Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-15
THE ISLANDS DEWEY TOOK.
An Old Shipmaster's Yarns About thu
Philippines.
New York Sun.


the conditions of government now exist
ing in the Philippine Islands with view
to altering them to suit Yankee notions,
he is going to be everlastingly surprised.
In the first place, he Is going to ind that
the Chinese are the real masters, instead
of the late lamented Dons, just as they
are to-day virtually in control OF nearly
all the islands of Malaysia. In the second
place, he is going to find that the dissat-
is faction Of the revolving natives is di-
rected as much against these same CHI
nese as against the Spanish. and that the
cry against cheap Chinese labor rings
out as wildly at Manila and elsewhere in
the islands as it did in this country prior
to the restriction of Chinese immigra-
ton"
After this declaration, Captain John w.
Merritt, of San Francisco, paused TO take
breath and TO stroke a monumental meer-
schaum. He is a retired shipmaster, who
has seen As years Of gales and Gains
on the bosom Of the Pacific, and was
spinning yarns for the entertainment Of a
group Of friends.
1.-THE population OF the Philippines" he
continued, 'is the most heterogeneous to
be met with in all the Kanaka islands
They say It numbers 5000 00O-souls. 1 was
going to say, but, bless you. most or them
are Just the commonest kind Of black or
brown bodies-meandering around at the
dictates of the most corporal kind of i'm
pulses and instincts. The mountains are
filed with wild tribes Of diverse origin,
few of which have ever been conquered
o. subdued by the Spanish. They are as
ferOcious as Cerberus. and as black as his
master. Among them are tho negritos-
little niggers' that means. translated.
They are why, tough, and bad little
giants, who yield only TO such civilization
as is introduced by powder and ball.
These fierce tribes swarm all over the
loo islands in the group, and l venture
TO say that not one-half Of them have
ever been under the Spanish yoke.
1.-THE Tagals, who live on the larger
islands. like LuZon and Mindanao, are
rather peaceful people, and do a little
farming between cock-fights. Then comes
the Bisayans, who are great fishermen,
and live on the water between the is
lands. They carry on a desultory sort or
commerce and stir up reyolts. The Ma
lay Indians form the majority Of the
population under Spanish rule, with the
Papuans a good second. Native whites
and Europeans are about 10000 strong,
while the Chinese and the half-castes or
India, who have been drifting into the
Philippines for ages, number, collective
ly, about 125.0O0. SO, you see, the eau
casian, Monaghan, and Ethiopian Civil
sions OF the human family have all con-
trlbuted a share TO the islands.
Now, the natives are lazy to a super
lative degree. It's that way in all the
Kanaka Islands, and the generous way in
which good Mother Nature has provided
for them is enough to excuse their Shift
lessness. Go out and lie down under
the first tree at night and enjoy sleep.
In the morning roll over on your back,
shy your boot up into the tree. and down
comes breakfast That's their way Of
reasoning it out, and most of them prac-
tice It. Their laziness and general i'm
providence the Chinese have been quick
to seize upon and turn to adyantaSe-no
opportunity ever escaped a Chinaman.
He is active, capable, and unceasing in
his efforts when he turns lis hand to
labor or mechanics. In commerce he is
the most astute merchant on the face CT
the globe In finance he is without SUI
perior. So the Chinese have become the
mechanics, clerks, traders, shopkeepers,
and bankers Of the islands, and therefore
the real power. Their energy and ca
pacity made them indispensable to the
Dons In return for their faithful Offices
and the handsome presents they be-
slowed upon the Spanish officials, the
Chinese were allowed TO have civil regu-
lations and a police of their own. Osten-
sibly they acknowledged the rule of tho
Spanish Governor-General, his ministry
and advisory juntas, and bowed down
before IL in humble self-abnegation; but
in their wide sleeves they snickered and
sneered at it.
ssIIatad dacpfcad hfit xubofIu npviad bx,
the natives, the Chinese have never
sought to placate their enemies, but have
aided the Spanish Government in main
tanning that balance Of opposing interests
on which the Dons relied for the support
OF their own institutions. Thus, they have
gone on for years fattening upon the
great wealth Of the Philippines, giving
large sums to the Spanish rulers for con-
cessions worth ten times what they have
paid and stripping the natives OF lands,
products. and labor, until conditions be-
came unbearable, even for the easy-go-
ing tribes, and the rebellions followed.
The ultimate triumph OF the insurgents
would mean the humiliation OF the Chi
nese. for, like all Malays, the natives are
supine and inactive in peace, but unre-
lenting and tireless when bent on revenge.
III the United States will hold on 10
Manila, or take possession OF the entire
Philippine group. they will confer UNI
bounded benefit upon the American mer-
chants engaged in the Pacific trade. and
add considerable to the revenues Of our
country. Besides. the cost OF the war
could soon be repaid into our Treasury
from the tax on imports and exports inn
posed at Manila alone. / don't pretend
to discuss the vast advantage that port
offers as coaling station and general
governmental depot in the far East.
which is a subject for the consideration
OF statesmen; but / argue from the point
and experience OF an old trader with an
eye to business. There Is no calculating
the wealth OF the Islands. Most OF the
products brought TO this country are
coffee, indigo, sugar-cane. tobacco "a
government monopoly. spices. pepper.
pima linen, made from the pineapple fibre:
hats. and cordage But locked up In the
many mountains OF the Islands are
millions Of tons Of iron, copper, coal,