform, as his
duties will be strictly military, for the
time has now arrived, in the opinion of
the Philippine commission appointed by
President McKinley last year, for inau
gurating: the long promised, long defer
red government of the people by the
people so far as they are considered fit
for self rule.
The first territorial governor of the
Philippines. as already announced,
is Judge William H. Taft. who for more
than a year has been president of the
commission sent out to pave the wav
for the new order of things. Judge Taft
is a native of Ohio. He m as born in
and is a son of Hon. Alphonso Taft.
a former attorney general of the United
State. From the pubiic schools of
Cincinnati Judge Taft went to Tale
graduating m ith distinction in 17S. sec
ond in his class. After two years at
the Cincinnati Law school he entered
upon the prac-ti-e of his profession and
in list Mas appointed assistant prose
cuting attorney of Hamilton county
He Mas a collector of internal revenue
for the 1-irst Ohio district in 1SS2, judge
of the superior court of Cincinnati in
1SS.. solicitor general of the department
of justice in 1SH0 and a judge of the
federal bench in 1S92. It Mas in Febru
ary. 1300. that President MeKinlev ap
pointed Judge Taft chairman, or presi
dent, of the second commission formed
for imuiring Into the condition of the
Philippines and thus placed him in line
fo.- elevation to the high position which
he at present occupies.
The original Philippine commission to
formulate a report on the best scheme
of government for the islands, consist
ing of Professor J. G. Schurman, Admi
ral George Dewey, Hon. Charles Denby
and Professor Dean C. Worcester, re
torted to the president in January, 'lS0O
lecommending the appointment of an
American governor general, to be as
sisted by a council comprising Filipi
nos and Americans, and of provincial
povernors. preferably from the United
fctatts. This commission announced it
self as un.tualifiedly in favor of a gov
ernment for the islands analogous to
that of a territory of the United States,
with a governor appointed by the presi
dent. The commissioners went into the
subject thoroughly and as a body came
to the conclusion that the United States
could not withdraw from the Philip
pine Islands.
Acting upon the recommendations of
bis commissioners, President McKinley
promptly took measures, by authority
M hich bad been accorded him by con
gress, lor loi-v. a. tiing the scheme of
government. As three of the commis
sioners resigned after presenting their
report, Mr. McKinley created another
body, with more extended scope, con
sisting of Judge Taft, Professor Dean
Worcester. Hon. Luke E. Wright,
Hon. Henry C. Ide and Professor Ber
nard Moses. They Mere to serve for
two years or for such a period as might
be necessary for the accomplishment
of the purpose in view, and they were
to go to the Philippines and establish
themselves, with headquarters at Ma
nila. All were prominent men of af
fairs in tiieir respective states and M-ere
appointed for their known or assumed
ability Mithout reference to politics.
Of the live Professor Worcester of
Michigan was the best informed re
specting the Philippines, having made
several visits to the islands and written
of them extensively. Mr. Wright is
from Tennessee, Mr. Ide from Vermont
and Mr. Moses from California: so the
T'nion was well represented geograph
ically. In his instructions to the commis
sioners, embodied in a letter addressed
in April, ll'GO, to the secretary of war,
President McKinley outlined the scope
of their mission, M-hich Mas to "con
tinue and perfect the M'ork of organiz
ing and establishing civil government,
already commenced by the military au
thorities, subject in all respects to any
laws which congress may hereafter en
act." As it Mas surmised that" the
transfer of authority from military
commandfTS to civil officers would con
sume much time and necessitate per
fect co-operation for its successful ac
complishment, both services were to be
directed during the transition period
by the secretary of Mar, to whom the
commission was instructed to report.
These instructions have been folloM-ed
to the letter, and the authorities, from
Military Governor MacArthur down,
have afforded every facility to the com
missioners for the successful prosecu
tion of their work. On their arrival
at Manila they were comfortably es
tablished at a central official residence.
M-hence, after familiarizing themselves
with the natives, studying the situa
tion, they paid visits to the various is
lands in the vast archipelago, being
provided for the purpose Mith a special
transport and escorts by the military
governor.
Special stress was laid by President
McKinley upoi the desire of the admin
istration that the Filipinos should have
accorded them the largest measure of
autonomy consistent with safety and
commensurate Mith their capacity. The
commissioners M-ere to devote their ef
forts in the first instance to the estab
lishment of municipal governments, in
which the natives of the islands, both
in the cities and in the rural communi
ties, should be afTorded opportunities to
manage their om n local affairs to the
fullest extent of which they Mere capa
ble and subject to the least degree of
supervision and control consistent with
the maintenance of laM' and order.
Next to be considered in order of im
portance Mas the organization of gov
ernment in the larger divisions corre
sponding to counties or provinces, in
which the common interests of many
or several municipalities falling within
the same tribal lines or the same natu
ral geographical limits might best be
subserved by a common administration.
Whenever the commissioners should
arrive at the conclusion that the condi
tion of affairs in the islands was such
that the central administration might
safely be transferred from military to
civil control they were to report that
conclusion to the secretary of M ar at
Washington, together Mith recommen
dations as to the best form to be adopt
ed. At the same time it was' cautioned
that the people of the islands should
be made plainly to understand that
there are certain great principles M-hich
have been made the basis of our gov
ernmental system which M-e deem es
sential to the rule of lawand the mainte
nance of individual freedom and which
they unfortunately had been denied
during the long centuries of Spanish
misruie. The Filipinos, in fact, were to
be treated in a spirit of justice and
generosity and. while being instructed
as to theirdulics, given a larger measure
of liberty than they had ever enjoyed.
By the articles of capitulation of the
! city of Manila in August, 1898, the
United States guaranteed protection to
its religious and educational institu
tions and to private property, which
were placed under the special safe-
! guard of the faith and honor of the
American army.
j Kelieving that this pledge has been
kept, the president reminded the com
I missioners that an equally high and sa-
cred obligation rested upon the govern
i ment of the United States "to give pro
: tection for property and life, civil and
religious freedom and wise, firm and un
selfish guidance in the paths of peace and
prosperity to all the people of the Phil
ippine Islands." And he charged them
earnestly to labor for the full perform
ance of that obligation as vitally con
cerning the honor and conscience of
their country, so that eventually the
Filipinos should look upon the Ameri
can occupation of the archipelago as
the happiest event in their annals as a
people.
In pursuance of their instructions the
commissioners have made their inves
tigations into municipal and insular af
fairs M'ith great thoroughness and lat
terly have been on a grand tour of In
spection and rehabilitation, during
M-hich they visited the principal islands
lying to the southward of Manila. In
most of them they set up local and pro
vincial governing bodies, composed
mainly of natives of the people's own
choosing, subject only to the veto pow
er of the central junta or territorial
governor. No educational qualification
is demanded for voters, and the ballots
of illiterates will be cast by the election
officials. The requisites for the fran-
rx
WHEN
WIT
WJfcUE
( 1
Fourth d
WENT UP
DEN'S BALLOON
f July Poem.
Copyright, 190!. by
Professor McFadden, the great aeronaut.
For Fourth celebrations was very much sought
His "monster balloon" on the land's natal day
WJ .... . . . .
wouia noonob witn clouds in ahairraisingjEayj,
And, clad in pink tights, fr
The handsome professor
And "skin the cat," too, onXiiis way toward
And one time at Tompkins the town got some
Not mentioned at all on the posters and bills
When Willie went up with McFadoTen'srbapng
9 v x v j r w a
tarle H, Eaton. -rJ I V Y LJ I
An his flying trapeze X L. WlllM J I
Would hang by his knee, ' X I
'V in iitiHiiiihwM ftiMifiiiiiimri'i i nr iiniip uiiiiitfiiriitfwiwrfitffflii i ii i iii hi ii rT" -i vr
r
f ' ' fiii" n I nBi5awillini ingrTll
Now, Willie "was- smart ez they made 'em." 'twas said.
Thev's heaps of hoss sense," 'twas observed, "in his head,
Thet prizedeclymation he won in a walk.
An he's the reelThmgwhen he gits up to talk.
And Willie hisself says hcan'be kep' downi
Thet he'll rise in life an surpysethe ole town.
Though not a boy borned with a bright .silver spoon.
Some folks thought him sappy, with no brains to spare,
But this was the talk that was heard here and there
When Willie went up with McFadden's balloon
the glorious Fourth of July.
The guy ropes that curbed the balloon were held tight
By Willie and others of strength, weight and height,
And Willie, for fe"ar-the-haJigon'd come to harm.
Wound his several timcr&und one leg and one arm.
The park was well thronged when the -'King of the Air,"
Professor McFadden, his curly head bare.
Cried "Lave go the ropes!" and shot up all too .soon.
For, caught by one leg in the coils of his rope $i,o'J qs
Vnd shrieking lor help like a soul without hope,., "JJpSoJ?M,
Poor Willie went up with McFaddenV balloon--fifl
wn tne glorious rourtn oi July.
t n rnTimiriniMiiiiuM v-r v w '
! 1 1 " XJ r-He soared Tu"h"Tn "air
- ' lrbrby e seat
I Hrt Vf GT And maa me Worked
tiJtvys. i i J vvn.sureiy ncyrasncre o
'&2Jitt. JU r-" He said he
tt htSSR- ' 1 TL. W.K,n
-r- dh
Zwrfc --S E3?2i
sr&r B
snikd Carcm
then came down in a tree,
of his trousers hung he.
watched by half of the town,
and had Willie soon down;
"People said he was great,
uite frequent of late,
theboy ain't no loon.
daylight
would ris
tlieNthing donevthe
Willie went up witlr McFadden's balloon j
Fourth of JuiyT.
anAby ginger, nesriz:.
chise are that the voter must be at
least 23 years of age and a resident for
six months in the municipality. Those
disqualified are delinquents in taxes, all
who have been disfranchised by a court,
all who have taken and violated the
oath of allegiance to the United States,
those in arms against American sover
eignty and all Insane or feeble minded
persons.
A small property qualification 13 a
requisite in municipal voting, and spe
cial legislation is recommended for the
city of Manila and the non-Christian
tribes, such as the Igorrotes of the
mountains and the pagan Bagabos.
During a tour of organization from
which the commissioners recently re
turned after an absence of eight weeks
and during which they traveled more
than 3,000 miles they expressed them
selves as satisfied with the conditions
generally prevailing, except in the Sulu
archipelago. Nearly all the other Fili
pinos, including even some of the semi
savage tribes of the interior, were ea
ger for a chance for autonomous gov
ernment and, above all, desirous for
education. Eut the sultan of Sulu, with
whom some time ago a special treaty
was negotiated, still insisted that slav
ery and polygamy should remain fea
tures of his government and was jeal
ous of any prospective encroachments.
He and his ",dattos" and subjects gen
erally, living as they are in ignorance
and semisavagery, fell back upon the
treaty negotiated by General Bates
when the subject of self government
was broached, shielding themselves be
hind the clause which provides that
said treaty cannot be abrogated except
by consent of both high contracting
parties. So the commissioners are still
in doubt as to what should be done
with the Mohammedan Sulus in the im
mediate future 'and even regard the
fierce savages of the hills as in some
respects more amenable to argument.
"Once a Mohammedan always a Mo
hammedan" applies In the Philippines
as well as in Turkey, Egypt or Morocco,
and, although there is the strongest
guarantee on the part of the American
government as to religious freedom, yet
the fiercely fanatical Sulus know well
that their practices of slavery and po
lygamy cannot continue to be winked
at by American civilization in the twen
tieth century.
Not less than 20 provinces have been
officered and provided with government
on advanced lines, and, following the
suggestions in the president's instruc
tions, the commissioners have in ail
cases when compatible with the public
interest placed natives at the head of
affairs. But while the Filipinos are
generous, intelligent and apt political
students they are naturally in sympa
thy with the insurgents, with whom
they have racial affinity. It is hoped,
however, that when they are perfectly
convinced of the integrity of American
purposes regarding them and better in
formed as to the character of our insti
tutions they will serve loyally. Until
that happy time arrives it will be ab
solutely necessary to support the civil
administration with the military re
sources, and at present no picture of
Philippine government will be complete
without a background of guns and bay
onets not necessarily for use, but "as
a guarantee of good faith."
Certain concessions also are requisite
to the Filipino love of display and offi
cial ostentation, as. for example, in the
provision for the Filipino councilors to
wear a uniform while presiding and to
carry "a black cylindrical cane with
gold head, gilt ferrule and black cord
and tassels." Such a cane or wand is
in itself a symbol of authority among
all natives accustomed to Spanish au
thority not only in the Philippines, but
in Mexico and South America.
It was considered a daring stroke of
policy to appoint as rulers of some of
the provinces the more noted of the In
surgent leaders lately in arms against
the government; but, though the risk
was considered great, the immediate
effect upon those still in rebellion was
marked and salutary.
One ef the most conspicuous of
those appointment was that of Gen
eral Mariano Trias, who was command
er in chief of the Filipino forces while
Aguinaldo was in hiding. He surrender
ed in March and was recently made
governor of Cavite. Another, Ambro- ,
sio Flores, was installed as governor j
oi Kizal. But la both instances the
treasurers of the provinces were Amer.
lean military officers.
In this manner, by rewarding the edu
cated Filipinos and men of influence
with high offices, as well as by dis
couraging opposition, the Americans are
at one and the same time weakening
the armed resistance and strengthening
themselves in the respect and regard of
the people.
One of the latest acts of the commis
sion was the organization of the consu
lar courts and the creation of 17 judi
cial circuits. Of these 10 are presided
over by American judges, as follows:
Manila Kincaid of Texas and Odlln
of New Hampshire.
Aparri Blount of Georgia.
Dagupan Johnson of Michigan.
Batangas Linebarger of Illinois.
Nueva Caceres Carson of Virginia,
Iloilo Bates of Vermont.
Negros Norris of Nebraska.
Cebu Carlock of Illinois.
Kamboanga Lokis of Iowa.
Sulu Whitsett of Missouri.
The old Spanish courts naturally
ceased to have jurisdiction upon the
assumption of American sovereignty,
and, as it soon became apparent to
General Otis that the re-establishment
of civil courts was necessary, the first
supreme court was formed, in May. 1S!9,
with a native, Don Cayetano S. Arella
no, president. This court has proved em
inently satisfactory, under its limita
tions, but the Taft commission has done
all it could to prepare codes of civil
and criminal procedure based upon tha
American practice. An additional rea
son for the early establishment of
Americanized courts is found in the
prospective development of the islands"
resources, new and revised mining and
forestry laws being demanded.
The great natural resources of tha
Philippines, comprising coal, timber,
gold and copper, are about to be ex
ploited as never before. It was esti
mated that last year there were more
than 1,200 prospectors scattered through,
the mountain regions looking for gold
alone, and millions of capital is wait
ing for the exploitation of goldflelda
and forest lands. There are, it is cal
culated, at least 40,000,000 acres of wild
forest lands In the archipelago, and al
ready, through the wise application of
regulations formulated by forestry ex
perts, vast tracts are being opened, and
the excessively high price of lumber in
Manila has been greatly reduced.
While the natural resources of tha
Philippines are undoubtedly vast in ex
tent and capable of rich returns on in
vestments, the field is not recommended
by the commissioners, who are more
interested in the advent of teachers for
service in the department of public in
struction. Most of these will be Ameri
can, as English will be the Filipino lan
guage of the future. A shipload of in
structors has already sailed, and as
many more stand ready to go. so it
would seem that the efforts of the com
missioners are to be supplemented by
an army of educators and. It is to be
hoped, will finally be rewarded by the
establishment of the civil government
upon a broad and firm foundation.
TRUMAN L. ELTON.
HAVE YOU THE JIUGER8J
In the far northwest of Canada are
mighty sheep ranches. On each of
these a solitary shepherd looks after his
huge flock from one shearing to anoth
er. His duty it is to count the thou
sands of sheep as they come out of
their inclosure.
He stands at the gate and with prac
ticed eye takes note of the woolly cas
cade. By fours and fives he counts
rapidly to a hundred, and as each hun
dred Is reached he transfers a stone
from his right coat pocket to his left.
The effect of a few months of this
work is to give the unfortunate shep
herd the jiggers. At night. If he finds
himself abroad, his eyes are fixed upon
the sky, and his hand keeps shifting
from one pocket to the other. He is
counting Lhe stars without knowing it.
Take him from his hut and place him
in the principal street of Winnipeg, and
he counts the passersby.
The Canadian shepherd may be said
to be a victim to the Jiggers In an ab
normally acute form.
The organist suffers from jigeers
when he fingers his favorite air on tha
rail of a seat as he travels. The butch
er cannot forget his trade on Sunday,
but passes his thumb along the eds;e of
his praver book to see if it is properly
keen. The tired seamstress makes over
again the dress that a client is wear
ing In a neighboring pew.
A REMARKABLE ISLAJiD.
There is an island In the gulf of Mex
ico a day's sail from New Orleans the
first sight of which makes even lifelong
travelers gasp with wonder. Twice
daily, with the change of tides, the col
or of its broad beaches changes as if by
magic. With the incoming tide the
sands are purple, but the outward flow
swiftly transforms them Into gold. The
key to the phenomenon may be found
in the name of the island. It is called
Snail's Isle. Myriads of tiny purple
snails, crawling in the wake of the eb
bing tide, accomplish the miracle.
The island is scarcely more than Iwn
miles long. Half covered by the warm
waters of the gulf at high tide, it seems
to bear a charmed existence. Other is
lands larger and higher than it have
been swept away by the heavy storms.
Its sands are of golden yellow color,
and when the rising tide spreads over
the wide, shell strewn beach the gilded
bits of earth glisten in the sunlight.
But when the tide ebbs seaward the
golden sands become purple. As the
tide recedes the purple deepens, and the
beach becomes dark as the royal robes
of an empress. When the tide falls,
they issue from the wet sand in search
of food with remarkable rapidity.
QtRE" VICTORIA'S PLAtTHISCS.
Most people are aware of the very
great interest that the late Queen Vic
toria took in all the playthings or work
ing articles of her younger days. It i
generally well known that she herself
had a special place made for the proper
preservation of the dolls which she
played with as a girl, and she had kept
the portfolio of drawings which she ex
ecuted while under tuition in her later
maidenhood. Her most important
dresses have been carefully preserved,
and it is said that the queen was never
so happy as wlen she bethought her
self to have a dress which was worn on
some particular occasion long years ago
brought out from the rooms where
these robes were kept and placed for
her inspection. She explained to those
around her the niceties where that dress
differed from those of today, and her
remarks upon styles past and prefient
would have proved very valuable t
many dressmakers of repuU.