The Situation in the Philippines
a wmnrNPia nt tti harmony of
Zk I views as to the American policy In
4 s I (h rhiiintina Vietveen the ad
ministration, Judge Tart, who Is
to become secretary of war, and
General Wright, who will succeed Gov
ernor Taft, the Outlook reproduces the fol
lowing; address delivered by General Wright
at a banquet given In his honor at Memphis
In November of last year. The address is
published with consent of General Wright
and from a revised copy furnished by him:
The United States, under the treaty of
Paris, added these islands to Its territory
and thereby became responsible for their
future. The question as to whether this
step was wise or otherwise, in the light of
accomplished events, must be purely an
academic question. The only practical ques
tion presenting itself after the ratification
of the treaty was as to the policies which
should be pursued In establishing and con
ducting a government. This question was
the more difficult, both because we had no
experience in the government of Oriental
peoples and because tf the hostility of a
large part of the Inhabitants of the islands.
In looking around for precedents to guldo
us the course of the English during a periol
of several centuries in dealing with Ori
entals of kindred races, at first blush,
seemed to furnish the safest guide. In a
certain sense the English had been emi
nently successful. They had maintained
peace and order, protected life and prop
. erty and In many ways added to the happi
ness and welfare of the governed. The
English, however, Invariably assumed It
as axiomatic that these people were not
and never could become capable of self
government, or even of taking a consider
able share In their own affairs, and that,
therefore, a permanent policy of paternal
Ism was essential. Their administra
tion was purely English, natives being
employed only In the most subor
dinate positions, and no attempt being
made to develop and build up In the
native, by practical experience, a capac
ity to govern.
President McKlnley and bis cabinet
could very well have contented them
selves with following a precedent so
eminently respectable. The Idea, however,
of establishing a government upon the
basic principles adopted by the English
In their crown colonies was repugnant to
American traditions and ideas. Realizing
that the people of the United States were
unwilling to embark upon a foreign colonial
policy after this or other similar models,
the bold experiment was determined upon
of Inaugurating a scheme of government
which Hssumed that, however, Inexperienced
and unfit the Filipino people then were to
govern themselves, they could, by education
and proper guidance, In time probably be
come fit. The grafting of American methods
upon a Malay stock, upon which had been
Imposed a veneering of Spanish civilization,
was, to say tho least of It, an original con
ception, success being rendered the more
problematical by the fact that the Islands
were at that time In a blaze of Insurrection
against American authority. It was
determined, however, to make the ex
periment, and to give them from the
beginning such a share In the government
as they were capable of undertaking, that
hnre to be Increased from time to time
a might he warranted by experience.
...d president appointed a civil
cu.u..,Baioa for the purpose of estab
iis..i..g evil government in the Islands
lis boon us armed opposition to the Amerl
u.i noe. anient should be at an end. The
instructions which he gave that commis
sion, and which, as 1 understand, were
actually drafted by Secretary Root, em
bodied the general principles by(whlch they
were to be governed. Whatever opinions
there may have been among our fellow
cilizens as to the desirability of our gov
ernment having become responsible for af
fairs in the Philippines, I feel sure that
there can be none as to the humane and
generous spirit In which these Instructions
were written. So far as could be done by
precept and injunction, Mr. McKlnley sought
to establish government In the Philippines
pilmarlly for the benefit of the Filipino
pecplj themeelves. These Instructions wera
an appeal to their Intelligence and con
fidence. No Filipino could read this mes
sage of good will without a sentiment of
thankfulness for the future it promised.
No American could read it without an
Increased admiration and affection for the
president and his great war secretary, and
a firm purpose to deal justly with this
long-suffering and unfortunate people, h
suddenly placed in our hands by a strung
Providence. This document will take rani:
as a classic among state papers, and lx
woMhy of comparison with the best,
production of American statesmanship.
To the commission it was not only chart
and compass, but an Inspiration Impelling
their best efforts.
It hardly becomes me to speak concern
ing the quality of the work done by the
commission. That must be Judged upon
Its merits, and its value tested by the
event. I may say, however, th.it th
member of that body approached the!
labors fully Imbued wth the spirit of th
Instructions they had received. The tasl:
of bringing to the knowledge of the people
the benevolent purposes of our government.
Um least Important of the work falling
to their hands, was begun Immediately
upon their arrival In the Islands. The
legislation made necessary In order to estab
lish civil government necessarily covered
a wide fluid. Including almost every
subject Involved In government ss wo
understand it, and many others growing
out of conditions peculiar to the people.
Upon Judge William II. Taft, from the
first tho president of tho commission and
afterward civil governor, fell perhaps moro
largely than upon the other members the
burden of the work. His labors were
herculean and I may say that those of his
associates were not light. Under tho stress
of overwork the governor was forced, even
with his splendid vitality, temporarily to
return to tho United States. Although his
health was In a critical condition, ho still
continued his lubors before committees of
congress, in bringing to their attention the
needs of the Filipino people and tho con
ditions which there prevailed. Judge Ide,
another member of the commission, also
succumbed and was forced to go to Japan
to recuperate, but during his absence pre
pared the drafts of Important measures
relating to the land laws of tho Islands.
Tho other members of the commission have
been more fortunate. While, as will bo
seen from the foregoing, our task has boon
onerous, I have thoroughly enjoyei every
moment of my stay in tho Philippines.
There was something In tho task cut out
for us so large and Interesting as to arouse
every energy and to furnish continual en
tertainment. From the beginning we were
encouraged by finding that a large propor
tion of the thoughtful and intelligent Fili
pinos, with whom wo came in contact, were
prepared to give us their confidence, and
hailed with cV-light the message which we
brought. As they were made to understand
the purposes and object of our government
in dealing with them they readily fell Into
line and gave us hearty co-operation. Thoy
organized the federal party, whose principal
object was to bring an end to the Insurrec
tion and secure loyal submission to Ameri
can authority.
It would be manifestly unfair for me to
ascribe the general pacification which fol
lowed entirely to the work of the civil
government or to its Filipino allies.
Undoubtedly the moral forces put
In motion by the commission played
an Important part, but it required tho
army and navy of the United State
to put down Insurrection In the field.
Indeed, this was a prerequisite to the ac
complishment of anything of a substantial
character by the commission. That our
soldiers and sailors did their duty, often
times under circumstances of great em
barrassment and difficulty, is a matter of
history. They are entitled to, and I om sure
will receive, the plaudits of their country
men. In this connection I cannot refrain
from saying that much of tho criticism In
dulged in as to their operation In the Phil
ippines is unwarranted, as I am enabled by
personal observation to bear witness. I
would not pretend to say that there were
not isolated Instances of wrong and outrago
perpetrated upon the inhabitants, but I do
mean to say that such Instances were the
exception and not the rule. It Is to be re
membered that there were at one time
about 700 small detachments of our forces
scattered around tho islands, engaged in
meeting a guerrilla foe who did not carry
on operations according to the laws of
civilized warfare, but from day to day
donned or doffed the Insurgent uniform, as
exigencies required, and oftentimes perpe
1 wl','"",",wW!W"wwf,-wpsw)n
:!.:.v , " ..: !
- w v - ft V..c',-.
BUI OMAHAC01IIUTTEB WH0 UAD
trated revolting cruelties upon friendly
Filipinos and American soldiers. Tho dif
ficulty of maintaining, at all times, rigid
discipline under such circumstances can bo
fully understood only by mi rye-wltuess.
As a whole, it may be truthfully snld that
war In tho Philippines has been conducted
In a civilized und humane way.
Major General Admt It. Chaffee, who was
responsible for the policy pursued In those
provinces, and Hiig:ullor General James F.
Pell who executed that policy, are both
well known to mo socially and officially,
and I have for them both esteem and ad
miration as soldiers and as men. General
Chaffee has a reputation for courago
ability, and humanity extending beyond tho
boundaries of this nation. General Hell
has not only a most creditable record for
gallantry and efficiency, but Is In reality
one of the most kindly and humane natures
I have ever had the good fortune to meet.
He has many devoted friends and admirers
among tho Filipino people themselves.
Thero were perhaps 3.000 rifles In the
hands of tho insurgents In the two
provinces named. One day they were In tho
field with aims in their h inds, and the i ext.
having burled their guns, wero In the towns
circulating with our own soldiers ns peace
ful, inoffensive noncombatants. Thoy drew
their supplies from tho people In tho towns,
who cither sympathized with them or
feared not to honor their requisitions. It
was wholly impossible to conduct' war
against them effectively, as ngulnst an' or
ganized and uniformed enemy under tho
usuul conditions which olih.ln in war. The
program carried out by General licll was
not conceived or executed in a spirit of
vengeance. It did not involve the starving
or killing of any peaceful or Innocent in
habitants, but its purpose was to make It
Impossible for them to furnish supplies to
the Insurgents, and thereby force the latter
to come In and surrender their guns. This
policy was pursued with eminent succors,
and at a very small loss of life. Tho actual
mortality among both insurgents and people
within the rcconcentrado districts, ns I
havo every reason to believe, did not exceed
750 souls in the aggregate. The ranks of
tho insurgents In Datangas were filled with
tho dle-ln-the-last-dltch contingent, and
when the mountainous character of the
country Is considered, together with the
methods of warfare pursued. It is safe to
say that, but for some such policy, years
would have elapsed before peace prevailed
In the Philippines. It was perfectly ap
parent to every Filipino that tho possibility
of successful resistance to American au
thority had long since ended. This small
knot of insurgents In Patangas was delay
ing the complete pacification of the Islands,
preventing the establishment of civil gov
ernment, and thereby indicting irreparable
Injury upon the Filipinos themselves. It
has always been a false humanity to have
hesitated to pursue the course adopted.
There la another subject about which I
desire to sny Just a word, and that is as to
tho alleged friction which arose nt one time
between the military and civil authorities.
This, again, was greatly exaggerated, and,
speaking broadly, had no real existence. It
must be remembered thut when the com
mission first appeared upon the scene In
the Philippines Major General MacArthur
was not only commanding tho military
force In the field, but was military gov
ernor. Tho policy of the president, us set
forth in his instructions, to which I have
already referred, was, as fast as possible,
to substitute civil for military authority.
CHAlia OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF
By Luke E. Wright, Gov
crnur General of the Islands
On July 4. 1901, Judge Taft was created
civil governor, relieving General MacArthur
from that portion of his functions which
related to civil government. The commis
sion, from the beginning, hud shaped Its
legislation with a view to this change as
supn us It w ii s feasible. Thero was what
may be termed a period of transition fiotn
military to civil government beginning scv
oral months before the dato named and end
ing a few mouths thereafter. During this
lerioil both the military und civil authori
ties were operating In the same general
sphere. It not Infrequently happens that
there were clashes lietween the subordinate
military and civil officials upon questions of
Jurisdiction, und occasionally differences
arose between the major general command
ing and the civil governor. These were
mainly, however, merely matters of detail,
and to their adjustment both the military
and the civil authorities addressed them
selves, fully appreciating that in the aggre
gate they were tho representatives of tho
American people In the Islands, and that
any serious conflict between the two arms
of the government would not only result In
lamentnblo confusion, but In the lowering
of American prestige ns well. As a conse
quence, the transfer was made without any
reul conflict or serious difficulty. Tho mili
tary authorities, after they had been thus
superseded in what might bo termed their
civil functions, invurluhly assisted the civil
government, when called on, In the matter
of detailing military officers to civil duties,
In supplying stores from military depots.
In aiding in the suppression of epidemic
and oth rwlse.
You are doubtless familiar, nt least In
a general way, with the plun adopted for
tho government of the Philippine Islands
Ht the last session of congress. That
plan has been, in the main, based upon
recommendations made by Governor Tuft
and ;hn commissi. in, with such modifica
tions as to congress seemed best. It pro
vides for a civil governor to be appointed
by tho president; a bicameral legislature,
one branch of wh'ch Is to be elected Dy the
Filipino people, the effect of which Is to
still further Increase the share of the
Filipinos In their own government. Upon
examination of the act It will be seen that
this participation Is real and not nominal.
To any one acquainted with the real tJtua
tlon In the archipelago, I th'nk It Is evi
dent that the congress In thus legislating
bus gone fully as far as the best Interest
of the people them.'elvis war: ant. Ind ed,
some critics, loth hostile and friendly, havo
asserted that both congress and the com
mission have gone to.) far. Of course this
Is only a mntter of opinion. My own
opinion Is Unit, If error has been committed
nt all, it is In the light direction. It would,
however, huve beim sheer folly, and deb
rimentul to the Filipino people themselves,
to have withdrawn American supervision
and guidance und turned over the b lands
to their stU mlmii Is rution. Thla conclu
sion has been reachid not alone from our
own observation and ttudy, but also from
the opinions of the mo -it distinguished,
patriotic, and Intelligent Filipinos.
In reaching this conclusion It has not
been overlooked thut no iieople couli bo
taught to govern themselves without prac
tical experience In government.. It ha
been felt with e iual conviction that a pplo
absolutely without practical knowledge,
whoae only conceptions of government havo
been derived from an observation of Spuolsh
(Continued on Puge Sixteen.)
THE A. O. U. W. TEMPLE AT SOUTH