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344
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
THE COMMISSION'S TASK IN THE neglect the claims of the Filipinos to a large | language.
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PHILIPPINES.
(Daily Press, 12th May.)
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May 19, 1900.
She never raised an ideal could scarcely ex-
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Whatever instructions the American Commission may have received, we shall be content if they bear in mind the material the conditions they have got to work upon, that prevail in the Philippine Islands nad the basis of Spanish law, which, from long association with Spanish dominion, must be fairly familiar to the minds of the people. We do not expect the civil govern- went when once established to be a panacea for every political ill, but we expect it to be at least better than the Spanish régime and to allow a fair opportunity to native effort.
MA
THE CHINA ASSOCIATION IN 1899
share in municipal control, magisterial government-humanity work, and the hearing of small claims in pect so much-but her Government was the country districts and smaller towns. In generally the harbinger of peace and If a deluge of advice could settle the Fili-inct, the Filipinos, rightly encouraged, would prosperity. pino question, there can be no doubt that prove of inestimable worth to the American the Commission recently appointed by the Government in the pacification and adminis- President of the United States of America tration of the country. And there is no reason for the pacification of the Philippines and why individuals of more than ordinary ability, the establishment of a Civil Government faithfulness, and zeal, should not attain to would have an easy task before it. In Ame-high position and even eminence when once rica, magazines and reviews, daily papers their loyalty to the American Government and periodicals of all shades of opinion, have has been established. We uote with satis fooded their pages with accounts of the faction that Provincial Courts have already ilippines and offered gratuitous advice to been established in the provinces of Pam representatives of their Government as panga, Nueva Ecija, Ilocos Norte and to the best means of governing the Philip Bataan, and that Filipinos are required to pines and the most approved manner of repair to Manila to qualify for the respective treating the natives. Some of the articles positions to which they have been appoint- that we have red are truly astonishing, ed in these Courts. As the military form There seems to be an epidemic of philan- of government gradually diappears and the throphy existing at the present time in the civil takes its place we anticipate that the Press of the United States and a desire to people will become more contented, parti plate the leaders of guerilla bands in an cularly when they see that they themselves assembl worthy only of sedate and august are not neglected but singled out for posi- senatorsyof Anglo-Sax blood and training. tious of importance and administration In the matter of colonial and tropical Gov- capacity." ernment the American Press speaks without experience, and being without that hall- marked commodity the writers in the United States have no wisdom to dispense to the Commission in their gigantic task of raising civil and systematic government in the Philippines out of chaos. It is a singular and astounding fact that, although the litera- ture of the United States teems with works on almost every imaginary subject yet Co- lonial Government and the well-being of natives in the tropics under European rule
of the appears. are, or were until quite recently, entirely American Press it would appear that no neglected. The Commission therefore can labour of such kind or magnitude had ever receive no support or guidance from the fallen to the lot of any country before, but labours of its own nation, unless it be from this is to ignore the facts of history and the the report of the previous Commission to the many examples of kindred situations both Philippines; and it must perforce rely upon in ancient and modern times. The con- the works of English, Dutch, and Frnech quest of Canad in 1757 left Britain the Colonial legislators of the past, a study of possessor of a country with an alien and the English and Dutch systems of the pre-hostile French population far more vigorous, sent, and their own still to be acquired wisdom far more civilized, far more capable of in- and experience of the Philippines in the ficting injury on the conquering state and future, in order to enable them to decide of protracting warfare than the Filipinos upon what particular form of civil Govern-of the present day. England by the treaty ment is best suited to the needs of the Phi.of peace safeguarded their customs, lan- lippines and the well-being and happiness of the millions that inhabit them.
a
(Daily Press, 15th May.) The report of the China Association, which came before the annual meeting of the As- sociation last month, is a refreshing document to deal with after the struggle The task before the Commissioners, alto disentangle the various threads of affairs though one of great delicacy and requiring which cross and re-cross in the Blue Book on China that reached us some days ago. sound judgment, is not insuperable nor beyond the ability of traired and experien- In this report the various matters of interest ced lawyers. It is the duty and pleasure in China are dealt with separately and the of statesmen to overcome difficulties, and correspondence and documents relating to the statescraft of America in appointing the each subject are relegated to their proper Commissioners has doubtless enquired well appendix, a method which imposes on the into their individual merits and ascertained reader a far easier task than when he has that they are competent for the grave and to proceed merely by the aid of the date and responsible work before them. To judge the page on which each letter, paper, etc., from the
tone and comments
The report, however, though simple for purposes of reference, is no light document, but a most careful and painstak ing record of a very full year's work. Most of the matters with which it deals are al- a great extent, to ready familiar, to those interested" in Chinese affairs. On the'
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whole, Mr. GUNDRY claims in the report, the course of events during the last twelve months has borne out the estimate of the situation expressed in the previous year's report. No confidence has been put in the Dowager Empress's assurance that she did not oppose reform if carried out along lines consistent with Chinese thought. The split guage and laws, with the result that at the between the Government and the reform present moment there are no more loyal party is worse, and the provinces are inore With respect to the government of Orien. citizens in the British Empire than the detached from the capital. But the report tal races, however much the Press of the French Canadians who are now partici- is not hopeless even as to the possiblity of United States may talk about native repre- pating in the conflict of arms in South the Empress-Dowager changing her mind "One consideration only,” sentation in the Philippines, we must confess Africa against the foes of the British Nation for the better. that we have a strong prejudice against this, of which they form a worthy part. During it says, "might lead her to desert [the reac Nothing to our mind seems more compatible the Napoleonic wars, the seizure of Cape "tionary clique], and throw her influence with Oriental tradition, the low stage of Colony by the English in 1806 threw the "into the opposite scale. If it could be civilization that exists in some parts of these responsibility of administration and govern." brought home to her that the present islands, and the diversity of tribes and ton- ment of that country with its great Dutch
“reactionary policy constitutes a danger for This was gues that abounds in the Philippines, tha- population upon the British.
the Dynasty, she might be induced, yet, a good Crown Colony Government on Bi- administered as a Crown Colony until 1872, "to support a policy of reform. Her halt 蓝蓝 00 the threshold of what was intended, tish principles. From the nature of the when the Cape was granted responsible
"seemingly, to be a fresh coup d'état, some climate, as in India, the relative number of government. England did not seek to
"weeks ago, proves that she is not altogether American or European colonists in the upset the Roman Dutch Law which existed
"impervious tolestations of popular Philippines in proportion to the general there when she took possession, but rather
sentiment; but those in the best position bulk of the natives must always remain in-built upon it by Colonial Legislature. It significant; but the white colonists will ever is an historical fact, and very apparent in to form an opinion are persuaded that she contain that quality of vigour upon which our day, that British supremacy at the Cape." is kept in ignorance of the real import “and magnitude of the crisis by which the the development of the Philippines depends, was never popular. Yet the Dutch popu-
It is this ignorance, To make it possible therefore in a Legisla- lation had no idea of rebelling against i
it
· Empire is assailed » which pervades
whole Government, tive Assembly for the white element to bc. and their present disloyalty would never
constitutes the real danger of the outvoted and outclassed by a crowd of Fili have attained its present formidable dimen- that
as the report says, threa- pino office-seekers is to court disaster and to sions if England had refused to acknowledge situation nad, retard all possible development of the is the independence of the Dutch Republics tens the antonomy of the eighteen pro- lands which the Americans have taken in raised in midst of her territories. vinces. If the necessary reforms could be
<C
hand. But, although, we advocate Crown Britain's as a Colonial power may expecter on the initiative of the Chinese them-
Colony government, with the making of laws and the general direction of policy u der the control of experience officers, as in
be attributed largely to the discretion with her statesmen adapted themselves to conditions prevailing in the conquered made allowances for customs and even
selves, the case would be very different from what it is. But, to quote again, “it may be questioned whether even a strong reforming
our large depenilency of India, we by jes.
She assimilated the laws. Slie Emperor could elfect such a transformatica
means affirm that it is wise or expedient to
without foreign support." The development