Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-14
Spain and the Philippines.
Rochester Post-Express.)

AhONltSltl L O'N-A<AhANSosf
An interesting article in the Cosmopo-
Titan Magazine, by Dean c. Worcester
and Frank s. Bourns, upon Spanish Rule
in the Philippines" throws a great deal
OF light upon a subject with which the
American public is not familiar. 1t
knows in a general way that an insur-
rection of formidable proportions is in
progress there and that its subjugation
is the problem which. next to that of
Cuba, is the one which is most vexatious
to the Spanish Government, as IL may
well be, considering the provocation
which Spanish rule on the islands has
given TO its outbreak The Cosmopoli-
tan article is the result OF close observa-
ton Of its authors, upon the ground,
both of the conditions existing and the
causes that have led TO the revolt. We
avail ourselves of it to present few
facts bearing upon the issue which has
been raised.
Lack of Information concerning the
Philippines is largely due to the policy
of Spain I'm maintaining them in state
Of the most complete isolation possible
from the civilized portions of the world.
They are of the main lines of travel
from Europe and India to China and
japan. and were they on. there are many
reasons unQeT inc tAl0Aliib lN6lHt WY
Manila. the capital. has not become a
popular port OF cali. But Manila is a
city OF some 10000 souls, with cathe-
drals, monasterics. government offices,
schools, fashionable drives. and prone
nades. many ambitious residences, and
a considerable portion of the population
is not lacking either in wealth or refine
ment Goods to the value of some 500
100000 are exported annually. The Phi
libpine archipelago includes about 600
islands many of them being very small
but some of them, such as Luzon, on
which Manila is situated. Mindanao,
Zebu. Samar, Sulu, and others, are OF
considerable size. LuZon having an area
of some 81, 600 miles square.
The national resources of the islands
are great, gold copper. iron. and coal be-
ing found in paying quantities The po-
pulation is about 100000. the original in
habitants being race OF curly-headed,
dwarfish 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 GUS
toms The population OF the more civil
lied districts is divided into several
classes. the largest being 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
I'm numbers are the Chinese half-castes,
who. as a class are well TO do. and some
are wealthy. There are many Chinese.
The Spanish Mestizos are smaller class
numerically, but a more important one
politically. There are 800 or 400 English
men. Frenchmen, Germans, and Ameri-
cans. who monopolize the wholesale
trade OF the islands.
The government is I'm the hands Of
horde of poverty-stricken officials, who
are devoted TO but one purpose-that of
plundering the people. General Weyler
was General-Government for three years.
with salary of $4,000 and perquisites
ad libitum. There are several provinces,
each with n governor and an extensive
stan. The system of taxes is as COM
plicated as ii is onerous. Everything in
sight Is taxed. A "cedula personal" or
personal certificate. equivalent to a pass
mort. Is exacted of every one, and costs
from $50 to s25 annually. A native must
nav for the privilege Of killing his cat
lie or owning a horse. There are taxes
on weights and measures, on stores and
sbons and Industries of all kinds
Through such a system or taxation and
extortion some 100000 annually reach
the Madrid government. TO say nothing
OF the large sums scaled of by corrupt
officials. And from all this vast sum
comparatively nothing is done for the
Islands in the way of roads. bridges, i'm
provements Of any kind. or police pro-
lection. 1t Is against such a system OF
fraud. tyranny. neglect, and insecurity
that the Philippines are In revolt-a re-
volt which is likely TO be successful.