ith submarine mines, yet Admiral Dewey
signaled, "Steam ahead." A little later word came that they were in
direct range of the guns at the fort and once more the Admiral signaled
"Steam ahead." Still later word came that they were entering the most
dangerous mine-infested district of all and were liable any instant to
be blown to atoms, and once more the fearless Admiral signaled "Steam
ahead." The result was that the long dark night of Spanish rule was
ended and a new era was ushered in.

The transformation brought about since that memorable day is almost
unbelievable. The whole country has been revolutionized. Railroads and
macadamized roads have been built with steel and concrete bridges and
where it used to be almost impassable it is now a pleasure to travel.
Schools and colleges have been established. A bureau of labor has
averted many strikes. A constabulary force of nearly five thousand men
has done wonders in suppressing brigandage, bringing the savage tribes
into subjection and preserving the peace in general. This force is
somewhat similar to the mounted police system of Saskatchewan in Canada
and is a terror to evil doers.

A bureau of health has transformed the city of Manila from a
fever-infested hotbed of contagious diseases to one of the most
healthful cities on the globe. Six thousand lepers have been collected
and established in a colony on an island. The number of cases of
small-pox has been reduced from forty thousand to a few hundred per
year. Cholera, which used to sweep away tens of thousands is almost
unknown. With a dozen or more great hospitals and more than three
hundred boards of health, great things have been accomplished.

I was much interested in the report of Francis Burton Harrison who was a
recent governor general of the Philippines who said, "During the war
this race of people was intensely and devotedly loyal to the cause of
the United States. It raised a division of Filipino volunteers for
federal service and presented destroyers and a submarine to the United
States Navy; it oversubscribed its quota in Liberty bonds and gave
generously to Red Cross and other war work. America was criticised and
even ridiculed for her altruism in dealing with this problem. The idea
of training tropical people for independence was thought to be
idealistic and impracticable. The result was quite to the contrary. Once
more idealism has been shown to be the moving force in working out the
destinies of n