The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-14
CONDITIONS IN MANILA.
As THEY WE'RE BEFORE THE AIR
RIVAL OF OUR FLEET OF
TRANSPORTS.

The Ignorance of the People of the
Philippines and Their Medieval
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Spain and the
Spaniards Have Drained the Is
lands and Given Little in Return.
ASuinaIdo, the Insurgent Chief.
From the Baltimore sun.
Harbor Of Manila. June 5.-Communica-
ton with the shore is easy, thanks to the
permission of Admiral Dewey, who has
shown most remarkable powers of admin
istration under anomalous circumstances.
IL must be understood that Spanish rule
! still prevails. and that there are about
| 25.000 troops in the capital. II is said that
| the government has enrolled about 100 O0O
volunteers, but this. take it. is brag. 1t
would mean that it had reinforced the in
surgents with that number of men.
Here. then, is Dewey, with his small
! squadron, not only overawing the heavy
| ODDS of Spanish troops, but in possession
of the harbor and preventing the arrival
/ of supplies. Hunger, or rather famine, will
render any man desperate, but, although
/ there is some stealing and robbery, vet the
! city Is kept in remarkably good order, but
only on account of Dewey's presence.
| 1t is, however, not safe for a stranger to
! peramOulate the almost deserted streets.
! and more dangerous, of course, to go open
| ~ as an American correspondent. Letters
| of introduction from Shanghai friends TO
| an old and wealthy German resident left
! the impression that I am here in the in
| terest of German paper, and have taken
! excellent care not 10 destroy that Illusion.
! The consequence is that the Spanish Off
GERS to whom have been introduced talk
ed with freedom. 1t is impossible not TO
marvel at the ignorance manifested by
them.
A walk through the business part OF
1 the city has a depressing influence. The
! Plaza del Padre Moraga and the Rosario
/ are deserted save for the staggering,
/ fierce-looking Spanish officer, who has not
| yet realized that Othello's occupation is
| gone. These officers, one and all, are
convinced that Europe will interfere to
prevent the despoiing of Spain. They
| talk of kindred races, and in the same
! breath mention the absolute certainty of
German Intervention II is all nonsense
| of course, for although Germany would
| by no means object to secure these rich
colonies, the attitude of England is such
that no European power viii dare OBJ
struct Admiral Deweys measures l only
| mention the tenor these conversations to
show that all self-rehance of the Span
! iards is utterly gone
doubt very much if our troops will
have to fight, Notwithstanding the fact
that the very existence of the Spaniards
IS at stake. There is no ghost of a
doubt that every inhabitant of Manila
excepting those who boast of being born
in Spain, is an insurgent or a sympathiz-
er with the Instruction These people
Will not talk 10 me. being suspicious of
the company l frequent, bur l can readi-
~ account for the hatred prevailing
against all that is Spanish.
Native Philippines. residing in Madrid,
expressed their grievances in an address
to the Spanish people. 1t contains ex-
tracts from the Philippine budget for the
last administration year G896-S0 and emu
merates the following crying complaints.
Quoting from the budget it states that
the Philippine treasury pays a heavy con-
tribution to the general expenses of the
government at Madrid; pays pensions to
| the Duke de Veragua (our guest during
| the Columbian exhibition and TO the
| Marquis of Bedmar, besides those of the
| Sultans and native chiefs of the islands
Of Sulu and Mindanao it provides for the
entire cost of the Spanish consulates at
Saigon, Yokohama and Melbourne; for
the staff and material of the minister of
the colonies, including the purely orna-
mental council of the Philippines; the ex-
penses of supporting the colony of Fern
ando Po in Africa, and all the pensions
and retiring allowances of the civil and
military employees who have served in the
Philippines. amounting to the sum of
| Sl,l60,0O year.
What a mich COW these islands have
been to the Spaniardsl What a host of ig-
norant. idle hidalgos have fattened upon
huge sums diverted from the unfortunate
workers
And what has Spain done in return? The
document from which I translate this
states the facts with scathng biuntuess
More than 81, 100000 Is the amount con
cicr f1aa In he
year, but not a penny is allowed for pub
lie works, highways. bridges, or public
buildings. and only 5000 for scientific stud
les, Indispensable repairs, river and ca
nails, while the amount set apart for Telig-
ious purposes and clergy amounts to near
ly $4,000. This sum does not include
the amounts paid to the clergy for bap-
tisms marriages. sale of indulgences, papaI
bulls and scapularies which exceed the
government allowances. The ma gnificent
sum of o0o is set apart as a subvention
10 ~ailway companies and new projects OF
railways. but the College for Franciscan
monks in Spain and the transportation of
priests comes in for S55000u"
1t seems really as II the world had gone
back three centuries and as if we were
living In the time of bloody Philip H. after
whom these most unfortunate islands were
named. Six thousand dollars for all new
Improvements. yet the choir Of the Manila
Cathedral receives $1,000, and $4,000 is set
apart for the support OF the Cathedral
Public instruction. including naval. scien-
Iihc, technical, and art schools, must be
maintained at a gross expense OF $50, 900.
and from this pittance museums, Libraries
the observatory, and a special chair IN the
/ University Of Madrid must be paid. Add TO
this the squeezing and peculati0n OF ev-
cry Spanish official from the governor
general down to the lowest alguacil. and
il is no wonder that these people, robbed
right and left OF the fruits of their toll.
hate the Spaniard and viii have 10 more
| OF Spanish rule.
I acknowledge that was not predspos-
ed IN favor OF our good friend and ally,
Don Emilio Aguinaldo Fami, or Gen.
Agunaido. Is ne is known to fame The
fact cannot be denied nor does he attempt
70 deny il, that he received $4,000 from
Governor General Primo de Rivera and
that he refused to share with his fellow
insurgents as had been understood But