m 456 FAMOUS LIVINa AMEBICANS and enlightened vision he saw early the possibility of lif ti feeble, ignorant people into the light of liberty. Looking the fntnre, he became reconciled to present Amencan don taoD. When, therefore, President McKinley nrged him to g the Philippines as head of the civil commission charged the grave and important duty of establishing order and st ity in the island, Mr. Taft laid aside his ambition for hij judidal honors and cheerfully accepted the "white man's den." He came to realize the benevolence of the worl might be able to accomplish for the "little brown brothers the far-away possessions. It was a hard task he had undertaken, but he set abon performance with characteristio energy. He found a pe sullen and antagonistic, many of them in open rebellion, few Spaniards doing business in the islands were suspic and disposed to be in opposition to American orderly gov ment On arriving at the islands Mr. Taft promptly said to Filipinos that he had not come to give them present, nor definite promise of futnre, independence. His mission wi be to help them to learn self-government. He wanted to v with them, not against them. He invited their cooperatio all bis efforts to lead tbem to ultimate freedom. It took a time to convince the radicals of his sincere desire to them, but he finally won their full confidence. He did thi living with them, eating and drinking with them, standinj the time for their interests despite the opposition of all all of his own countrymen there whom he would not perm exploit the resources of the islands for their own benefit, steadfastly held that the Philippines were for the Filipi He helped the natives to build schools and to own their homes. He gave them as he could appointments in the < service, and established minor courts all over the islands ' natives as judges. He gave the islanders a practical der stration of honesty and good faith. It is difficult for one to comprehend the tremendous achi ment of Mr. Taft in the Philippines. Probably no other :
