The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-10-18
Strong Army Of Occupation Not
Necessary.
NATIVES NATURALLY DOCilt.
Jealouxfes of Two Principal Tribes
Were Taken Advantage OF ny
Spanish Governors in HnttnS
Isiands-Inited states Could Play
the same Game With Small
Number of Capable Army ofhcers.

1T is an erroneous .dea. arising from
lack o. knowledge Of prevailing conditions.
.nac the United States Will be required 20
usa a large military farce 10 control the
Philippines
This statement was made 70 Posst-InteI-
ngencer reporter last night by an English
man now in The city who. prior 10 ten
years ago. enjoyed residence OF htteen
years OF these Stands. and a portion OF
whose family Is still there. His name Is
withheld at his request.
Let me explain" he continued. that
mere ara two distinct types, / might say
races. or a; least tribes Of men on the main
Island and on several OF the smaller isl
auts are yet other types. In the northern
part OF the principal island are what are
known al the Togolas and in the southern
par; the Bysyas. These TWO ;ypes are as
different AZ negroes and Indians, and have
an an.ipathy toward each other that
amounts 10 positive hatred. BY taking
advantage OF this one tribe may be de-
pended upon 70 halp keep tie other IN SUD-
lection.
For over 800 years the Span!ards gov
erned them without the presence OF a sim
gle Spanish soldier. There were few hum
dre0 Spanish officers. and the natives fur
a.shed the priyates. l was there in 1872,
when what night have been a successful
uprising was put down BY the craft OF the
Spanish officers In playing one OF these
tribes against the other. The native priests
were the oonspira ,ors and arranged the
plot for the overthrow OF Spanish rule. 1t
vas agreed that at a certain signal the
uprising should taxa place and be general
among the native troops In both tribes.
SEINE SKY -roCkets fred az a festival IN the
neighoorhood oe the fort in which the To-
goia troops were stationed, were mis- taken
for the signal. ana they Immediately up
rose. killed their Spanish officers and pro-
ceeded 70 carry things with a high hand
The Spaniards were in CONSERVATION.
but resorted 10 the strategem OF bringing
a BODY OF Bysya troops up in front OF the
fort. The Togoias being deceived into the
neEef that these meant TO make war on
them on account Of the antpathy OF the
two tribes. fired on them and precipitaled
fight in which the Spanish Officers were
the real victors This Is actual history.
A few intelligent United States army
officers can contro, them in this same way
Just as easily and effectively as an Inte,li-
gent teacher controls a lot Of pupils. SIM
ply by kindness honesty Of purpose and
resolution. The natives are naturally quiet
and not possessed OF marked criminal in
stncts But they are fierce when imposed
on. While not given 10 hard labor. they
are fairly industrious. moderately inte,ii-
gent and fond OF luxurious living. They
love music and have marked talent for -.
and have more bands than any people I
have ever been among.
Corruption of the Clergy.
1T should be understood that nearly all
the trouble Spain encountered In her eff
forts to govern the Islands was due 10 the
corrupt methods employed by that country
and her officers 10 rob the natives Why.
II was simply awful. The government was
administered largely through the instru-
mentality Of native priests, who received
good salaries and found II TO their per-
sonai advantage 10 aid the governing pow
er carry out ITS schemes.
Decent treatment by q set Of honest Of
fic!als would be such relief 20 the natives
that they would be perfectly docie ana
loyal for they are naturally grateful and
patriotic. But one thing Must be guarded
against for the present. 7 believe. and nat
Is the Introduction OF anything that might
tend toward religious strife I should ad-
wise the continuance OF the practice Of
governing through the .nstrumentauty OF
the priests for the present al least.
As 70 the Importance and benefit 10 the
United States OF the acquisition Of the ISL
ands there can De no doubt. for they are
Teen.rg with natural advantages for in
dustry and trade. but are almost a century
behind in the application of methods Of
production and transportation. There ara
but nifty miles OF railroad n all the islands.
and ! VII assure you that there is not
more than half that number Of miles Of
good wagon road, while there are not ten
good bridges and only one OF these IN iron
ore. You see. so corrupt have teen the
practices Of Officials that It did not pay.
bridges or make any Improvements OF such
q permanent nature as 10 require no fu-
ture expenditures Bridges should re built
50 tia. frequent reconstruction would be
necessary. That was their motto.
On1y Honest Rulers Needed.