The morning call., 1893-10-16
A NEW NATION LOOMING UP.

There appears to be possibility that
new community may presently knock at
the door of the house of nations begging
for admission. This is the Philippine
Islands, which have been Spanish colony
for over 800 years. For a long period this
colony has been a burden on Spanish
finance. In 1890 the deficit was $1,000. 600,
and though the original tariff has been
reformed, a uniform rate of import duty Of
so per cent being substituted for the old
complicated system. and all export duties
except that on tobacco being repealed,
there are a yet no signs of financial re-
cuperation, and it is being seriously con.
sidered. both at Madrid and at Manila,
whether it might not be well to abolish
the colonial regime and let the islands
shift Tor themselves.
There are said to be 400 of them,
spreading nearly from Borneo TO For
mosa, and bearing some slight evidence by
their formation that they once formed
part of the lost Malayan continent. Their
total area is about two-thirds of that of
California. and their population is esti-
mated at 100000. Large portions of the
islands have never been explored. and the
natives remain in their original savage
condition. Many of the occupants of the
coast regions profess Christianity and are
under some control by the Catholic mis-
sionaIies. But in the main their notions
of reliEion are vague. These people pro-
duce ald export tobacco, hemp, sugar,
coffee and cocoa. They also grow consid-
erable Quantities Of rice, which is con-
sumed at home. Like ther Pacific islands
their expsrts exceed their imports. By
the latest nturns the former amounted to
S26. .35S, 900, aud the latter TO S21, 20S, 000
The wants of the people are small. a
single garment answers for both sexes and
Injuries are not in demand.
Of the Philippine Islanders little has
been known n consequence of the Sc
cretiveness of tie Spanish officials and the
ignorance of tie Spanish writers. Forty
years ago Fhnch doctor named La
Gironmere, who lad lived twenty years in
the islands, wroe an entertaining and
Instructive aecoun, of his observations. 1t
has been the textbook on the subject ever
since. Now, an EnGlishman named John
Foreman, who also spent several years in
the islands, and KEEP his eyes and ears
open, has published abook On them, which
is attracting considerable attention. He
describes the people g members of the
Malay race. but diffe,ing from other
Malayans in many FIXTURES. Men and
women are small, thoual muscular; the
average stature is ratherunder than over
five feet. But they ar, fighters, and
brave. An army Of Philippine Islanders
drilled in modern tactics would be for
mdabie. More than 300.00t Chinese have
settled among these islanters. and the
5000 or 10000 Spaniards, bcked by the
home authority, relieve then of the gov
ernment OF their country. But if they
took it into their heads to setup an inde-
pendent nation it would be a srious prob
lem to gainsay them. Some ,ears ago,
when the French got into trouble in Ton
auiD, Spain lent them an army corps Of
Philippine Islanders, who established a
high reputation for courage and conduct in
the field
Mr. Foreman sneeIs at the incapcity of
the Islanders to master the Tudimats of
European education. They may. per-
haps, have an education of their pwn.
They submitted to Spanish dominaion,
but they neither assimilated nor faled
away. Except in a few trifliDg parteu-
lars they are what they were wbn
Magellan first landed on the islands. (n
general principles. every race thrives bet
when it manages its own affairs, withou
interference by foreigners. The Philip
pines would probably be more prosperous
If they did not have to support Spanish
Governor and regiment of Deputy Gov
ernors, alcaldes and commentaries. Tbt
islands will produce far more than the,
do But no people does its best unde
foreign domination.