On the Luneta

Last week a smart launch detached itself and cut shoreward from the side of the S. S. President McKinley as she steamed into Manila Bay. From the launch, which seemed the liner's emissary, stepped Col. Henry Lewis Stimson, emissary of the parent U. S. to the Philippines.

The erect, military figure made haste to Malacanan Palace, official residence of the Governors General. A knot of small, smart, brown-skinned men--Filipino politicians--were waiting to shake hands. Col. Stimson also greeted some other small, smart, brown-skinned men who were to be his servants. "Oh, yes," he said, as a chef came forward. "Yes, I know Ming. How are you, Ming?"

Inauguration ceremonies were held on the Luneta, one of the heights overlooking Manila Bay. After the oath, Governor General Stimson made a speech, portions of which his small, smart, brown-skinned audience took away behind impassive countenances to ponder upon.

The new Governor General had said: "It is not within the province of the Governor General to determine the future relations of the inhabitants of these Islands to the United States . . . I lay particular stress upon industrial and economic progress." That seemed plain enough. It means that Col. Stimson would have little patience with Independence propagandists.

Another excerpt: "It is a simple truth not only that individual freedom and the practice of self government are found to be most prevalent and firmly held in those communities and nations which have a highly developed system of industry and commerce as their foundation, but it is also true that only in such communities and nations can the average citizen attain the degree of individual comfort, education and culture which modern civilization is coming to demand.

"Is there any reason why the Filipino people should not attain such economic development? Manifestly they lack it today. . . . But the Philippine Islands are today possessed of political connections with the foremost industrial nation in the world. . . ."

Such words made paternalism sound genuinely beneficent, quite omitting reference to any profit which the Parent hoped to make while teaching its sturdy children.

Finally, Governor General Stimson had announced what his method would be. He was going to govern through a corps of "advisers" whose description sounded like the late Governor General Wood's "Cavalry Cabinet" dismounted and sent about in mufti. "These men will be the best available," said Governor General Stimson. "They will be my eyes and ears. They may be Filipinos. They may be Americans. But in any case they will be men whom I can be certain are trustworthy. They will be responsible to me and to me alone, without interference from the Assembly. This I want and I intend to have.

"I intend to keep these men out of politics. . . . No man who is doing a good job will object to an inspector's visit. I should welcome such a visit. But any man who objects had better fear me. . . ."

Returning to Malacanan, Governor General Stimson cabled to Washington (and released to the local press) his hope that no tariff would be levied on Philippine sugar. Changing to flannels, he relaxed before the evening's state reception by engaging Eugene Allen Gilmore, who had acted as the Parent's voice from General Wood's death till now, in two sets of tennis, one of which he won.