The opponents of the policy of the administration maintained that "the Constitution followed the flag," but the United States Supreme Court validated the procedure of the President and of Congress who were sustained by public opinion that denied the inhabitants of the Philippines "equal rights under the Constitution." John H. Latané has written an intelligent chapter analyzing the different decisions in cases relating to Puerto Rico and the Philippines,' in which their burden was this subject, and at its close he intimated what has been humorously put by Dooley, "No matter whether the Constitution follows the flag or not th' Supreme Court follows th' illiction returns." 2

As Root was the creator of the Philippine policy so was William H. Taft its administrator. It was he who by suave and persistent negotiation settled the difficult question of the friars' lands. The friars were Dominicans, Augustinians, Franciscans and Recolectos, held sway in the country and represented the most tyrannical aspect of the Spanish dominion. Making themselves obnoxious to the Philippine people who were, nevertheless, good Catholics, they and their lands must in some way be disposed of, were success to attend the American occupation. To an arrangement which, while maintaining the right of private property, should take away the undoubted grievance of friar ownership, Taft, under authority of an Act of Congress, addressed himself with eminent success. During the progress of the negotiation

1 Chap. viii. America as a World Power.

The Philippines, Military Régime, Elliott, 496 n.

"The people hated the Friars worse than they did the locusts." Odyssey of the P. Com., Williams, 188.

he made a visit to Rome and in the end brought the owners of the lands practically to his terms, finally closing "the purchase of upward of 410,000 acres at a price of $7,239,000 gold." He then proposed to dispose of the lands "to the tenants on contracts of sale with easy payments for a number of years." This was done. We did not purchase these lands, he wrote "with a view to a profitable investment. . . but merely for the purpose of ridding the administration of the government in the islands of an issue dangerous to the peace and prosperity of the people." The account which he gave of these negotiations in his report of November 15, 1903, substantiated as it is by other sources, stamps him as an unusual colonial administrator. In fact all the glimpses one gets of his work in the islands are much to his credit. His unabated energy, his determination to commend himself to the Filipinos, his smile and hearty handshake,2 his tactful speeches, his attendance at dinners and balls, his excellent dancing thereat-all show his resolution to make his mission successful. At a meeting in the second city of the islands, an observer wrote, "Taft presided with that cordial good-natured expression which is one of his greatest charms and which cannot but inspire confidence and good-will." In another province the observer was impressed with Taft's master talk. "It was in detail, yet succinct and clear, fitted to the comprehension of the people." 4

Personally, he told a Senate Committee in Washington during February, 1902, "I did not favor going into the

1 Report, Nov. 15, 1903, 44.

2 Blount, 286. 'Odyssey of the P. Com., Williams, 310.
4 Ibid., 179, 182.

Philippine Islands. I was sorry at the time that we got into it. But we are there. . . . I have been called an optimist; I think the Mark Tapley of this business. It is true I am an optimist. If I did not believe in the success of what we are attempting to do out there, I would resign and come home. Certainly no man ever succeeded who did not believe in the success of what he was doing. We think we can help these people; we think we can elevate them to an appreciation of popular government; and we think that because the experiment has not really ever been tried before is not reason for saying that the trial of the experiment may not be a success in this instance.” 1

In truth he had an opportunity to go home. President Roosevelt cabled to him late in 1902: "On January first there will be a vacancy on the Supreme Court to which I earnestly desire to appoint you. . . . I feel that your duty is on the Court unless you have decided not to adopt a judicial career. I greatly hope you will accept." To this Taft replied: "Great honor deeply appreciated but must decline. Situation here most critical from economic standpoint. .. Nothing would satisfy individual taste more than acceptance. Look forward to the time when I can accept such an offer but even if it is certain that it can never be repeated I must now decline." At the same time he cabled to Secretary Root: "Chance has thrown every obstacle in the way of our success but we shall win. I long for a judicial career but if it must turn on my present decision I am willing to lose it." Late in November Taft received this letter

1 Senate Hearings on Affairs in the Philippine Islands, Part i. 346.