The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-11
APPEAL OF A FILIPINO,
RaMoy REYES LALA WRITES TO
PRESIDENT MtKINJET,

PRESIDENT MrKINLET.
An Earnest Plea Against Giving the PHI.
ippines Back to spain-The Best Element
Int n Population wants tho United states
to Establish n government There. He says
WASHINGTON. Aug. 1O.-Ramon Reyes bala. .
native OF tho Philippine Islands. has written
this letter to President Mckinley;
al ST. Marks PLACE,
New YORK, Aug. =, 1881
TO His ErceiisRep ne Freiideni NJ ne Unfted States
DEAR SIR: 1 am. so far asI know. the only
native Filipino in this country. l came here
sevcral years ngo to escape the religious tyr.
amy aud political oppression in my own land.
II became u refugee from Spanish injus-
tice. and was forced to fee to n more hos.
pitnble shore. 1 have incurred the hatred OF
the Manila G~overnmentby ntoo free expression
OF nv opinion concerning the robbery and ex.
tortion that I saw on every hand. My own rela-
tives had been dcspoilcd. their property being
connscated on the mere suspicion OF disofecs
tion-a suspicion. too, that was born OF the cue
pidity of official avarice, / myself was threat
ened, and-I am here happy and contented.
"'Thatsame happiness-the manly privilege OF
freedom-is now almost within the grasp OF my
conntrymen. May 1 ask you. Mr.. President, to
pause before deciding upon their destinyH
Providence has given you. honored sir. Q
great opportunity greater even than that
which immOrJNllNeu LllCoiu' ho hSou Aouh
millions OF slaves by one stroke Of his men you
hold in your hand the freedom OF ten millions
OF slaves; O freedom already won by American
yalor in the greatest naval battle OF modern
times, a freedom that only needs your cons
nrmation to become q glorious fact.
TO give the Philippines back to Spain Is to
court future war and internal complications
but that Is not all. It is to thrust my country
men back in the slough Of despond; 1t is to set
h.~l. l. .-baot - A0r n 0aptrtrp . n Ia "a
paralyze the finger Of destiny that we fondly
believed pointed to the contamination 30 de.
voutly wished, 80 flercely fought for.
1T is claimed that the Flipinos are not
ready for self g"overnment; they have at least
demonstrated their dissatisfaction with tyr.
amy, and this Is surely the first step toward
the goal of liberty. They have much to learn.
and will learn 1t IL they only have the chance,
and that chance is only to be found in political
freedom.
For the present. would suggest provisional
government. to be maintained until a more per-
manent management is evolved from the com.
pick conditions Of the situntion. Such arrange
ments. believe. in common with the educated
classes OF my countrymen, should be an Ameri-
can administration similar to the much praised
Dutch rule in Java. We are not yet prepared
to govern ourselves.
II feel sure that my countrymen will Coz
operate in bringing such aconclusion into eff
feet. I know Aguinaldo we'll. He is patriotic
and courageous. and I also bespeak his aid.
"On the other hand. to leave things in statu
| quo or to turn the islands over to any Euro.
pean power will be resisted to the death. Il
is for you to give the Philippines a united re-
public-and this is freedom. this is the oppor-
tunity.
have the honor to be your obedient serv.
ant. RAMON REYES LALA."
A Sun reporter found Mr.. Lala last night at
the rooms Of the Xxx Club. in Second avenue.
near st. Marks place.
81 felt that 1t was only my duty to write that
letter to the President" Mr.. Lala said. do
not know Of another Filipino in this country. I
have met some Of my countrymen here as trav-
ellers. 1have lived here now for twelve years.
Until last April I corresponded regularly with
my family in Manila. 1 have a father. a brother
and a sister there. rs we'll as a rother-in-law
who is an Englishman. My last letter from
them was dated April II. Since then I haven't
| heard a word. I do not know whether they are
alive or dead.
About Aguinaldo. 1 know him quite well.
He is able. energetic and ambitious. He wants
to be somebody. He has. therefore, Joined
himself to the insurgents. and. as he is emil
nently qualified to do. has become their leader.
But as leader of the insurgents he does not
represent the best elements OF the Filipinos-I
mean the wealthy. we'll educated. progressive
natives. They are not with the insurgents in
an active way. They know. as I know, that tho
Philippine Islands are not capable Of governing
themselves properly. any more than Spain 10.
Self-government could not be as bad as Spanish
government, but the better class OF Filipinos
wanted to defer the change from Spanish rule
until 1t was apparent that a good government
would be established.
THE entering OF the United States into the
case furnishes the solution. / was entirely
within the truth when l said to President Mo-
Kinley that tho United States and no other
country In the world can establish an enlight-
ened government In the Philippines. My peo-
pie will trust the United States. We will put
our faith in no European monarchy"
Mr.. Lala is a citizen Of the United States. He
Is at present engaged in preparing a book on
the Philippines which will soon DO published.
In getting together the material for this work
he went to Europe and conferred with the Fill
pinos there. His views on the attitude OF the
best Filipino Oh toward this country are based. he
said. not only on his own opinions and knowl-
edge. but also on the unanimous opinions Of
the European colony Of his countrymen.
OUTWITTED THE SPANIARDs.