The National tribune., 1898-05-26

total estimated area of the archipelago
varies from ia ,00O TO 150, 900 square miles.
The group stretches from five degrees north
latitude to IA degrees north latitude,
distance of 1,050 miles, and from 10 de-
grees TO III degrees longitude east of
Greenwich, distance of about 200 miles,
from east to west.
The chief seaport of the group is Manila,
on the island of LuZon, a city of about
$50, 900 inhabitants; 10000 of whom are
whites, mostly of Spanish origin. The
rest OF the white population is made up
mat; perhaps less than ! eco altogether.
The osher chief ports are lloilo and Cebu.
on islands of the same name, in the central
part OF the archipelago. There are six or
seven other islands in the central and
western parts Of the group of considerable
Importance, the areas OF which range from
! 200 TO 5,CC0 square miles each. The
population is estimated at about s 600 coo.
although statistics on this point are very
unreliable, Inasmuch as large areas OF tn G
interior have never passed under European
domination, and little is known of the peO-
pie of these districts.
The leading race in the islands is of
Malay origin, although the interior is in
habited by dwarfed tribe of negritos or
blacks, who are believed to be the abor-
igines. There are also several thousand
Japanese and large numbers of Chinese.
y,
in 1920, by Magellan, sailing under the
Spanish flag, "a considerable commerce
existed between the islands and China,
and to this day the shop-keeping and
banking OF the country is carried on by the
Chinese. The mountains of LIZOn and
other remote districts are inhabited by a
low grade OF pagan Savages, called by the
SpaniardS lgOrroteS, a MOlayan race Occ,l-
pying the lowest scale in the social system
Of the population. They have succeeded
throughout the $50 years of Spanish domi-
nation in escaping the tax gatherer and
allegiance to the Spanish flag
II was not until the close of the 10Th
century that the Spanards finally secured
fast hold upon the archipelago, during
the reign Of Philip IL; for whom the
gazpi, who reached the group in 1865 with
an expedition which sailed from Mexico
and founded Spanish settlement at the
town Of Cebu. Under Philip III. the
country was turned over to the mOnastic
orders and an ecclesiastical organization
was founded. From that day to this the
power of the monks has practically domi- |
mated the islands under the Spanish flag. |
The history OF the archipelago during |
this century has been one of almost con- /
tinual instructions and revolts on the |
part of the natives against restrictions on |
commerce and graSping direct taxation, |
which has drained the islands for the |
benefit of Spain to the amount of about !
SIS 600 COO q year. Commerce with the |
outer world has suffered heavily from !
Spanish regulations, and only in recent |
years have any ports been opened to |
foreign merchantmen.
During the last century only single |
vessel annually was allowed to sail from |
Manila to and from Acapulco, Mexico, and |
the value OF the cargo each way was re- |
stricted to given sum and made up ac-
cording to Spanish regulations. This was
the limit of commerce on the Pacific. The |
trade of the islands was diverted exclu
sively, with this exception, to Spanish |
vessels sailing around the Cape OF Coed |
Hope. Not content with sitting foreign |
trade by means of customs regulations, a |
royal monopoly of the commerce of the |
islands was granted to a Spanish company |
In 1885, which lasted until 1884, when the |
first important progress began to be made |
i'm trade with England and the United |
States. Manila was the only port to which |
foreign vessels could enter until 1912, when |
Cebu was also opened.
Since that time, however, there has been
some relaxation in Spanish restrictions, so
that now Jamboanga, on the island of |
lloilO; Legazpi, on Luzon
and Tacloban, on the island of Leyte, are |
now also open to foreign commerce; al |
though only Manila, IloilO and Cebu have |
proved OF any importance in the foreign |
trade.
The exports from the United States to