Evening star., 1898-10-08

of the natives before the Paris peace commission
Mr. Lala is member of wealthy and influential
native family He was educated In st. Johns Col
iege London, and was for many years prominent
| in the business social life of Manila. As a re.
suit Of his interest in the revolutionary plans of
the natives he was compelled to change his | resi-
dence to the United States few years ago lie is
minded Fipinos. and his remarks are highly in
teresting as giving the views of the people
Lala is at present engaged in writing history Of
| the islands.)
So much has teen written about the Phi
ippines in a purely descriptive way that 1
presuppoSe some knowledge cf them.
| This article has to deal with few of the
| problems that will soon ask for solution at
the hands Of the conqrering Americans.
| believe America has an unparalleled op
rortunity-an opportunity not only for
wealth and commercial advantage, but
also for humanity and for civilization.
Though .Msrila is at present in the nanGs
| OF the Americans. all the rest of Luzon and
most of the ether islands are held by the
insurgents, who have also taken Iloilo and
Cebu, the two ether chief ports. The peace
commission appointed by the President is
to decide, it is said, what is to be done
with the islands. This at least seems to be
the idea of the administration; but what
ever the commission may decide, I, as 4
tilipino-wIth thorough knowledge OF nv
&C ccuntryme1 and of the conditons-asser
tHat the decision Of this commission can IN
no way effect the destiny of the archt-
peiago. This may seem a strange state
ment. hut 1t is nevertheless true. Suppose
that the Americans decide to keep the isl
aEos. which ere LOW virtually theirs by
right of conquest and possession the ma
tlNes will rec eve the exchange of Spanish
tyranny for American liberty all too glad
ly There will be no opposition; for this Is
in lima ri$l
trend of events.
Division Impossible.
Should however, the commission decide
that the Southern Islands snail be given
back to Spain while Luzon alone is retain
&c by the United States, believe me. this
decision will be rendered impossible by the
attitude OF the natives themselves-for the
N1sayas, the inhabitants of the Southern
Islands, are even II ore fierce and warikn
than the Tagal -, the natives of the north,
and Will surely not brook Spanish misrule
While their brothers are enjoying the benz
fits OF American civilization. Suppose.
furthermore. that !he commission decides
to give all the islands back to- Spain, the
United States to retain a coalihg and naval
station, and to receive indemnity for losses
incurred while in The orient?
The money might be paid ana The coaling
station would probably be given up: but
the islands can never again come into
Spanish possession. | will tell You how |
Know this. Even in 1886 the Society of the
katipunan. founded by the Philippine mar
tyr, Dr. Rtzal whose sworn object IL was
to drive the Spanish oppressor from the
archipelago numbered 80o, $50 members
Within the past SIX months this order has
grown tremendously. Victory after victory
over the once feared Spaniard was won by
Agulnaldo and his enthusiastic followers.
The back of the Spanish power was broken
and the morale of their army was forever
destroyed. The natives found that when
equally armed, a Filipino was as good as
a Spaniard any day. Thus the cause of the
insurgents has been strengthened and the
katlpunan now numbers 100000 members,
all of whom have sworn that their country
shall be free from Spanish rule.
This is not commonly known, out It Is
true, and do not believe that even 1000
Spahi2rdS Will now be able to conquer my
country and keep it in subjection. Tie
tIllplnos nave tasted the sweets of liberty
and the fruits Of victory. They will not
and cannot be deprived of them
The Spaniards have broken every promise
that they have ever made and they can no
longer be trusted. Far different is the feel
ing toward the Americans, who are now
regarded by the natives as their deliverers
from Spanish bondage. But If the Ameri-
cans give the islands back to Spain they
as well as the Spaniards, will incur the
eternal hatred of the islanders.
Demands of the FIIfpinos.
Now this is what the Filipinos want, and
this l know is what they consider them
selves entitled to have-in fact, it Is COM
monty understood in the islands that the
following has been guaranteed them by
their American allies:
Independence from Spanish rule shall be
proclaimed.
A protectorate shall be esta blished with
a government designated by the American
representatives, and approved by the in
surgent leaders.
This government will recognize such tenn
DOrdry adjust InentS he
American or European commissioners
II protectorate be established it will be
OF the same kind and nature as arranged
for Cuba
The ports Of the Philippines shall be
opened free to the commerce of the world.
precautionary measures shall be adopted
against Chinese immigration. so as to regu-
late their competition with the natives who
at present suffer severely thereby.
Inc corrupt judicial system at present
existing in the islands shall be promptly
reformed-such reform TO be ntrusted to
competent American officials.
The complete liberty of speech, of asso-
ciat1on and of the press shall be declared
and maintained.
throughout the islands; but the friars or
religious corporations, of whom there are
about 1900. who have been a cancer in the
body polite. and who have ever ruled the
provinces with an iron hand, demoralizng
the civil administration and blasting every
reform, must be expelled root and branch.
Inc parish priests, whose presence is most
necessary and beneficial, must remain un-
disturbed in the performance of their sa
cred calling.
Measures conducive to the discovery and
development of the great natural resources
OF the country must be adopted and at once
enforced.
The existing obstacles to the forming of
commercial enterprises and investment of
foreign capital shall be taken away and
encouragement shall be given to every in
dustry. L.
The new government shall keep public
order and prevent every aactYsof reprisaI
against Spaniards.
The development Of the public wealth
shall be facilitated, together with the OPEN
ing of roads and roadways Il
Restoration to the natives of the lands |
held by the religious orders, except where |
lawfully acquired by the tatter.
No arrest without judges warrant.
labor.
The Spanish officials shall be allowed to
return safely to Spain, with their property |
unconfscated.
These are the reforms that my country |
men demand and expect. True all of this |
not fnt