The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-13

ish misrule on the American island of Gu
ba brought about a war for human rights
between this country and Spain. In ;he
faraway Philippines of Malaisia-a land
OF volcanoes, earthquakes, and typhoons-
Spain could carry out her inquitous col
onial system of government, away from
the eyes of the civilized world. Only when
some traveller has returned to tell of the
lie OF the islanders has anything been
heard of the medieval government per-
petuated in that wild country for the
enrichment of the private purses of favor
ed Spanish officials, and the replenshing
of the public treasury, depleted by cor
ruption at home and wars in the colonies.
Consular representatives, in the Philip
pines from the United States and England
have been well aware of the rottenness Of
the island government but they could not
make public their knowledge without en-
dangering the relations Of their countries
with Spain. Even unprejudiced travellers,
in their accounts Of the islands, have
avoided a discussion of the political side
Now that we are at war with Spain and
our flag floats in the capital of the Philip
pines, Americans who have been In the
Islands are free 10 speak their minds. No
one Is better qualified TO speak than former
Consul Elliott, who was three years at
Manila. During the last six months of
his stay the consulate was guarded by six
Spanish soldiers, and Elliott constantly
carried two pistols and a cartridge belt
Because of his Americansm he was as OBJ
noxious TO the Spanlards of Manila as was
Gen Lee to Havanas loyalists.
Spanish rule in the Philippines is thor
oughly corrupt" says Mr.. Elliott 1.-THE
system of government nomnally in oper-
alton is bad enough for the closing years
of the nineteenth century, but il is made
many times worse by the officials from
Spain who so to the Philippines for no 9TH
er purpose than to make a fortune. The
salary Of the governor general is $4,000 a
year, nearly as large as the Presidents,
but the salary is insignificant in COMPARE
son with the amount the officials steal
Weyler, on his return from the Philip
pines had to his credit in the banks of
London and Paris several million dollars,
squeezed out of the people and the foreign
merchants. Gen. Despuyol, who succeed
ed hinl,p was AN honest man, and 1t is re-
lated that he knocked down a Chinese
mercn mt who came 10 him with a gift of
bags of silver coins amounting TO S1OO00
Blanco, who ruled the province while I
was there. was also an honest man, but he
had to carly out the laws.
Inc Fhlllppines cover more square miles
OF territory than most Americans dream
OF. Imagine the states of New York. New
Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Massachu.
sets, Connecticut Rhode Island, Vermont.
New Hampshire and Maine transported 40
the emma Sea and cut up into 200 islands.
ranging in size from one as large as New
York and Massachusetts combined to III
tie islets not large enough for a boy TO
turn handspring on. Then put all the
NeW YORK state people on the largest is
lana, Luzons with a city about the size
of Washington for its capital, Manila. and
spread the other six million people about
on the other islands. Now you have some
idea OF the Philippines-not 'uninhabited
cots upon the ocean, Ell? Why north
and south the islands extend 200 miles
and east and west some 700 miles and
the archipelago is well knit together.
Who lives there? Now you've got me
was there three years, but 1 never was
sure whether man was Spanish, Chi
nese, Malay, Siamese, Negrito. or some
thing else, or all combined. l don't believe
there can he found such a mixture of races
anywhere an the world Outside of the
Island of Luzon and one or two others the
population is divided between the Negri-
tos and Malays. The Negritos are dwarf
ish blacks, the original settlers in the is
lands some 500 years ago. The Malays
swarmed in upon them form the south and
drove them into the hills, so that now the
coasts are held by the Malay tribes, who
speak some thirty different dialects. and
INC titSiaoIS are ueiu. Dy the NcgritO
tribes, speaking some 200 dialects, perhaps
more, for little is known of the wild. I'M
explored interior country on any of the
Islands, even Luzon.
Manila is cosmopolitan city. The
Spaniards, the rulers, number less than
1000. and there were not 500 Europeans
there when l left. Americans are seldom
seen. The Chinese number G0OO0: they
are the small shopkeepers. Malays are
as thick as Chinese. The great middle
class is made up Of some 5000 Mestizos.
the offspring of Malay mothers and Chin
csc fathers in the majority of cases. But
Spanish blood runs in the veins of many
of the Mestzos. These half castles, SUI
perior in intelligence to the natives, are
in perpetual state of unrest. They have
led all the revolutions in the islands and
are the people who are expected to aid
this country in taking possessions of the
Philippines. Some of their leaders are
bright men. who chafe under the Span
ish yoke and long for more humane rulers,
or, If possible, independence.
Everybody and everything is taxed.
Spain draws an enormous revenue from
the Philippines-how much no one knows.
The annual budget, when l was at Manila,
amounted to some $15000,000 and must
have been increased since to help carry
on the war in Cuba. But the amount
squeezed from all classes of people by the
thieving officials is many, millions more
Let me read you some figures from a re-
cent budget.
"The cedula personal, a document for
Identification, must be carried by every
person over IS years old. The tax varies
according 10 age and financial condition
from 70 cents to SIS. The sum expected TO
be realized in this budget was "a, 401, 629 25. |
The bead tax on the Chinese was 1926, $50
The tobacco tax on the Chinese was $l1,-
$50. and on the other persons S222500. In
addition TO these personal taxes the ma
tves must pay taxes for owning cocoa
nut trees and beasts of burden; for every
wheel on their wagon they must pay 81 q
year; they must pay taxes for keeping
shops killing animals running mills and
oil presses. holding cock fights, owning
fighting cocks and burying bodies
Cock fighting is the great national
sport, and the budget estimated the tax 4