July 15, 1901.]
and judicions rules mentioned in your letter of 3rd fast. he, in presence of a number of the disorderlies, had had recourse to the French Service pickets in Taku Road, no doubt the delinquente would have broken off; the gen- darmes were not far away, and could have been found almost immediately.
摇落
Unfortunately, Corporal Nicholson thought it his duty to act himself with the single soldier he then had. He ordered him to load his rifle in order to intimidate the rioters, and this being without success,he told him to fire in the sir.
46
This was the signal for general disorder; the men who, till then, had been content with shouting, became more aggressive, and the French and other foreign troops who filled the bars came out in a body on the report of the rifle, and, as always happens in a crowd, the most excited were those who were ignorant of what had passed."
Thence General Voyron describes the affair much as it has already been described. He concludes that if the British soldiers l.d a certain amount of provocation they also used their arms too quickly. Their lives were not in danger, and the aggressors had no fire-arms and they failed to warn the crowd when they were about to fire.
FILIPINOS AND THE NEW GOVERNMENT.
FROM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT]
Manila, 3rd July.
THE COMMISSION AND ITS WORK.
28
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
• THE DELEGATES.
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51
It
in every part of every province the problem of, work really dates from June of last year, civil government along the plan devised by the although it had no quarters until nearly a Commission had received serious thought, and month after its arrival in Manila. that the delegates gathered fron. far and wide devoted itself for several months to becoming for the conferences had not attended them acquainted with conditions, and to legislation merely to enjoy the external show.
urgently required. There were public sessions several times every week, and often daily, at which suggestions and conferences were invited; executive meetings occupied a good share of the remaining time; and in addition, subjects of individual assignment were explored and enlightened. This involved incessant work and long hours, so long, indeed, as to provoke the facetions comment that the Commissioners and their clerks often stayed so late at night that to their offices in the morning. on the way home they met themselves coming assignment by which lines of inquiry were The early specialised seem to have repaid the individual labour thus imposed on the Commissioners, and to have served also two important ends. They enabled the Commission as a body to define general policy of action, and they prepared intelligent opinion to accept as sincere the purposes of the United States to establish government for the islands as wholesome as that maintained at home. Whatever differences developed in regard to subjects of inquiry, no ground for complaint was left that the Commis- sion denied any interest a full hearing.
It is true that the delegates constituted what may be called the patrician element of the islands. This divergence from the accredited composition of meetings at home at which plans for government are laid, seems to have excited fears that the Commission might be encounter | ing a class with selfish designs on power, and not reaching the sense of the people. If criticism of this kind has force, it must apply to a plan of government capable of easy puncture, for the intelligence of the ordinary native reaches its height in estimating the chances of his own gamecock against those of other visitors to the same pit. He is not qualified to vote, either by property or educa- tional possessions, and he cares lit le about government, except as a means of enabling him peacefully to pursue his way.
The delegates represented in large measure those upon whom the qualifying law confers the suffrage. If their designs can override the safeguards which the Commission has provided against official corruption or misbehavior, this discovery will simply serve notice of time for amendments. Until the check system upon a supposed tendency to use public office for private gain shall prove defective, signs that the intelligence of the islands leads interest in public affairs would seem gratifying rather than otherwise. Suffrage will spread with the work of the schools. Meanwhile and thereafter there will be quite as good means as are pro- vided elsewhere for bringing to account officials prone to indulgences not peculiar to these islands, and the naturally close observation of the conduct of American affairs may give public servants there golden opportunity to inspire examples so elevating as to overcome colonial tendencies.
THE NEW SUFFRAGE.
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THE QUESTION OF THE FRIARS. Investigation into the abuses charged against the friars, for instance, began by taking all the testimony that the various orders could offer. The church authorities made the strongest case possible, The Archbishop, the bishops of the several dioceses, the provincials of all the orders and prominent clergy presented their case in great detail. The enquiry lasted from July until November, with hearings two and three times weekly. More than half the side. If the church authorities could not agree time was given to testimony from the church with the findings that the rule of the friars was largely responsible for the revolt against Spain, they could not deny that the testimony that way was certainly strong. The judgment of the Commission has now been confirmed by the vigorous and practically unanimous protest of delegates at every meeting among the islands, at which the possible return of the friars to the parishes was mentioned.
OTHER QUESTIONS.
The case of the San Jose College, involving the right of one of the orders to hold and occupied the Commission from July until manage property by virtue of possession. January, when trustees were appointed to carry the case through court proceedings, the possession of the friars meanwhile not being disturbed.
While the conclusion is beyond dispute that the Filipinos are not fit for self-government, the visit of the Civil Commission among the islands seems to justify confidence that the government with which they are to be trusted will be creditably managed. Racial instinct is perhaps at variance with democratic aims. and example and early training have been along lines to turn that instinct to corrupt account. Mass ignorance was always regarded Whatever trouble may be borrowed because serviceable only for evil design, or as an ol ject of perverted notions of the uses of government, for imposition. Since alliance of church and it would seem that anxiety should pertain to state held so close, moreover, that one always future rather than to present administration. stood for the other in the repressive policy which The new government is to be so different from at last went beyond endurance, government anything of the past, and this difference is likely under the new sovereignty must be guarded by to be so marked in practical operation, as to checks, however liberal its tendencies. The incite to good behaviour its beneficiaries. immediate hope for such government, so far as There was never before the slightest pretence it will come under native control, lies in a happy of consulting the public wish in local, provincial, union of self-esteem and worthy ambition. or general affairs. Authority proved quite as op. The trip of the Commission has left no room to │pressive under insurgent as under Spanish rule. doubt that civic pride actuates in a high degree What Filipinos are to have is to be subject to those who are to attend the present experiment no restraints except those imposed obviously to through its first stages. They feel the import-retain public funds in public channels, and to special attention. Most of the barbours are Harbour improvements received ance of standing well in the world's regard, and apply the proceeds of taxation to purposes roadsteads. At certain seasons they are closed they recognise this opportunity as one in which openly approved. A system of taxation that to navigation because the seas will not permit they may show their quality. Allowance for the transfers the support of government from the lighters to take cargoes out or in. An ap love of the people for the gay trappings of fiestas industrial class, barely able to carry it. to land-propriation to begin the improvement of Manila may explain the liberal adornment of arches owners, whose possessions are the most valuable harbour, with a view to uninterrupted com- spanning the streets, the decoration that have and the most productive, and who heretofore brightened nearly every house, the festoons of escaped expense for the protection afforded that respect, but it impressed the people, merce, not only indicated the disposition in green set hedge-like along the roadways, and the them; the use of the money collected for awakening to the commercial development of wealth of banting, dominated always by the roads, bridges, education, and other improve. the islands, that the new sovereignty will be national colours, with has embowered the plaza ments and advantages, always in the public a money-maker for those who enjoy its bene- stands, garlanded the rooms for meeting and view, instead of disappearing as fast as collected, fits. The declared policy in the same direction and entertainment and streamed from innumer- in the direction of a general treasury; and a in respect to highways, by which a rich country, able porches; but there has shone clearly law suffrage which will confer upon the divided into isolated parts, maintaining dialect beneath it all evidences of sober and most substantial and the intelligent elements of and tribal relations because of lack of com earnest interest in the Commission's round of every community and every prosince the munication between those parts shall be opened the provincial capitals. Such evidences appear- management of their affairs, secure from inter- up, is another sign of good intentions which is ed not alone in large attendance at the meetings, ference so long as honest and loyal condnot not without appreciation. The Commission which curiosity might impel. They were guides them, with checks devised to insure the gave much attention to the liquor question. It emphasised in the infentness with which every-integrity of these who handle public money. made the business an expensive one to carry where proceedings were followed, even in states the essence of the new government. If on in Manila; by a system of high license. respect to detail of small general concerns; ways may be found to evade the law, so may It has shut saloons out of the principal in the desire invariably uppermost for all
streets, and has reduced the number of possible information on the subject of
native wine shops by nearly 90 per cent. conference; in the eagerness for advice and
It might be dificult to name a city of suggestions affecting points which had received
250,000 people in the United States in diverse local readings; and in the familiarity
which the liquor trafic is so well regulated. with special conditions on which the Commission
Manila has only 42 saloons that sell all kinds of wished to become informed, and the candour and
liquor, 41 that sell only beer and wine, 17 readiness with which such matters were set
attached to hotels with full privileges, 7 forth. Many original propositions were offered,
attached to hotels without the privilege of as when it was suggested that one province be
selling spirituous liquors and 408 native wine authorised to declare war against another, and
shops. In the saloons, billiard or pool tables that taxation be levied on a basis of culture, the
are not allowed, or alot machines, phonographs, educated bearing the burdens. But against
musical instruments, or any gambling device. such vagaries as these should be placed the Jack of industry сап never stand in The native wine-shops, which were never places outweighing and palpable demonstration that criticisms of the present Commission. Its' of public gathering, being mainly groceries or
additional safeguards to protect it. At any rate, it instals popular rule, which has already had initial impulse in many of the municipa- lities, which the Commission is now extending to the provinces by appointments suggested at meetings of representatives of the people, which by March of next year will advance through elections in which the will of those entitled to suffrage will be put in force. With the spread of education, suficiently to enable those of voting age to read and write, suffrage will become universal.
AN INDUSTRIOUS COMMISSION.
t