American-Style Corruption in the Philippines
Two years ago, when it was first proposed that the United States government should enter upon the task of assuring to the Filipinos the “blessings of good government and American civilization,” the question was asked many times in Congress and throughout the country, “What will be the model of good government that will be assured them? Will it be that of the corrupt city governments of the United States and of the State bosses?” The answer is now being given with an emphasis. The Independent, November 8, publishes a long article from Harold Martin, the representative of the Associated Press in the Philippines, which gives indisputable evidence that the government in the Philippines is but the reproduction of the worst city governments in the United States. Upon a long list of facts, he says:— We have cried to them, “We will give you a clean and good government,” until the words are become a habit, and we can hardly speak officially without using them. Yet the two branches of the municipal administration of this city [Manila] that most directly reach and touch the common people are woefully corrupt, incompetent, and dishonest; and the result of the contrast which is thereby forced to the minds of superstitious and unreasonable natives, none too well disposed to us at best, is almost disastrous to the great work of winning the confidence and affection of the Filipino. And the body of the article shows just as conclusively that this corruption in government is not at all confined to the municipal government of Manila. The shirt of Nessus has been put on, and it will do its dreadful work now as surely as before.