tribes and all of them by people speaking different dialects and without any cohesion of ideas or experience in government. You occupy an exposed and coveted position in the path of world commerce, and would doubtless be called upon, very soon, to defend your nationality. You have many foreigners living here, for whose lives and property you would be held accountable not only from outside interference, but from the ambitions and jealousies of your own people. To protect your country from these dangers, you would need an army of considerable strength and at least the nucleus of a navy. All these things, together with the necessary expenses of government, would cost a great deal of money. Your country and people are poor, and your industries paralyzed. Waiving, therefore, all question of your ability to govern yourselves, I would ask how you propose to raise the revenues necessary to administer and preserve such a government?

To this inquiry Mabini simply shrugged his shoulders and replied: "The question of revenue is a mere detail." With this the interview ended. Unfortunately, Mabini's attitude of mind is characteristic of his people. Both racially and as a consequence of Spanish influence, the Filipino is given to the "grand gesture," seldom stopping to think how his grandiose plans and projects would stand the test of practical application.

In March, 1901, Aguinaldo was captured by General Funston, and shortly thereafter took the oath of allegiance. Although he had been in hiding for over a year, and had ceased to be a factor in directing the insurrection, his capture and subsequent declaration for peace influenced the surrender of various "generals" who had theretofore eluded our troops. Others, who were never more than bandits posing as Insurgents, continued their depredations until gradually hunted down and destroyed.

On July 4, 1901, military rule was supplanted and a central civil government established. On that date Judge Taft was inaugurated Civil Governor of the islands, with the Commission, of which he was president, as a

legislative body. In addition, the members of the Commission became secretaries of various departments, to which were assigned specific government activities.

Much had been done while working on the heels of war. A greater work remained to be done now that peace had come and the Filipino people were prepared to coöperate with the United States in shaping their future destiny.

CHAPTER VI

THE BUILDING OF A GOVERNMENT—1901-13

IT IS not our purpose, however tempting the story, to

describe in detail the crowded events following the inauguration of Judge Taft as Civil Governor in 1901. All that can be hoped here, is to list some of the outstanding results of those strenuous, splendid years, when American ideals rather than a party slogan measured the conception of our responsibility. This period extended to October, 1913, when, unfortunately, the mantle of authority theretofore worn by men of character and ability, interested in maintaining the prestige and dignity of our people as a whole, fell to the inadequate shoulders of a partisan politician and spoilsman, trained and disciplined in the devious ways of the political trader.

Only those on the ground in 1901, with opportunity to contrast then conditions with those existing in 1913, can appreciate the transformation worked during these years by Governor Taft and his associates and successors. With the energy and practical directness characteristic of their heritage, they swept clean the wreck of Spanish mediævalism and upon its ruins builded a modern commonwealth wherein the Philippine people, within their limitations, were given all the innovations and discoveries which have marked centuries of Anglo-Saxon enterprise and progress.

The task set could hardly have been more complicated. To new and untried problems, an impoverished country

and an untrained government personnel, was added the havoc wrought by war with its by-products of antagonism, of lawlessness, and the inertia incident to enforced idleness and the breaking up of accustomed pursuits. Moreover, during the early years of American occupation, an epidemic of rinderpest swept over the provinces, destroying the herds of carabao and cattle, leaving the people destitute of work animals. Agriculture, the true source of wealth of the islands, was largely paralyzed, and outside capital, which might have relieved the situation, was deterred from coming because of the persistent agitation of theorists and politicians looking to our early surrender of the islands.

The Philippines were ours by conquest and by formal cession from Spain; we were free to do with them as we pleased; and every historical precedent would have sanctioned their exploitation as a national asset. Instead, we voluntarily pledged the Philippine people that our administration would be for their benefit and protection and not for our aggrandizement. I state, unhesitatingly, that we have kept the faith, and that neither Filipinos nor Americans have just ground for complaint or criticism of the record which stands revealed.

Upon the material side of the problem, i. e. the shaping of conditions which make for progress, enlightenment, and well-being, the following incomplete summary of things done prior to 1913 will give an idea of how our trust was executed.

Courts with a simplified procedure, civil and criminal, were established, where rich and poor fared alike. For the first time the administration of justice ceased to be a matter of purchase and sale, to be enjoyed by the highest bidder.

Through the organization of a native constabulary, trained and officered by Americans—many of them regular army officers-brigandage and lawlessness were suppressed, and life and property protected and respected as never before in the history of the archipelago.

The chaotic condition of land titles and records, which made every purchase or other dealing with real property a hazard, was remedied through the organization of a Land Court, which enables every owner of lands to secure a registered and guaranteed title to his holdings.

The large agricultural estates of the friar orders, aggregating over four hundred thousand acres, which were a constant source of disturbance and discontent, were purchased by the Government at a cost of $7,200,000, and arrangements made for their sale and lease to the occupants on easy terms.

The mongrel and fluctuating silver money in circulation upon our coming, which made all business operations a gamble, was replaced by a stable currency, based on gold and protected by ample reserves.

A Postal Savings Bank was established, encouraging habits of industry and thrift among a people noted for their improvidence.

A Public Land Act was passed which enables and encourages every Filipino to acquire a free homestead. Provision was also made for the sale and lease of public lands, of which millions of acres lie fallow and unproductive.

Forest regulations were adopted which protect this great source of island wealth from undue waste and destruction, and yet encourages capital in its exploitation.

Development of the rich mineral resources of the islands was made possible through laws and regulations.