The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-03

establishment and maintenance of
schools, and especially states that tba
spanish language shall be taught. In
rev of the larger towns this provi
sion is carried out. In the vast major
ity OF cases II is not.
NOT does the poor native see the
i haru earned dollars of which he has
peeh inuicted expended in local i'm
provements. Here again the law is
gooo enough. Such Improvement is
provided for, but alas. the funds that
should pay for them are ONLY too ant
to find their way into the pockets ~
provincial officials or to be sent 10 the
capital. 'S
One result Of this state of affairs Is,
that, except In the vicinity of a few OF
the largest towns. the province has no
roads worthy of the name. Few of the
aiieged roads" are passable for anv
vehicle save buffalo sled, even in the
ory season, and during the rainy sea
son they become impossible even for a.
man on. horseback. the water buffalo
Deing the only beast that can make
Its way through the apparently hot
tomiess sea Of mud into which they are
converted. Nor can uninterrupted
progress be made even on "buffaIo-
pack, Tor sooner or later one Is sure tn
encounter an effectual barrier in the
shape OF rushing stream, too deep for
t me puHaio TO ford and too swift for
him to SWIM
Bridges are almost unknown. for evep
III a province has been so fortunate ar
some time in its history, as to have an
honest governor who has constructed
a rev, his successors have. in most
cases, allowed them to fall into ruins.
bridge once down, stays down. un-
Us Some poor native living near 1t. or
the gobernadorcille of the nearest vii
iage, chooses to repair it at his own
expense.
NOT only are the natives frequently
iett without protection from these ban
dts, who are often In league with the
very authorities whose business n
shouid De TO bring them to justice, but
they are deprived Of means of defend
Ing themselves. In the knowledge that
spanish dominion in the islands would
speedily terminate were the natives
armed, arms and ammunition have
been made contraband. One NAV NOT
nave In his possession a weapon OF anv
kind without a license duly signed by
the governor general These licenses
are very difficult to obtain. and cost a
good round sum
Ihere is no hesitation as to the WAYS
and means of obtaining Information
from natives who are unwilling To give
1t, and torture is more or less openlv
resorted to. One Of our servants, hay-
re S.oieh soine powder from us at
Homblon, We applied to the governor
1or instructions as to the best method
or ascertaining Its whereabouts. He
at once suggested that a thumb-screw
properly used would probably elicit the
desired information. We are informed
that other apparatus formerly used by
the Inquisition, and since preserved in
the monastaries of old Manila, against
the time Of need, are being brought into
requisitlon during the present revolt,
put IL should not be supposed that the
Spaniard has not improved upon these
somewhat antiquated implements Of
torture. We learned during our stay
In the island that the application of a
good strong interrupted current OF cleo
tricity to certain sensitive portions Of
the body had been found quite effec-
tive. And yet they say that Spain IS
not progressive nation.