Norwich Bulletin

THE PHILIPPINES:
After the strenuous efforts that have been made in the past several years as well as the pleas of the administration for the giving of independence to the Philippines right away, it is an interesting criticism which ex-President Taft makes when he declares that no such step should be taken at this time and that the Philippines have been going backward instead of ahead as the result of the policies introduced by the present administration.
Mr. Taft must be regarded as more or less of an authority in regard to the possessions in the far east. He was in close touch with them during two administrations and it is only natural that he should have retained the interest after his term as president was completed. He deplores the way in which the islands have been allowed to slip backward and he advocates in their interest and the purposes of this government that Cameron Forbes be returned to reestablish policies that were discarded insofar as that is possible and to resume the training of the Filipinos for the task of assuming the responsibilities of looking after themselves. Mr. Taft well recognizes the difficulties that would attend the effort to overcome the changes that have been introduced during the past year in their entirety in spite of their detrimental effects. The Filipinos have been encouraged to believe that they were thoroughly equipped to handle their own affairs and in spite of the evidence to the contrary much resentment could be expected if those islanders who have been put into important positions were forced out to give certain ones from the mainland their places.
With conditions not much different from those that prevailed during the old Spanish days in the opinion of Mr. Taft, it is plain that the Philippines must be given more rather than less attention and that attention should by all means be given by experts who are thoroughly acquainted with the situation. The real unfortunate part of the whole affair is that the Filipinos must suffer the effects of changing policies which fail to make them progress as intended and desired.