p. 9 | Paternalism in Guam

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 20, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 51.

Paternalism in Guam

GOVERNOR LEARY, whom the United States Government has placed over the newly-acquired island of Guam, says in a recent report that he finds the natives very indolent, and the most of them are living in a state of concubinage. Mr. Leary has required all those living in concubinage to get married without delay. In his proclamation the governor said to the natives that "the existing custom of raising families of illegitimate children is repulsive to ideas of decency, antagonistic to moral advancement, incompatible with the generally-recognized customs of civilized society, a violation of the accepted principles of Christianity, and a most degrading injustice to the innocent offspring, who is not responsible for the conditions of his unfortunate existence."

Governor Leary has further required that all who have no trade shall plant cereals, vegetables, etc., that each citizen shall keep at least a dozen hens and one hog. And they must bring eggs, chickens, and vegetables to the governor's house and the barracks at stated intervals for sale. The very innocence with which such a course presents itself to most people is one of its chiefest dangers. Such a thing as this is merely the primary school in which the people are being educated to look upon such matters with indifference. And in this case the natives may really seem to be helped rather than worsted. But the paternalism in that little island establishes a precedent, and from its seemingly harmless application in Guam it will gain strength and favor, so that it may be applied in more pernicious ways elsewhere.