Until early in the nineteenth century, the island government was administered from Mexico rather than directly from Spain, and this often led to dishonesty and bad management of affairs. Corrupt men got into power and used their offices to enrich themselves. A system of taxation was followed for many years, by which the collectors were able to work great injustice upon the Filipinos. Commerce was so restricted that the islands, instead of developing their natural wealth, remained poor. A very strict rule governing the production and sale of tobacco required that a man's crop be sold only to the government, and at a price which the government fixed. Schools were few, free speech was suppressed, and attempts to publish anything in criticism of the evil conditions was severely punished. A number of Filipinos of great ability and honesty of purpose, among them the patriot whose memory is kept alive by a public holiday in his honor,--Dr. José Rizal,--were executed for conspiring against the government.
Therefore it is not strange that there should have been a constantly growing spirit of dissatisfaction and rebellion, which broke out into armed revolution at numerous times during the nineteenth century. In 1898 the United States and Spain became involved in war, and when fighting ceased the Philippine Islands were ceded to the Americans. The Filipinos were displeased at this, for they desired their independence, and the insurrection was continued for several years. However, as the people came to see the real purpose of the United States government,--to stamp out disease and crime, to establish schools over the islands, to develop the natural resources of the country, and to train the people for the art of self-government,--the resistance came gradually to an end, and conditions are now peaceful throughout practically the whole of the Philippines.
When military rule could be done away with and a civil government be established, the United States followed the outlines already worked out by the Spaniards, with such changes as seemed best, keeping the three divisions,--insular or general government, provincial government, and municipal or town government.
At the head of all is the governor-general, who is appointed by the President of the United States. He is assisted by a number of men, Americans and Filipinos, who are also appointed by the President and who together make up what is called the Philippine commission. The laws for the islands are made by the Congress of the United States and by this commission acting with an assembly of representatives elected by the people. A supreme court holds its sessions in Manila and tries cases brought to it from the lower courts. There is a special system of money for the Philippines, the unit of which is called the peso (pe'-so), and is worth half a dollar in American money. The post office system is separate and distinct from that of the United States; the stamps are different and will carry only mail which is originally posted in the Philippine Islands. A custom house is maintained for the collection of duties upon certain goods brought into the islands from other countries, and taxes are laid upon liquor, tobacco, and similar articles.