The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-07-28
stealing and robbery, yet the city is


 kept in remarkably good order, but only on account of Dewey's presence
 It is, however, not safe for stranger to perambulate the almost deserted streets, and more dangerous, of course, to go openly as an American correspon- dent. Letters of introduction from Shanghai friends to an old and wealthy German resident left the impression that I am here in the interest of Ger man paper, and have taken excellent care not to destroy that illusion. The consequence is that the Spanish officers to whom l have been introduced talked with freedom It is impossible not to marvel at the ignorance manifested by them.
 walk through the business part of the city has depressing influence. The Plaza del Padre Moraga and the Rosario are deserted save for the swaggering, fierce-looking Spanish of ficer, who has not yet realized that Othello's occupation is gone. These of ficers, one and all, are convinced that Europe will interfere to prevent the de- spelling of Spain. They talk of kindred races, and in the same breath mention the absolute certainty of German inter- vention. It is all nonsense, of course, for although Germany would by no means object to secure these rich colo nies, the attitude of England is such that no European power will dare ob- struct Admiral Dewey's measures. I only mention the tenor of these conver- sations to show that all self-reliance of the Spaniards is utterly gone.
 l doubt very much if our troops will have to fight, notwithstanding the fact that the very existence of the Span- tards is at stake. There is no ghost of doubt that every inhabitant of Mani- la, excepting those who boast of being born in Spain, is an insurgent or a sym pathizer with the insurrection. These people will not talk to me- being suspi- cious of the company I frequent, but I can readily account for the hatred pre- vailing against all thatis Spanish.
 Native Philippines. residing in Madrid, expressed their grievances in an ad- dress to the Spanish people. It con- tains extracts from the Philippine bud- get for the last administrative year 1896-97) and enumerates the following crying complaints. Quoting from the budget it states that the Philippine treasury pays heavy contribution to the general expenses of the government at Madrid pays pensions to the Duke de Veragua (our guest during the Co., 1umbian Exposition) and to the Mar quis of Bedmar, besides those of the Sultans and native chiefs of the islands of Sulu and Mindanao; 1t provides for the entire cost of the Spanish consul lates at Pekin, Tokio, Hong Kong, Sin- gapore, Saigon, Yokohama and Mel bourne; for the staff and material of the minister of the colonies, including the purely ornamental council of the Philippines; the expenses of supporting l the colony of Fernando Pc, in Africa, and all the pensions and retiring allow | ances of the civil and military employees who have served in the Philippines, amounting to the sum of coo a | year.
 What milch COW these islands have | been to the Spaniards! What host of | ignorant, idle hidalgos have fattened | upon huge sums diverted from the un- | fortunate workers.
 | And what has Spain done in return? | The document from which I translate | this states the fact with scathing l bluntness: More than seventeen mill | lion dollars is the amount consigned in | the Philippine budget for that year, but not penny is allowed for public works, | highways, bridges or public buildings, | and only six thousand dollars for sci entific studies Indispensable repairs, rivers and canals, while the amount set | apart for religious purposes and clergy amounts to nearly S1, 400, 000 This sum does not include the amounts paid to the clergy for baptisms, marriages, sale of indulgences. papal bulls and scapula- ries, which exceed the government al- 1owances. The magnificent sum of for | ty thousand dollars is set apart as a l subvention to railway companies and new projects of railways, but the Col | lege for Franciscan monks in Spain and 1 the transportation of priests comes in for fifty-fve thousand dollars!" 1 It seems really as if the world had l gone back three centuries and as if we were living in the time of bloody Philip H., after whom these most unfortunate | islands were named. Six thousand dol lars for all new improvements, yet the choir of the Manila Cathedral receives four thousand dollars and sixty thou sand dollars is set apart for the sup port of the cathedral! Public instruc- tion, including naval scientific, techni- cal and art schools, must be maintained | at gross expense of sixty thousand 1 dollars, and from this pittance muse-