Local government in the Philippine islands,

ELECTION OF LOCAL OFFICIALS

213

class and thereby sanctioned and fostered local aristocracy.239 One of the well-founded grievances of the Filipinos
against Spain was the denial to them of participation in the
administration of local affairs. There was concededly excessive centralization of powers in the Government at
Manila. This was the reason which urged the Filipino
statesmen, when they came to frame the "Aguinaldian" constitution, to be careful in laying down certain fundamental
principles of local government "upon the basis of the most
ample administrative decentralization and autonomy."240
And when the first Philippine Commission came to investigate local conditions, they readily reported that the "desire of the people to manage their own affairs" was "an
ardent passion." 241 And how else could this legitimate
desire of the people be satisfied than by giving them freedom to choose their own local officials without embarrassment and corruption? Guided by America's ever-pervading
liberal spirit, the Filipino people were, even during military
occupation, granted the right of suffrage in the election
of local officials so that they might be encouraged in their
"just and natural aspirations to become educated and
worthy to enjoy all the benefits of civilization".242 As
early as 1899, an election was held in Baliuag, Bulacan, in
response to a public petition, which is said to have been the
first to be held under American supervision.24
The Australian Ballot System.-It is said that the Australian Ballot System was originated by Mr. Francis S.
239 Vide ch. iv, sura
240 Arts. 57 and A, Malolos Constitution.
241 Report of the Philippine Commission (1900), p. 90.
-42 General Orders 40, Series 1900, Appendix G, Laurel, Jose P.:
Election Law Annotated (Manila, 1922) p. 14.
243 Malcolm, George A.: The Government of the Philippines, (Manila, 1916), p. 199; Le Roy, James A.: The Americans in the Philippines, II, pp. 68, 283.