New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-07
WOES OF THE PHILIPPINES.
REASONS FOR THE PRESENT INSURREC-
TON AGAINST THE SPANISH RULE
MoNAsTIC INFLUENCE BLOCKS ALL EFFORTS AT
REFoRM-NATIvEs GROUND BETWEEN


In Porto Rico. which made necessary the diver
sion Of many troops from their intended destina-
ton-Havana. where they were to have AIDED III
the effort to crush the Cuban patriots-have been
interesting reading to the Cuban sympathzers
here In her present disabled condition. both as
to military equipment and finances. Spain mas had
her hands full enough. and she can III stahd the
strain which the suppression OF these new insur-
rections must undoubtedly cause upon her already
deblitated resources If the Philippine and Porto
Rico troubles out to be as serious as they
seem from the information so far received, they
will OF necessity imply a weakening OF the forces
available against the insurgents in Cuba. and
hence the hearts of the members OF the CUBAN
Junta In this city beat high with hope
The statements emanating from Madrid that the
leaders Of the instruction In the Philippines are
Germans. comprising the Executive Committee OF
a secret society which Is alleged TO be responsible
for the whole trouble. must be received Win lat-
sized pinch OF salt when IT Is considered that ior
many years there has existed among the Nets a
strong and growing feeling Of dissatisfaction with
the oppressive government of the Spanish rulers OF
the islands The assertion. also coming from Mad
rid that a pamphlet hostile to Spain, which has
been circulated among the Inhabitants oil 'he f'lh-
ippne Islands, was printed in Germany Is pfooaoiy
true enough II is certain that such a document
could never have been printed in Manila. where
the strctcst form of press censorship obtains, and
even the daily newspapers, printed In Spanish
have TO he submitted TO the State and Church au-
thorities before they are allowed to be published
IMPORTANCE OF THE COLONY.
Some idea of the condition Of things ruling III
these islands. the only colony of importance out
side of Cuba left to Spain. may be gathered
from the following details given by an educated
ma tive of Manila a person of far more than average
intelligence. wide traveller and fluent hnguis'
In all the principal modern Languages. The strong
est indication of the feelings OF his class IS conveyed
In his insisting on his anonymity being preserved
his relatives in the Islands should through e
publication even In America, Of his criticisms on
the Spanish authorities. come under the nlspleasu'"
Of the island authorities and be made 10 suner 'he
usual punishment of deportation to the penal ISLANDS
of the Marianne Archipelago.
The Philippine group which discovered in
1921 by Magellan. was settled as Spanish colony
under Philip H. the husband of the English Queen
Mary consists Of about twelve hundred ISLANDS,
over four hundred Of which are inhabited Under
the colonial policy OF Old Spain all foreign VesSeis
ard letters excluded. and 1t Is Only III recent
Years that this rule has been modifed' Mamma Il,
the island Of Luzon. Is the seat OF HoVer'n''' am
residence of the GovernorGeneral. who is appoint
"A ~, tho Spanish Crown. Each of the larger
islands has a lieutenant governor ana each Oh tle
thirty provinces into which the group Is u''u'" =
governed by an Alcalde All the officials are span
,ards and no native is allowed to hoid any OUT
s,hord,nate office The higher Spanish onlcliiS
serve for only three years. after which 'he! are
.rt,led 70 a pension, and 1t can readily be seen
what a grevous burden this large and ever-ihcre"s-
ing pension list entails on the natives VINO 'e ~
pay It,
NONASTIC INFLUENCE IN THE ISLANDS
The Roman Catholic religion is the only one
,oeroted in the colony. and the high places IN the
church 90 In the Government ana the A'"'S are
al oiled bv Spaniards. Monasteries and converts
:. ,or,ous religious orders abound and great pro-
or,,or Of the valuable land on the Islands Is III
the hands of the monks. who lord II over tne IA
,,ves as was the practice In Europe III inc 'i'u'
.ges Educational matters are lett altogether III
the hands Of the ecclesiastical authorizes ""o'c
Interest II Is to confne the amount of knowledge
,or,od N thA SIMPLEST forms. 1t is a rare thing
80 neot a native outside of the larger towns VINO
can do more than read and write ana recite MS
prayers. ~ , T.,
Manila there is quite notable collection OF euu-
cat,onal institutions The royal and pontihcal Uni
versitv OF St Thomas is In the hands OF the
Dominicans and is attended by about 800 stu
dents The teaching Is chiefly theological, how
ever and the amount Of secular knowledge I'M
parted would hardly qualify native student ior
worldly greatness. even If II should be thrust upon
him: but the Spaniards take care that ne VIII R l
ha ' mt to any such test At the College OF ST
Joseph the Jesuts management Is better a anara
toorably liberal education can be obtained lneic
is a fine observatory connected with this ulst'u
ton and by the aid OF splendid collection ni Oh
scientific Instruments. both astronomica ai M sls
mic much valuable information has been Obtained 1t
in the interests Of science Ihe Scboo whnr
the plainest education Is given to about ziO IN
Mes The EsGuea PA ee ayaa tG the de
Spanish children only In addition 10 tnese th mere
are colleges Tor young "oiheh' o'e Vi '''i"
being for orphans
EIGHT MILLIONS KEPT IN IGNORANCE.
OF total population of about 100000 on the
Islands not more than a quarter of million pos
sess more than the rudest rudiments of knowledge
and these are only to be found in the capital and
larger towns. The vast majority of the people lead
merely animal life. For mental recreation they
have the diversion Of cock fighting. Gambling. too
Is prevalent ana an ,b nn'hiy 6rawnrs
''i In thn DISPOSITION of patronage the ossest ia
voritism prevails and bribery and corruption are
rampant In the courts cases are decided in ac-
sidze the magistrate and it is hopeless for native
to look for legal redress If injured by Spaniard.
Dark Ages policy are not apparent. The city IS
fine one with population OF about iSvvo ana
scntng a strange aspect. half Spanish and half
Oriental, with long lines Of heavily mounted bat
teres sombre churches ungainly towers ana mas mas.
sive houses Of solid masonry ntermingled with airy
in Of Spe ee Of rsH 1Ra 5s and and
the seat Of Government. and here occupied IN va
ri9us f~t5standns the dcuiies in the way
will not be denied their right TO acquire knowledge
OF their foreign rulers. They appreciate the in
Justice TO which they are Obliged to submit Iney are
ness and luxury a number OF alien hlrelings who
have no interest In the country, eXcep; 10 extort
nil they G. n during their term OF Office: Ihesc
people feel the bitterness OF the yoke which tney
are powerless to resist. for they are numerically
ara.k and the bulk OF their fellOw-countrymen are
M s,cened in Ignorance by the artu policy of their
masters as 10 be unconscious OF injustice and IN,
capable Of appreciating what passes in the world
around them.
THE OBSTACLES TO REFORM.
The intelligent classes of the natives ascribe most
~ tho existing evils to the influence Of the al-pow
orfu religious orders. whose interest it Is 10 keep
the masses from all knowledge OF the outer world
and 10 crush all attempts at reform Many OF the
Itch Governors General have endeavored ito
bring about an improved state OF things realizing
49, the best interests Of the Colony would ne az
ncod hv more liberal policy The influence OF the
h..D