The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-10

For the
Philippines

a h
The Philippine islands constitute enc
II the greatest archipelagoes OF the
world. They lie In the north tropic
zone and separate the south China sea
on the west and the Pacific ocean on
the east On the south tho Celebes sea,
800 miles across, separates this nrchi-
pelago from islands Of tho snmc name.
On the southwest two island chains, the
Sulu and the Palawan. stretching to
within few miles Of the coast Of Bor-
neo, inclose the large Sulu sea.
Next to the great seaport of Manila
are the ports of Iloilo and Zebp, on is-
lands Of the same name In the central
part Of the archipelago There are haIs
dozen other islands in the central and
western part Of the groups the areas Of
which range from that Of Rhode Island
TO that of Connecticut. Among the in
habitants a dwarfed race Of Negritcs.
now driven into the mountains and in
terror lands. seems to be the descendants
OF the aborigines. The bulk of the pop
ulation is Malayan, of whom there ara
numerous tribes. The dirtiest aud most
pagan is known as the Igerrotes. aud
yet they display very exemplary quail
ities. They are one of the most impor-
tant mountain tribes of Luzon aud are
among the population who virtually CO.
oape omnivorous Spanish taxation. They
are good farmers. laying ont terracsd
fields OH the mountains, constructing
irrigation canals and having corsii-
erable reputation as metallurgists.
Another element of the population
nre the Chinese and their nestizus. or
descendants of mixed Semitic and pa-
tive blood. There is scarcely commu.
nifty on these islands where the Chinese
are not found. Petty trade and hank.
ing is almost entirely in their hands.
Europeans and their descendants are
not numerous here although there is .
considerable breed of half castles, deriv-
ed from European fathers.
Before the days Of Spanish rule there
was considerable commercial intercourse
between the Philippines and China and
Japan, but this. which would naturally
have developed enormously II the Span
ish trade between Manila aud America
had been left free, was interrupted and
ut times almost completely Z stopped by
absurd restrictions devised to secure to
Spain monopoly Of the American
trade For long period only single
galleon, and that under governments
supervision, was allowed to proceed
yearly from Manila to Acapulco. the
value of the cargp each way being re-
stricted within q prescribed sum. Dr.
rect trade with Europe via the Cape of
Good Hope began in 1854, but as IL
the exclusion from it Of all except Span
ish ships was not sufficient in 1855 ;
monopoly was bestowed ON the Royal
Company Of the Philippines.
With the close of the eighteenth CEN
tury certain amount of liberty began
to be conceded to foreign vessels. The
first English commercial house was es-
tablished in Manila in 1909, and in
1884 the monopoly Of the Royal compa-
ny expired. Manila remained the only
port for foreign trade till 1642. when
Zebu was also opened. JamboaDgA
(Mindanao), Iloilo (Panay), Sual (Lu-
zon), Legazpi or Albany (Luzon) ard
Tacioban (Leyte) are now in the same
category, bpt only Manila, lloilo aud
Cebu have proved Of real Importance,
as they are the only ports where foreign
bound vessels have hitherto loaded.
The exports from the United States
to the Philippines have been very in
significant, although our imports from
the islands have often reached large
proportions. The principal articles ex'
ported from this country to the Philip.
pines are flour. petroleum., leather
goods, iron aud steel, etc. Imports from
the Philippines are chiefly sugar and
hemp. The following table shows the
commercial intercourse of the United
States with the Philippines during toe
period of ten years. 1855 to 1891: