Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-04-30

ed Snlrt, chimney pot SILK nat, cane III
hand-and coatless.
What are called Eurasians in other parts
of the East are there termed Mestizos. or
Mestizas. They are the offspring Of white
fathers and native mothers, the designation
Chinese-Mestizo being selftindicative. But
the visitor would be Immediately impressed
with the intellectual superiority of the fe-
male native to the male.
Scotch enterprise holds nearly all the eX
port, but the Chinese and Chinese half
castles have a practical monopoly of the re-
tail trade. ---
All the general commercial governmental
and historic interest seems to center in Lu-
zon, though Mindanao. the extreme south
ern island of the archipelago is. nearly as
large. The Chinese and female natives have
largely intermarried. Evidences of ad-
vanced civilization may be found in the
beggars Of the towns, for there is as large
and varied and fragrant a collection of
them as can be found anywhere in the
world.
Fish and fruit abound, there is profu-
sion of rice and sugar fields, and the CO.
coanut is given away, though some abso-
lutte necessities Of life, like milk. are ex-
pensive. Genuine cows milk is very scarce
and sells for half dollar quart.
The Last InsurrectiOn.
The last uprising of the natives against
Spanish misrule commenced in 1886, and
the new year. 1897. opened with an engage
ment between the Spanish and the insur-
gents on u more extensive scale than us
ual. being fought in the center of Buacan.
The rebels were routed and defeated. There
and at Cavite the rebels are most numer-
Gus. The battle was south Of the import
ant town of Santa Maria, seenteen miles
from Manila, in a northeasterly direction.
The insurgents were well armed with guns
and rifles obtained from China, and Japan.
Armament is what they need, for men
they have practically without limit.
This was followed by the shooting of
exiled political prisoners at Agana, the
capital of the Mariana islands. The Off
cial statement is that there were eighty
three killed and forty-six wounded.
The real cause of this rebellion. as that
of 1872, is said to be the hatred felt by
the natives for the friars. The movement
for freedom was organized by the patriot
Francesca Venezuela, a Mestizo. There
were several skirmishes in the mountain
villages and outlying islands in August
and September. This leader was captured
later, it is alleged, through the treachery
of Japan. His execution, with three of
his followers, took place in early October
In the great square of the ancient walled
town, the scene being one of thrilling hor-
ror. His wife was exiled to Carolina, and
there was a rumor that she poisoned her
self few days later. There have been
many other exciting incidents in this in-
surrectiOn, such as the execution of RojaS,
whom the natives had decided upon as
their emperor when their freedom should
be established. But the warfare still con-
tinues with ever varying success in favor
of one or the other combatant.
The barbarous medieval garrote and the
horrors of the black hole of Manila are
typical of Spains inhuman policy in the
Philippine islands. On the other hand,
there Is the burning of Spanish monks
strung to their own monastery walls by the
thumbs to stigmatiZe the character of the
Malays when driven to revenge by op-
preston and irresponsible tyranny.
Rebels of the Lower Classes.
The leaders of the present movement be-
long to the lowest orders, SO that it is
probable that the destruction to life and
property will be greater if the rebellion
, again becomes general. The rising. in Au-
gust. 1886. of which Emilio Asunaldo was
the head, was organized by the higher and
educated native classes, and the leaders
exerted their influence to prevent, as far
as possible, murder and pillage, and we
have seen that Spanish prisoners were
well treated by Aguinaldo throughout.
The murder of some priests in Cavite
was the work of Andres Bonifacio (anoth-
er leader). He was tried by court-mar-
tial and shot by order of Aguinaldo for
this breach of discipline. In virtue of the
utterly undignified arrangement come to
between General Primo de Rivera and the
leaders of the rebellion (Which General
Primo de Rivera was pleased to call and
the Spanish home government was pleased
to accept as the "pacification" of the Phil
ippines) the former leaders of the rebels
were paid a considerable sum Of money to
leave the islands.
Devastation of Provinces.
The result certainly has not been the
pacifcation of the country; large bands of
rebels have continued to devastate the
provinces of Bulacail. Nueva Excija, Pan
gasinan and Tarlac; many villages have
been burned down and pillaged. and much
rice Of the new harvest has been destroyed
by fire.
The rebels of to-day are fired by a de-
sire for pillage, and their idea is that if
they deprive the peaceable Inhabitants of
the means of living the latter. in sheer
desperation, will join their ranks, and
there is no doubt they will do so.
The fury Of the rebels is now directed
against native as well as Spanish author
ity, especially against native troops and
volunteers. The loyalty of the latter is
doubtful, and during the last month they
have been disarmed and disbanded.
From the Sixty-ninth and Seventeen ma
tive infantry regiments there have been
many desertions lately, the deserters going
over to the rebels with arms and ammuni-
ton. The present trouble has been direct>
ly caused by the collection of the taxes
for 1888, which the natives refuse to pay,
and by the detention of pardoned rebels,
which naturally eXcites distrust and causes
hundreds to take the field again.
The railway line has been torn up in
three places during the last month. The
object is to prevent troops arriving at the
towns that the rebels have determined to
pillage.
On account of the very unsettled state of
the country the rich natives and half castes
are closing their business and private es-
adjustments and are leaving the country,
fearing no doubt a repetition of the scam
! dalous confiscation Of property, imprison-
ment. torture and final extortion' from
those who were proved to be innocent be-
fore they were set at liberty. Thus DR..
Pedro Roxas is said to have paid 500. 900
to leave the country. Although declared
| innocent, Don Luis Yangco paid $4,000 for
his liberty; Chuidian, $4,000: Limhap, S25,-
600, etc. Within the last three weeks the
rebels have attacked the Spanish military
stations in Subig, Apalit and Bautista,
carrying off from the two former stations
arms and ammunition and being repulsed