Philippine

3710

Philippine

write their own language; they are proud
and independent. Physically, the Filipinos
are short and slight, with thin arms and legs,
and poor muscular development. The hands
and feet are small and delicate. The color is
a rich brown, varying in shade with the
social status, persons of the higher class often
being as light as Spaniards. The eyes are
large and brown, frequently with a decided
slant; the nose is small and the lips some-
what full. The hair is abundant, coarse, long,
and blue-black in color. They arc extremely
cleanly in their persons. In disposition they
are dignified, courteous, generous to their
friends, and hospitable to a fault; they are
bright and quick, often even brilliant, but
•superficial, and not deep or profound think-
ers. They are lovers of music; every village
has its band of music, and probably the finest
band in the Islands is that of the Constabu-
lary, composed entirely of natives. The Fili-
pinos are not a long-lived people. They ma-
ture and die early. The average age at
death of the people of the archipelago is but
23.2 years, while in the registration area of
the United States it is twelve years greater.
In other words, the average Filipino lives
only two-thirds as long as the American. The
normal death rate, about 32 per thousand
per year, closely approximates that of the
negroes of the United States.

The authentic history of the Philippines
begins with their discovery by Magellan.
Their inferred history begins at a much
earlier though unknown date, when the is-
lands were sparsely peopled by little blacks,
the ancestors of the present Negritos. Sev-
eral abortive attempts were made by Spain
to conquer and colonize the islands. In 1570
Manila was captured and made the scat of
government, and shortly afterward the en-
tire archipelago, excepting the southern is-
lands occupied by Moros, fell under the
power of Spain. Shortly after the pacifica-
tion of the islands, friars in large numbers
were sent out as missionaries. In time these
friars assumed control not only of the spir-
itual welfare of their charges, but of their
government and physical welfare also, and
the degree of civilization which the people
of the islands has reached is mainly the
work of the friars. Of all the church orders
represented in the islands, the Jesuits had
become the richest and most powerful.
Largely on account of this they incurred the
enmity 01 the others, who persuaded the
king of Spain to expel them. This took place
in 1767. The Jesuits departed quietly, leav-

ing their vast possessions to be divided among
the other orders and the Catholic Church.
In 1850, however, the order was allowed to
return. In April 1898, war was declared be-
tween the United States and Spain. By the
treaty of Paris, Dec. 10, 1898, Spain ceded
the Philippines to the United States, which
agreed to pay $20,000,000 for them. (See
SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.) Early in the fol-
lowing February the Filipinos, dissatisfied at
not being given their freedom, broke out
into insurrection against the American gov-
ernment. Conflicts followed, and it was not
until July 4, 1901, that the islands were suffi-
ciently pacified for a civil government. The
American government purchased land from
the friars paying nearly $7,000,000. In 1916,
for the first time, the Philippine legislature
had an all-Filipino membership. The Philip-
pine Islands were prompt to declare their
loyalty to the United States when the latter
entered the Great War in April, 1917, but
upon the signing of the Armistice the Philip-
pine legislature constituted an Independence
Mission which proceeded to the United
States without obtaining any definite result.
The following year President Harding sent a
commission to make a survey. It recom-
mended 'that the present general status of
the Philippine Islands continue until the peo-
ple have had time to absorb and thoroughly
master the powers already in their hands.*

Appointed by President Harding, Governor
General Wood balanced the budget and
checked the currency depreciation. General
Wood, however, incurred the enmity of some
of the Filipino leaders who claimed that he
had exceeded his powers. They redoubled
their efforts to secure immediate and com-
plete independence, without avail. After
another survey by President Coolidge and
governorship under Stimson and Davis, sen -
timent in the Islands for complete and im-
mediate independence had not abated, al-
though it was by no means-unanimous. Many
people in the United States too, especially
those whose business interests were jeopar-
dized by the absence of a tariff on imports
from the Philippines, favored separation.

In September, 1931, Secretary of War Pat-
rick J. Hurley visited the islands. He was
given a resolution by the insular legislature
memorializing the United States Congress for
complete independence. After Secretary Hur-
ley's report, President Hoover stated: 'Eco-
nomic independence of the Philippines must
be attained before political independence can
be successful,' Senator Manuel Quezon, a