THE PHILIPPINES CHAPTER I The Theory and Practise of Colonization Problems of Modern Colonization-Changing Theories-Development of Backward Races-American Theories-Political and Economic Growth-Ancient Colonization-Nature of Greek and Roman Colonies-The Middle Ages -Spanish, Portuguese and French Colonization-English Methods and Theories-The New Era-Development of the Tropics-New French, Italian and German Colonization-Modern Native Policies-Recognition of Obligations -Queen Victoria's Proclamation of 1858-The Self-government Principle in India and Egypt-Moral Justification for Western Rule-The United States in the Tropics-Recognition of Duty to the Natives-Their Political Development-European Criticism-Controlling Principles-Education of the Natives -Attitude Toward Native Aspirations-Policy Not Repressive. It is only within recent years that colonizing states have found it necessary to adopt a systematic policy for controlling and developing the native population of their tropical possessions. Prior to the opening of the present era colonies were supposed to exist for the sole benefit of the metropolitan state; the natives were regarded as obstructions to be as rapidly as possible eliminated or assimilated. In the tropics industry, although directed by white men, has always been dependent upon native labor. After slavery ceased to exist and forced labor could no longer be exacted, some method had to be devised to induce the people of their own free will, to furnish the labor which was essential for the development of industrial and agricultural enterprises. In addition thereto in colonies where the natives have made some progress, affairs have to be so managed as to induce the subject people to 1 accept and be satisfied with the supremacy of a foreign power. Two problems, one economic and the other political, are thus present in every modern colonial situation and the predominant element at any time or place is determined by the stage of development of the colony and the aims and conceptions of the colonizing state. Thus, when the present European war commenced, German colonization, which was still in the plantation stage, was concerned primarily with the economic problem; Great Britain was groping for a native policy which would prevent the overthrow of her political supremacy, and the United States was placing the stress on the development of the natives. All advanced nations now agree that the management and development instead of the destruction of backward races is an essential part of the raison d'etre of colonization. But this is a modern conception. Two generations ago Sir George Cornewall Lewis, then the leading English authority, defined a colony1 1 The French classify colonies as Colonies de commerce, Colonies d'exploitation, and Colonies de Peuplement. Francois et Rouget, Manual de legislation coloniale, p. 11. Leroy-Beaulieu, De la Colonisation chez les Peuples Modernes (Sixième edition, 1908), Chaps. V, XI. As used in England, the word colony has no exact meaning. For various definitions, see Lewis, Government of Dependencies (Lucas ed.), p. 168; Lucas, Introduction to a Historical Geography of the British Colonies, Chap. 1 (1899); Snow, Administration of Dependencies, Chap. 6; Keller, Colonization, Chap. 1. The British Colonial Office makes an arbitrary classification of British possessions into Dominions, India and the Crown Colonies. For a classification of the colonies with reference to the forms of government, see Bruce, The Broad Stone of Empire, I, p. 226. An approach to accuracy is reached if we describe an English colony as a dependent political community the majority or dominant portion of whose members belong by birth or origin to the metropolitan country to which they have no intention of returning. They are communities in which people from the home country have established their permanent homes. See Egerton, Short History of English Colonies, p. 9. This fairly well describes all the British possessions other than dependencies, protectorates, and India, which is a class by itself. The essential elements are the origin and permanency of residence of the dominant element of the population. The original American settlements, Canada, Australia and South Africa, were thus properly called colonies. Purely military settlements such as Malta, Gibraltar, and semi-commercial and military stations such as Hong Kong and Wei-Hai-Wei are not colonies. Ceylon, Jamaica and Mauritius have a fair number of English settlers but are governed very much as Hong Kong and are designated as Crown colonies. India, Egypt, and the tropical settlements of France and Holland are properly called dependencies. Guam is a military station and the Philippines a dependency. In all communities of this class the animus revertendi is always present in the minds of the greater portion of the dominant race who reside in the country. They are |