The Philippines

by William Howard Taft, The Outlook Company (Creator)

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144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1902

About the author

William Howard Taft was an American politician, the twenty-seventh President of the United States, the tenth Chief Justice of the United States, a leader of the progressive conservative wing of the Republican Party in the early 20th century, a pioneer in international arbitration and staunch advocate of world peace verging on pacifism, and scion of a leading political family, the Tafts, of Ohio.

Taft served as the Solicitor General of the United States, a federal judge, Governor-General of the Philippines, and Secretary of War before being nominated for President in the 1908 Republican National Convention with the backing of his predecessor and close friend Theodore Roosevelt.

His presidency was characterized by trust-busting, strengthening the Interstate Commerce Commission, expanding the civil service, establishing a better postal system, and promoting world peace. Roosevelt broke with Taft in 1911, charging Taft was too reactionary. Taft and the conservatives were alarmed at Roosevelt's attacks on the judiciary, and took control of the party machinery. Taft defeated Roosevelt for the Republican nomination in a bruising battle in 1912 that forced Roosevelt out of the GOP and left Taft's people in charge for decades. William Howard Taft remains the only U.S. President to finish third in a bid for reelection to a second consecutive term. During World War I he helped set national labor policy that reduced strikes and generated union support for the national cause. In 1921, he became Chief Justice. As President and Chief Justice he helped make the federal courts, especially the Supreme Court, much more powerful in shaping national policy. To date he is the only former president to serve on the Supreme Court.

Reviews

[Love · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was written in 1909 by then president Theodor Roosevelt and the former governor of the Philippines and soon to be president William Taft. It explains the situation in the Philippines at the time, a few years after the Spanish-American war and what so far has been accomplished under American colonial rule.

Modern history books mostly focus on the often brutal counter-insurgency tactics used by the American army. Instead here the focus is on the more positive aspect of American administration. The setting up of an democratically elected legislature which together with an executive branch appointed by Washington is to run the territory. The establishment of law and order through a system of courts and so on.

Taft has a very interesting discussion on the future of the Philippines, after a period of colonial rule under which she is to be prepared for self-government. Taft sees three possibilities for the territory. The first alternative is independence, the second is the incorporated in to the US as a state, the third is something in between, likened to Britain's relationship with the self governing Canadian and Australian dominions.

I feel the following quote from Taft captures both of the leaders view of the issue of Philippine independence.
"Whether independence will aid in securing individual liberty depends on the fitness for popular self-government of the people. If they are ignorant and easily led, then independence means ultimately absolutism and not liberty."