The Portland daily press., 1896-10-31
Spanish Cruelty Answered With
Worse Barbarity.
HEDIAEyAL METHODS In MODERN
WARFARE.
A Revolt Which Threatens to Rob Spain of
of Her Island Possessions-How the
Conflict Differs From That in Cuba.

bar1Em with DarDarlSms In Gno cuban
war the cruelty has al been on the Span
ish side. Captured patriots are dumped
nightly into the bay, bound hand and
foot, as food for the sharks. but the
Spanish soldiers captured by the Cubans
are treated as prisoners Of war.
Authentic news is just beginning to ar
rive from the Philippines, and it shows
a dreadful state of affairs. Ever since
Magellan discovered the islands In 1881,
the Spaniards have ruled with an iron
hand. No great pains have been taken
to perfect civilization among tho aborigi-
mails, but the latter have learned enough
to appreciate the horrible injustices
which have been heaped upon them and
to understand the value of liberty. The
native ferocity has never been subdued,
however, and in the presant war they ask
for NO quarter and give none. The ma
tive leaders say the struggle will only
end with the determination of the Span
lard, aud then republic. will be
founded on the principles of the Govern
ment Of the United States.
The newspapers of Spain have been
forced by governmental restrictions to
minimize the Importance of the insurrec-
ton in the Philippines, fearing the effect
that tue honest news would have upon
the Cuban patriots, and, while all mail
matter from the islands has been sub
jeoth to the ,strictest censorship, letters
Entrusted to officers OF steamships have
escaped Investigation and reached the
hands they were intended for. These
show the true condition of affairs in
the Islands. and while they give but scant
attention to detail, reveal all the horrors
of the war.
The Instruction has been in progress
but two months, yet the natives are prac-
tically in control of everything but the
city of Manila. where the Spanish army
is strongly fortified. There are 1000 is
lands in the group, and the total popu-
lation is estimated at 5000, 600, but the
Spaniards have never conquered more
than 1000, 600 of these. Five-sixths of the
even explored by white men. When the
Spaniards first conquered portions of the
islands most of the aboriginals fed to
the interior and have lived in savage
wildness ever since. These aboriginals
are a negro race, and are fierce fighters.
They use poisoned arrows IN warfare,
and are as skillful in handling them as
were the Indians of this country genera
tions ago.
The principal island in the Philippine
group Is Luzon, in which are the three
great cities of Man lila. Cavite and Mala-
bon. The population of Luzon is 2, 500,
OoO, and the population of Manila is
100, 600 of whom $4,000 are soldiers
Offered by Spaniards In the central
part of the city is a great fortress called
Old Manila in which the soldiers and
Spanish officials, both military and leg
islative, live. This fortress is mainly
armed with old smooth bore cannon, but
Within the past year number of rapid
fire guns and two great Is inch rifles
have been added to the equipments.
Prior to the invasion OF Spain great
hordes Of Malays had descended upon
the aboriginals, and In time had inter
married with theIc. Then mum bers of
Chinese entered the islands and inter-
married with the children of the Malays
and aborig inals. Within the last Gen.
tween Spaniards and the women Of the
Island, of Malay, Monaghan and aborigi-
nal ancestry. The product of this mix
turo of races is now the controlling pow
er of the islands, and furnishes the lead
ers In the revolt to break loose from
took possession of the islands they called
the halfbreeds-the children of Malay,
chinese and aboriginal parentage-Mesti-
Boes. The Mestizoes, by the Introduction
of Spanish blood, have developed into
hardy, industrious people, many of them
persons of considerable wealth and the
heads of CONNER cial firms, which export
the countless natural riches of the islands
to all quarters of the world.
The Mestizoes have made Manila the
great city it is today. 1t is lighted by
electricity. the business streets tsem
with vehicles and horse cars, railroads
run out from the city to Cavite and NAL
abon. and many of the houses and large
buildings are constructed of stone and
iron.
As to the cause of the war, 1t Ia the
same which drove the Cubans to revolt
Unjustif1able taxation, black mail and
robbery on the part of the Spanish
officials are the chief CAUSES. The Mesti-
zoes have no say In the legislative
branches of the government. The police
forces and militia are all made up of ma
tivss, but every position above the rank
Of private in these bodies, as well as I'm
all others. is filed by Spaniard But
the rule of the Spaniard in the Philip
pines seems to be nearing its end. As
has been said the Spaniards now only
control the city of Manila. The city of
Oavite. six miles away. and the "ity of
Malebo q, six miles away, are controlled
by the Insurgents, as well as ali the rest
Of the island of Luzun and all Of the 9TH
er L 300 islands. 1t can be seen from