SS 22: Readings in

Philippine History
Tecah C. Sagandoy

2022
2nd
edit
Module 5. THE FILIPINO NATION UNDER THE AMERICAN COLONIALSYSTEM AND WORLD
WAR II IN THE PHILIPPINES

Unit 8. LIFE UNDER THE AMERICAN COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION

Lesson 5.1. THE BEGINNINGS OF AMERICAN COLONIZATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

Lesson outcomes:
1. Identify the primary aims of the Americans in colonizing the Philippines
2. Analyze selected literary works that describe the Americans‟ “burden” in
colonizing the Philippines.

Lesson overview: In this lesson, you will learn about the United States of America‟s
intentions of keeping the Philippine Islands for themselves.

READ TO LEARN

In the text below, U.S. President William McKinley makes the first official proclamation
regarding the Philippines Islands in December 1898, more than ten days after the

Readings in Philippine History

signing of the Treaty of Paris (between U.S.A. and Spain). J.H. Blount (1913) comments,
“The ever-memorable Benevolent Assimilation Proclamation, the Pandora box of Philippine
woes, was signed December 21, 1898, and its contents were let loose in the Philippines on
January 1, 1899.” (p. 140)

“THE BENEVOLENT ASSIMILATION PROCLAMATION

“EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, December 21, 1898.

“The destruction of the Spanish fleet in the harbor of Manila by the United States naval
squadron commanded by Rear-Admiral Dewey, followed by the reduction of the city and
the surrender of the Spanish forces, practically effected the conquest of the Philippine
Islands and the suspension of Spanish sovereignty therein. With the signature of the treaty
of peace between the United States and Spain by their respective plenipotentiaries at Paris
on the 10th instant, and as a result of the victories of American arms, the future control,
disposition, and government of the Philippine Islands are ceded to the United States. In the
fulfilment of the rights of sovereignty thus acquired and the responsible obligations of
government thus assumed, the actual occupation and administration of the entire group of
the Philippine Islands becomes immediately necessary, and the military
government heretofore maintained by the United States in the city, harbor, and bay of
Manila is to be extended with all possible dispatch to the whole of the ceded territory. In
performing this duty the military commander of the United States is enjoined to make
known to the inhabitants of the Philippine Islands that in succeeding to the sovereignty of
Spain, in severing the former political relations, and in establishing a new political power,
the authority of the United States is to be exerted for the securing of the persons and
property of the people of the islands and for the confirmation of all their private rights and
relations. It will be the duty of the commander of the forces of occupation to announce and
proclaim in the most public manner that we come not as invaders or conquerors, but as
friends, to protect the natives in their homes, in their employments, and in their personal
 and religious rights. All persons who, either by active aid or by honest submission, co-
operate with the Government of the United States to give effect to these beneficent
purposes will receive the reward of its support and protection. All others will be brought
within the lawful rule we have assumed, with firmness if need be, but without severity, so
far as possible. Within the absolute domain of military authority, which necessarily is
and must remain supreme in the ceded territory until the legislation of the United States
shall otherwise provide, the municipal laws of the territory in respect to private rights and
property and the repression of crime are to be considered as continuing in force, and to be
administered by the ordinary tribunals, so far as practicable. The operations of civil and
municipal government are to be performed by such officers as may accept the supremacy of
the United States by taking the oath of allegiance, or by officers chosen, as far as practicable,
from the inhabitants of the islands. While the control of all the public property and the
revenues of the state passes with the cession, and while the use and management of all
public means of transportation are necessarily reserved to the authority of the United
States, private property, whether belonging to individuals or corporations, is to be
respected except for cause duly established. The taxes and duties heretofore payable by
the inhabitants to the late government become payable to the authorities of the United
States unless it be seen fit to substitute for them other reasonable rates or modes of
contribution to the expenses of government, whether general or local. If private property
be taken for military use, it shall be paid for when possible in cash, at a fair valuation, and
when payment in cash is not practicable, receipts are to be given. All ports and places in
Readings in Philippine History

the Philippine Islands in the actual possession of the land and naval forces of the United
States will be opened to the commerce of all friendly nations. All goods and wares not
prohibited for military reasons by due announcement of the military authority will be
admitted upon payment of such duties and other charges as shall be in force at the time
of their importation. Finally, it should be the earnest wish and paramount aim of the
military administration to win the confidence, respect, and affection of the inhabitants of
the Philippines by assuring them in every possible
way that full measure of individual rights and
liberties which is the heritage of free peoples,
and by proving to them that the mission of the
United States is one of

BENEVOLENT ASSIMILATION

substituting the mild sway of justice and right

for arbitrary rule. In the fulfilment of this high
mission, supporting the temperate
administration of affairs for the greatest good
of the governed, there must be sedulously
maintained the strong arm of authority, to
repress disturbance and to overcome all
obstacles to the bestowal of the blessings of
good and stable government upon the people
of the Philippine Islands under the free flag of
the United States.” (McKinley as quoted by
Blount, 1913, pp. 148-150)
“The Filipino First Bath”
Mr. McKinley-“Oh, you dirty boy”
1. What was U.S.A‟s main justification in claiming for the Philippines‟ “control,
disposition and government”?
2. What was Pres. McKinley‟s primary objective in installing a military government in
the Philippines?
3. What image of the Americans did Pres. McKinley want the Filipinos to believe? How
was this to be achieved?
4. What might be the meaning of U.S.A.‟s mission of “Benevolent Assimilation” in the
Philippines?
5. In the editorial cartoon (Judge), what was meant by giving the Filipino a bath?

READ TO LEARN

Rudyard Kipling, a British novelist and poet wrote a poem in February 1899 that
advised U.S.A “to take up the „burden‟ of empire, as had Britain and other European
nations. This poem titled „The White Man’s Burden: The United States and The
Philippine Islands‟ was published in the Mclure’s Magazine and its publication
“coincided with the beginning of the Philippine-American War and U.S. Senate
ratification of the treaty (of Paris) that placed Puerto Rico, Guam, Cuba, and the
Philippines under American control.” (historymatters.gmu.edu, n.d.)

Readings in Philippine History

“The White Man‟s Burden (Apologies to Rudyard Kipling).” Victor Gillam, Judge, April 1, 1899.
Source: The Ohio State University Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum (https://apjjf.org/)

“Take up the White Man's burden -

Send forth the best ye breed -
Go bind your sons to exile
To serve your captives' need;
 To wait in heavy harness
On fluttered folk and wild -
Your new-caught sullen peoples,
Half devil and half child.

“Take up the White Man's burden -

In patience to abide
To veil the threat of terror
And check the show of pride;
By open speech and simple,
An hundred times made plain,
To seek another's profit,
And work another's gain.

“Take up the White Man's burden -

The savage wars of peace -
Fill full the mouth of famine
And bid the sickness cease;
And when your goal is nearest
The end for others sought,
Readings in Philippine History

Watch Sloth and heathen Folly

Bring all your hopes to nought.

“Take up the White Man's burden -

No tawdry rule of kings,
But toil of serf and sweeper -
The tale of common things.
The ports ye shall not enter,
The roads ye shall not tread,
Go make them with your living,
And mark them with your dead !

“Take up the White Man's burden -

And reap his old reward,
The blame of those ye better,
The hate of those ye guard -
The cry of hosts ye humour
(Ah slowly !) towards the light:-
"Why brought ye us from bondage,
"Our loved Egyptian night ?

“Take up the White Man's burden -

Ye dare not stoop to less -
Nor call too loud on Freedom
To cloak your weariness;
By all ye cry or whisper,
By all ye leave or do,
The silent sullen peoples
Shall weigh your Gods and you.
“Take up the White Man's burden -
Have done with childish days -
The lightly proffered laurel,
The easy, ungrudged praise.
Comes now, to search your manhood
Through all the thankless years,
Cold-edged with dear-bought wisdom,
The judgement of your peers.”

READ TO LEARN

Henry Labouchère's „The Brown Man's Burden‟ is a parody of “Kipling's notorious poem,
[which is] offering a view of imperialism.” The poem “offers an indictment of imperial
hypocrisy, with particular emphasis on the violence employed in subjugating countries
like the Philippines in the name of freedom.” (herb.ashp.cuny.edu, 2020)
“Pile on the brown man's burden
To gratify your greed;
Go, clear away the "niggers"

Readings in Philippine History

Who progress would impede;
Be very stern, for truly
'Tis useless to be mild
With new-caught, sullen peoples,
Half devil and half child.

“Pile on the brown man's burden;

And, if ye rouse his hate,
Meet his old-fashioned reasons
With Maxims up to date.
With shells and dumdum bullets
A hundred times made plain
The brown man's loss must ever
Imply the white man's gain.

“Pile on the brown man's burden,

compel him to be free;
Let all your manifestoes
Reek with philanthropy.
And if with heathen folly
He dares your will dispute,
Then, in the name of freedom,
Don't hesitate to shoot.

“Pile on the brown man's burden,

And if his cry be sore,
That surely need not irk you--
Ye've driven slaves before.
Seize on his ports and pastures,
The fields his people tread;
Go make from them your living,
 And mark them with his dead.

“Pile on the brown man's burden,

And through the world proclaim
That ye are Freedom's agent--
There's no more paying game!
And, should your own past history
Straight in your teeth be thrown,
Retort that independence
Is good for whites alone.”

1. What is Kipling‟s „White man‟s burden‟ referring to?

2. What reaction or response should the Americans (white men) expect from the
Filipinos? (See stanza 1 and 2 of the White man‟s burden)
3. And how should the Americans deal with such reactions from the Filipinos? (See
stanza 2 the White man‟s burden)
4. What are the particular things that the Americans should do in their colonies as
suggested by Kipling? (See stanza 3 and 4 of the White man‟s burden)
5. Why would those that the Americans would have served would blame and hate
them for what they have done for the latter? (See stanza 5 of the White man‟s
Readings in Philippine History

burden)