The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-10-11
SPAIN AND THE PHILIPPINES.
From the Post-Express.

From the Post-Express.
An interesting article in the Cosmopol-
itan Magazine, by Dean G. Worcester ana
Frank S. Bourns, upon Spanish Rule in
the Philippines" throws a great deal OF
light upon a subject with which the Amer
lean public is not familiar. 1t knows IN
general way that an insurrection of for
midable proportions Is In progress there
and that is subjugation Is the problem
which, next to that of Cuba, Is the one
which Is most vexatious to the spanish
government, as 1t may well be, consider
ing the provocation which Spanish rule
on the islands has given to its outbreak.
The Cosmopolitan article is the result of
close observation of its authors, upon the
ground, both of the conditions existing
and the causes that have led to the re-
volt. We avail ourselves of it to present
a few facts bearing upon the issue which
has been raised.
Lack of information concerning the
Philippines Is largely due to the policy
of Spain in maintaining them In state
of the most complete isolation possible
from the civilized portions of the world.
They are off /. main lines OF travel
from Europe and India to China and
Japan, and were they on. there are many
reasons under the existing regime why
Manila the capital, has not become
popular port of call. But Manila is a
drals. monasteries, government offices,
schools, fashionable drives and promen-
AIDES, many ambitious residences, and
considerable portion of the population is
not lacking either in wealth or refine
ment. Goods to the value OF some nifty
million dollars are exported annually.
The Philippine archipelago Includes
about 600 islands, many of them being
very small, but some of them, such as
| Luzon, on which Manila Is situated,
Mindonao, Zebut, Samar. Sulu and others
are OF considerable size, Luzon having an
| area of some $1,000 miles square.
| The natural res ources of the islands are
great, gold, copper, iron and coal being
found in paying quantities The popula-
tion is about 100000, the original inhabit-
| ants being a race of curly-headed, dwarf
| ish blacks, known as Negritos. These are
| still, in state of savagery. In all there
are 200 native tribes, each with its own
| language, laws and customs. The popu-
lation of the more civilized districts is di-
| vided into several classes, the largest be-
ing that of the pure or nearly pure natives,
living on the outskirts of the larger towns,
| or in small villages, and being engaged as
| field hands, day laborers and servants
| Next in numbers are the Chinese half
| castles, who, as a class, are well to do, and
| some are wealthy. There are many chin
| eSe. Ihe spanish MeSllZOS are IL Siiidiiei
| class numerically, but a more importan,
one politically. There are 800 or 400 Eng
| lishmen, Frenchmen, Germans and Amer.
leans, who monopolize the wholesale trade
| of the islands.
The government is in the hands of q
horde of poverty-stricken officials, whc
are devoted to but one purpose, that o.
pundering the people. General Weyiel
| was governor general for three years
with a salary of $4,000 and perquisites at
libitum. There are several provinces
each with a governor and an extensive
staff. The system of taxes is as compll
Gated as it is onerous. Everything IL
sight Is taxed. A 'cedula personal" o
personal certificate, equivalent to pass
port, is exacted of every one, and cost
from Sl.50 to s25 annually. A native mus
pay for the privilege of killing his cattl
or owning q horse. There are taxes oi
weights and measures. on stores and shop
and industries of all kinds. Through sucl
a system of taxation and eXtortion som
So 900 900 annually reach the Madrid gov
ernment, to say nothing of the large sum
scaled off by corrupt officials. And from
| all this vast sum comparatively nothing /
done for the islands. in the way of roads
! bridges, improvements of any kind, o
police protection. 1t is against such
system of fraud, tyranny. neglect and in
security that the Philippines are in revol
"a revolt which is likely to be successful