Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 15.djvu/814

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. in progress when the insurrection began in 1896, and the American authorities found returns for over two-fifths of the population stored in Manila. The returns were made the basis for the estimate of the population in the twelfth census of the United States, where it is given as 6,961,339. A later Government estimate is 6,975,073, with 1137 towns, the population being divided among the island groups as follows:

With the exception of Manila, the capital, which has a population of 350,000, there are no cities in the archipelago with more than 40,000 inhabitants, though there are about 30 towns with populations between 20,000 and 40,000. The most important of these are Albay, Batangas, Bauan, Laoag, Lipa, and Taal in Luzon, Cebú in the Visayas, and Zamboanga in Mindanao. There is considerable controversy as to the exact status and results of the system of education in operation before the American occupation. It is contended, on one hand, that the provisions for primary and secondary education were largely neglected, the tendency being to centre efforts upon the few who were sent to the college or university. It is accordingly asserted that comparatively few persons stood out prominently as educated Filipinos, while the great mass were either wholly illiterate or could barely read and write. Other authorities maintain that the Spanish system, considering the conditions which existed, achieved fair results. The report of the United States Commissioner of Education states that “the public elementary school system required by the Spanish law, whatever its defects, was widely diffused over the archipelago when the Americans arrived.” In some places the average of those who could read and write was high, in others low—a diversity due to local conditions. Higher education was well provided for, and presented many admirable features. Since September 1, 1900, the civil administration has put in force an educational bill designed to provide wider instruction for the masses as well as the more prosperous class. The archipelago has been divided into seventeen educational divisions, with an American superintendent over each division. Up to 1903 about 1000 American teachers had been distributed for primary work in the towns; 200 American teachers for secondary work were also assigned to duty; 200 soldier-teachers were detailed from their regiments; and 3400 Filipino teachers were also appointed. Instruction in the English language was provided in 1500 schools, in which more than 200,000 children were enrolled. Night schools were opened in various parts of the archipelago, with an enrollment of about 25,000 pupils. Grammar and high schools are a part of the system. Permanent normal schools and vacation normal courses for the training of Filipino teachers were organized. In 1903 plans were under discussion for increasing the number of trade schools and establishing schools of painting, sculpture, drawing, and music, and also a university at Manila. The aim of the common schools is in part to fit the Filipinos for practical work and to make a feature of agricultural and industrial training.

Under the treaty of peace of December 10, 1898, religious freedom is guaranteed to all. The people of the islands are largely Roman Catholic, though there are moon-worshipers, Mohammedans, Buddhists, etc. The Moros, living in the south, and the pagan wild tribes of the mountains, are the leading non-Christian classes. As shown by the Church registry in 1898, 6,559,998 Roman Catholics were distributed among 746 regular parishes, 105 mission parishes, and 116 missions. Most of the parishes are administered by Spanish friars of the Dominican, Franciscan, and Augustinian Orders, assisted by many native priests in the small parishes and missions, though since the American occupation several priests from the United States have been appointed to bishoprics. Controversy exists here also in regard to the attitude of the native population toward the friars. Some assert that they are obnoxious to a large part of the people, owing to the onerous contributions they are said to have levied for the support of the Church, and the large areas of tillable land they acquired, much of it, it is asserted, by dispossessing the owners on the pretext of exacting the Church's dues. The apologists of the friars, on the other hand, vigorously assert that their unpopularity is only with a faction of the natives, and springs largely from political motives. They call attention to the fact that a counter-movement of popular origin and considerable proportions has taken place in favor of the friars. When Spanish sovereignty ceased, many members of the Orders retired to Spain, and the policy of acquiring their lands and delegating their powers to other officials of the Church has been advocated in reports of the Philippine Commission.

For a time after the transfer of the Philippines to American control, the islands were held under military government subject to the orders of the President of the United States. In January, 1899, a commission was appointed by the President to investigate conditions in the Philippines. (See below under ) In February, 1900, the provisional government of the islands was intrusted to a new board of civil commissioners, five in number, at the head of which was Judge William H. Taft of Ohio. The other members were D. C. Worcester, Luke E. Wright, Henry C. Ide, and Bernard Moses. The commission reorganized the local civil governments and in January, 1901, established a municipal code for the government of cities other than Manila and tribal settlements. An electoral system making the qualifications for suffrage the ownership of property, payment of certain taxes, or a knowledge of English or Spanish was also created. A constitution for the government of the provinces enacted by the commission provided that their officials should be a governor elected by the municipalities subject to the approval of the commission, and a secretary, a treasurer, a commissioner of public works, and a public prosecutor, all appointed by