The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-24
SPAIN AND THE PHILIPPINES,
The EXtortion and Cruelty Practiced
by the Spaniards There.

by the Spaniards There.
The Philippines Tie wholly within the
tropics. reaching at the south to within
four and one-half degrees 20 the equator
Big and little. they number some six
hundred. varying In size from Luzon
with its 5000 square miles 20 tiny
islets hardly worthy Of the name The
islands are In most instances Of volcanic
origin, and several fine volcanic peaks
may still be seen I'm Luzon, Negros, and
Mindanao. Destructive eruptions have
occurred within recent times, while earth
quakes are frequent and often OK great
VIOLENCE.
The climate is intensely bot. and In
many Of the islands very unhealthy FOR
Europeans The severest cold which I
ever experienced az sea ievel during three
years and a half was 90 degrees Fahren-
hcit There are four months of rain, four
OF sun, with intense heat and two months
OF variable weather az each change Of the
monsoons. Revolving storms OF great
magnitude and frghtful violence occur az
certain seasons and frequently cause
enormous damage 20 property attended
with heavy loss Of life.
The tropical scenery On the forests Of
this archipelago is Of unsurpassed splen-
dor the heat and moisture combining 10
produce vegetation Of q maguihcence
, which beggars description. Gigantic trees
towering 70 "A height Of 200 or 80 feet
are festooned with graceful rattans, beau
tiful ferns. and exquisite orchids. while
underneath splendid tree ferns rear their
lovely heads thirty or forty feet into air.
So dense is the Vegetation in some Of
these forests that the fierce tropical sun
hardly penetrates 10 the ground beneath
them. and the dense underground per
petually drips with moisture.
The population Of the islands Us estima-
ted az from eight 10 ten millions. EXclu-
ding foreigners for the moment We ma
the natives divided into something like
two hundred tribes, each with its pecu-
liar dialect and customs. With The
single exception Of the Negritos. these
tribes are Of Malay extraction. The Ne
gritos are a race OF dwarfsh blacks. con-
fined at present 20 a few of the lo'tiest
mountain ranges. They are Characterized
not alone by their color but by closely
curling hair. which serves 81 once TO dis
tinguish them from the straight-haired
Malay races. They are commonly be-
lieved 10 be the aborigines Of the Islands.
They are puny sicky race, and are
rapidly becoming extinct.
The tribes of Malay origin vary in
their development from state OF abso-
lutte savagery 90 civilization. The Inter-
Tors OF several of the larger islands are
populated by nearly naked tribes. many
of whose members have never seen
white man. Having nothing 10 excite the
cupidity Of the Spanish, they are, and
seem likely 10 remain. completely indie
pendent.
Extreme poverty ls the rule among the
civilized natives. and its cause is found in
the heavy burden of taxation imposed
upon them by their Spanish masterss
Every person over Is years OF age Is re-
quired Co produce annually "a credula per-
sonal. or document Of Identification. the
charge of which varies from $50 70 50.
according 20 the means of tho applicant
Should these sums seem insignificant 10
must De remembered that the average
native has little or no opportunity 10
work for hire: that IL he does succeed in
securing employment his wages are often
not more than cents per day and that
De is usually unable 20 dispose 0f his
farm products for cash. being compelled
90 exchange them for other commodities.
In addition TO this personal tax there is
"a tax ON cocOIuut trees. a tax on beasts
OF burden. tax on killing animals for
food. tax for keeping a shop. a tax ON
measures. "a tax on cock lighting. and so
on 20 the end of tho chapter. At every
turn the poor native finds himself face
90 face with the dire necessity OF paying
tribute. and be frcuently spends his life
in am Intellectual effort 10 met tho obli-
cations thus imposed
Dciinuent taxpayers are treated with
the utmost severity. The first step is
usually 20 strip them 10 the waist, tic
them 20 a bench or post. and beat them
numerically. ] have seen women sub
iected 20 this treatment. n this does not
suffice Imprisonment follows. while pres
sure is brought % bear on relatives and
friends Should none OF these methods
prove effective deportation follows, with
conhscation OF property and the leaving
OF women and children 10 shift for them
selves.
I once saw forty-four men deported
from Squljor because they owed taxes
varying in amount from two 20 forty doll
lars. / was informed that they would be
allowed 20 return 20 their families II
thev could find them. after working out
the amount Of their several debts. The
wages allowed them were 10 be six cents
per day Board was 90 be furnished them
az a cost OF five cents per day and they
were 10 clothe and shelter themselves. Tn
other words their sentence amounted TO
deportation for life.
should native manage 10 get abroad
and secure some little education. he is
-elv 10 be invited on board a gunboat
some evening and not heard from there
after. the reason for his disappearance
being that he knew too much.
Brigandage IS tolerated. N not encour-
aged. by the authorities charged with the
enforcement Of the laws. The civil guard
go 20 much trouble In apprehending Grim
inals OF the worst type. only 10 have them
set at liberty again without trial. or mys-
teriously escape" from prison. II there
were no criminals al large the fees OF the
Judges would fall of.
The Governor-General Is surrounded by
a numerous corps OF officials TO aid him