Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-04
Why the Uprising of the islanders
Has Failed.
THEIR GRIEVANCES THOSE OF Cuba
Climate of the Islands Mild, the
Products Rich.
CHINESE CONTROL IN TRADE
Ere m Leslie's Weekly.

From Leslie's Weekly.
Much has appeared in the American
newspapers and magazines about Cuba
where the brave people for three wears
nave been fighting for their liberty against
spanish tyranny and oppression. BUT at
.he same time. while the valiant fight made
py the Cubans has been watched I'm the
United States with intense interest. the
struggle OF the inhabitants of another is.
ANU VINO Tor centuries have equally suf-
from spanish domination and mis-
-. mas received here but little attention.
ne writer refers to the reyolutIon which
Ior over TWO years has been going on I'm tho
"iiPpihe Islands. the pearl of East Asia
In spite OF the numerous renor,s n.h,.t
nave appeared at times in the Spantsb
newspapers, the insurrect:on I'm tho phiI,,
pine Islands has not been subsuea IT,
latest reports received from Manila cla.rI,.
SHOW that the Insurgents under tho Leader
si-ip OF zen. Agunaldo, have defeated tha
'pafiards In number of warm engage
nseh's winch took place in the province Of
"idhso. 1t Is true that the Standards
nave CANNED to have won numerous VIC
ies' Out ms contention on their mart
is strange, In view of the fact that re-
ra., have been sent to the islands
60 piahco' the new captain general in
becai,,sa !" az Withdrawn from the Philippine
neSause ne was too lenent in dealing with
.Ie insurgents; and in his place was sant
me cIuel Gen. Polavieja who is resnons,hIa
I ~ the Gedth of DIR. Rial and Francesca
hoT,a,,.r ''ie ihsursent leaders. Undaunted,
io"eNer by the death of these mon tba
IeVoiutlonists. over TWENTY-FIVE tbonsenS
iohsr are now preparing for an agrees
pango VI dih-
Not United.
Inc question has b,en aSl-a.l IL.
thdt the uprising in the Philippine Islands
mas not met with the same brilliant success
as the one in Cuba? The reason for tbts
coHuitlcn OF affairs is due to the fact that
Up 10 th.s time the best elements of Tho
population have not Joined TIE cause of tba
Insurgents large part of the peonle of
'he fhillppines have refused to become a
part OF the revolutionary army because IL
is mainly composed of half-caSres tha So
. : Mestizo Chinos," a mixture of ra-
1--WE ana Chinese blood, for whom the bat
Ter classes of the islands have profound
contempt.
III mad been the plan of the late President
MART, the Cuban leader, after the Cuban
war mad been put under way, to go to the
iEllppine Islands AMI organize the reyo-
luton there. He saw clearly that the half
caste leaders, Gen. Aguinaldo and DIR. Ri
HaI' W sh Dfare and patriotic, did not pos
Sc - the necessary qualities to cope success
1ully with the Spaniards and 10 draw 10
tEelr standards the aristocratsc Inhabitants
OF the islands. Unfortunately the death of
uie great cuban leader put an end to the
pan OF cooperation which he mad pro-
posed The result has been that a large
lunper OF young men, who should now be
hghting for the liberty of their country.
nave remained in the Spanish army because
lhey found it impossible to affiliate with the
"Mestizo Chinos"
The same causes that led to the revolu
uon IN Cuba have produced the uprising In
a ltraT.i 1~1a
Spaniards have ruled the people with the
same high-handed methods with the same
tyranny, injustice. systems of bribery cor
rtptlon, absolutism and oppression, as in
CuDa They have never been able to win
the condence of the natives: but on the
contrary, have considered them only with
regard TO their own enrichment and ex-
ploitation.
Corrupt Government.
bribery is common, not only in the GUS
tom houses and the municipalities. but also
in the courts. The judges of the tribunals
are easily bought. and the average lawsuit
takes from five to twenty years before II
even comes TO trial. 1t is utterly impossible
fer person to win lawsuit in the courts
Of the Philippine Islands unless he has
much money and influence. The govern
or general, the ruler Of the islands, in adJi-
ton to the large salary which he receives
makes immense sums of money, and when
ne IeaNes the oflce carries away with him
millions.
Then, too, hundreds of adventures have
come from Spain and have received fat
positions and offices, while the sons of
the Philippines are not allowed to hold Of
flee. The Spanish government also, i'm its
efforts to keep the people Of the islands
completely in subsection, is assisted by the
church ana the priests. SO bitter has the
feeling of the people become against the
priests that in the recent outbreak in the
province Of Pampango, priests were drag
ged out Of !heir converts and hanged.
The Philippine Islands consists OF a large
group. The principal one is the Island of
Luzon. upon which is situated the capital,
Manila. Manila is cosmopolitan city
with a population of over four hundred
thousand inhabitants. There can be found
representatives of all Municipalities of the
world. 1t is city having all modern i'm
provements. such as horse cars. electric
lights, and railroads Manila city is d.
vided into two parts, the old and the new.
The old part, having a population of be-
tween thirty and forty thousand. is the
seat of a Spanish garrison and OF the Span
ish archbishop. while in the new part the
foreigners reside.
Resources and Climate.
The main Industries OF the island are the
manufacture Of cigars, and the produce
ton of tobacco, mansoes bananas, guavas;
of the celebrated flower 'ilang- Hang" from
which fine perfumes are made; coffee. ma
nila paper rice, 1ndlgo and Jute. Gold Is
found in considerable quantities in the
Philippines. The climate is saubrious and
healthful, and the average temperature in
the summer Is rarely over eighty degrees
with seventy degrees in the winter season.
The main population of the islands are
the so-called Tagala, who are Catholics.
and there are also many negroes and Chi
nese. A large part Of the population is
formed by the so-called "Mestizo Chinos."
who have already been mentioned. The
people of the islands are extremely hos
pitable and kind-hearted. They are easily
led, and IL properly treated by the Span
iards would be faithful to them. The ma
tives are very musical, and love cock fight
ing. bull fighting and gambling.
A large part of the trade of the islands
is in the hands of the Chinese. They are
the biggest merchants in Manila and have
gained much power and influence by pay
ing Literally for important concessions
which have been granted them by tho
Spaniards. 1t is an interesting fact TO note
in this connection that no merchants Of
Manila get more credit. from European
houses than do the Chinese traders.
The Philippine Islands have also at
tracted attention recently by numerous
earthquakes, .yphoons and cyclones. which