The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-26
MERaiTT'S HARD TASK.
what Lies Before the Governor of the
Philippines.

In the history of his nation no
American has ever been honored with
a mission like that assignee to Cen
eral Merritt and none has ever en-
tered upon a more difficult task. 1t is
hard enough to deal with a homo
gerseous race of civilized men, but the
j. ,0O0,O 900 people awaiting the advent of
General Merritt are as badly mixed as
any equally large body of people on
earth. The native element predoml-
mates, though. like the Spaniards. the
chinese have acquired a very substan-
tlal foothold. and the two widely vary
ING races have largely intermingled
their blood with that of the native in
habitants.
The mestlzos, or mixed races, greatly
outnumber the Spaniards and exert a
decided influence in the islands. The
great majority of the Merchants and
landed proprietors are the descendants
OF Spanish fathers and native mothers.
Aithough quite exclusive, the best
Spanish society admits mestizo women
IN large numbers to its circles. Most
of the subordinate officers of the gov
belong to this class.
AS a rule the male natives are a
good-natufed, superstitious and law
set, but the women manifest much in
dustry and are said to be as virtuous
as n set of women on earth. The
of Chinese and native wo-
men are much more industrious and
enterprising than the natives of the
pure blood.
When he has conquered the Philip
pines General Merritt will find himself
In a difficult position and much knowl-
edge and great tact will be required to
manage the heterogeneous mass of D-c-
pie. varying from Malay pirates to ac-
complished English business men. A
radically new system of government
viii have to be Introduced, that at
present in rogue being at least a CEN
fury behind the times.
Spain sent the sword to the West
indies and held the natives i'm subjec-
ton by brute force. she adopted a diff
ferent course with the Philippines. In
lieu of soldiers she sent priests and i'm
place of forts erected churches. Her
priests converted thousands of the ma
tives to Christianity and have i'm the
past controlled them better than "A
large standing army could have done.
often has Spain. when in sad finan-
ciai straits, appealed to her eastern
possessions for extra money, M never
i'm vain. the devoted priests always
managing to raise and forward the
sums demanded.
II Is d NtfltdDlt empire mat GENERA
Merritt goes 10 take possession of i'm
the name of the American people. The
islands number about 1.400 and con-
tain about $50. 900 square miles. a terri
tory equal to nearly three-fourths of
the German empire. To conquer and
establish authority in such a vast,
widely scattered territory is in itself
no trifing task, particularly when it is
remembered that some of the islands
have never happ fnllN aNnlnTpn ml1Eh
less civilized.
The country must be classed as hilly
mountainous, one peak rising to a
height of 10000 feet. while five are over
5000 feet above sea level. The entire
country. from sea To sea. including
hills and mountains, is covered with a
dense semi-trOpical vegetation, the
Philippines occupying about the same
latitude as Cuba. There are three dis
tinct seasons-cold from November to
March. hot from March to ms and
wet from July to October. Terrific
thunderstorm occur i'm May and June.
Coal abounds i'm immense deposits. the
veins, many of them on the coast. run
ming from 10 To 20 Feet i'm thickness.
Iron ore, the equal of that found in
Sweden, exists in great abundance, as
also do deposits of copDer. None of
these have eyer been developed to any
considerable extent. Gold exists in all
the islands and experts declare hat
millions could easily he taken out.
Animal life is very generally diffused: .
everything on earth that walks. runs,
flies or sWims inhabiting these islands.
The flora is remarkable, there being
4.47a distinct species of flowers. The
products include almost every kind of
fruit and grain, coffee. sugar. tea. rice,
potatoes. European vegetables. a nun
dred kinds of bamboo and the famous
Manila hemp that has become such a
necessity i'm American manufactures.
A difficult task has been laid out for
General Merritt. but "A rich empire
awaits his subsection.
No one doubts that he will prove
equal TO the task. though he will en-
counter great difficulties and suffer Sc
rious disappointments. He is a thor
ough American and has been a farmer,
soldier and practically a mill
governor M our American from
tier. where he has come i'm contact with
Indians, a more fierce and unruly race
than he is likely TO in the
Philippines. In the meantime no one
will dispute that these islands are
worth possessing.-Chicago Chronicle.