Proceedings of the first Independence congress : held in the city of Manila, Philippine islands, February 22-26, 1930 / Published under the direction of Dean maximo M. Kalaw, executive secretary, University of the Philippines.

96 INDEPENDENCE CONGRESS PROCEEDINGS

"Local assemblies of citizens constitute the strength of free
nations. Town meetings are to liberty what primary schools
are to science; they bring it within the people's reach, they
teach men how to use and how to enjoy it. A nation may
establish a system of free government, but without the spirit
of municipal institutions it cannot have the spirit of liberty."
Here in the Philippines, if we mean to preserve for future
generations the stable government which we have built up, we
must maintain a high standard of local government and administration.
In analyzing the present machinery of our local governments
with a view to ascertaining the probable course of its development, it is necessary to sketch briefly its origin and history.
The system which we have today did not exist before the
advent of American occupation of these Islands. The system
prevailing at that time, far from enabling the people to participate in the administration of their own local affairs, was
designed chiefly to help collect taxes for the support of the
central and home governments. The "pueblos" of that time
did not enjoy even the semblance of authority ordinarily conferred upon municipal corporations. Towards the close of
the Spanish regime, an attempt was made to inaugurate a comparatively autonomous system of local government here by
the enforcement of the so-called Maura Law. Unfortunately,
this reform came too late, and hardly had the new system been
put in actual operation when the Spanish rule came to its end.
The next attempt to set up a plan of somewhat autonomous
local government in the Philippines was made during the existence of the erstwhile Philippine Republic (1898-1900). General Aguinaldo issued two important decrees prepared by
Apolinario Mabini and embodying a quite comprehensive and
elaborate plan of local government which was to guide the
establishment and government of the "pueblos" during the
revolution. Before this scheme could gain a foothold among
the people, came the orders of the United States Military authorities providing, for a new system of local government.
This marked the beginning of a new era of government in our
provinces and municipalities. Changes were introduced. The