Evening star., 1898-08-18
THE CAROLINE ISLANDS
The Other Spanish Archipelago in the
Pacific.
Efforts of American Missionaries Ad-
vnnced the People, but the DOns
Have Destroyed All the Results.
From, the New York Mail and Express.

From the New York Mall and Express.
The Caroline Islands. over which the stars
and stripes may soon wave. form large
archipelago 300 miles wide at the widest
part and 800 miles long They are also
known as the I.adrones or Thieves Islands.
They were discovered by Magellan in 1321
and were occupied by Spain in 1862. AT the
present time the term Caroline IS applied
to the group running east and west and
Ladrones to smaller group running
roughly north and south. Some of the ISL
ands are of volcanic origin, the leading
rock being basalt, the rest being coral.
Scientists are of the opinion that many, if
not most, of the coral isles the SUBMITS
of volcanic formations of rock. Under
Spanish rule the natives were practically
slaves, and the islands went from bad to
worse.
They finally grew so poor that both the
church and sta Withdrew their organiza-
tiOns and left the inhabitants to them
selves Yet the land is marvelously fertile,
and under W 7e and thoughtful adminis-
tration could be made rich and happy. At
the time of their discovery the native popu-
lation was large, but what with cruelty,
tyranny and their long train OF conse-
quences. their numbers are scarcely a tenth
of what they used TO be.
As early as 1SJZ American missionaries
tried to civilize and Christianize these isl
anders. They established settlements at
Ponape and kusaie- Their efforts were
very successful The natives learned lit
tie English. built better houses wore more
suitable clothing. and became thriftier and
more indus triOUs than they had been under
the ancient regime.
In 1SSS thirty-two or thirty-three of the
Islands were practically Christianized and
had schools and churches under the direc-
tiOn of American missionaries The last
available shows
there We're no less than forty-seven
churches in the archipelago, with 4, 800
members.
Spain to whom the pope had awarded the
islands in 1885. sent a man-of-war there in
1887, carrying marines, soldiers and, odd
TO relate, convicts, and took actual possess
sion OF the territory They arrested the
leading American clergyman. who had been
there for thirty years; they destroyed the
mission schools. confscated the land ceded
TO the missions and deported the mission
aries.
In 1890 the natives unable to stife any
longer their indignation. rose up and slew
many of the soldiers and cOnvicts. In Sep
tember of that year the Spaniards sent
gunbOat and 800 soldiers from Manila,
which put an end to all missionary work
and 10 a large number of Christian natives
at the same time.
The native churches kept up a quasi
organization. but they are liable to be sup
pressed at any moment by the Spanish au-
thorities and their preachers, deacons
teachers and leading members arrested
fined, imprisoned or shot. In the past eight
years Spain has done nothing 10 improve
the islands or the condition of the people
II has extorted what little property il could
from the poor inhabitants and through its
soldiers has introduced much immortality
and vice.
The natives are Po1ynesian-nearer to
the Malay than to the Hawaiian type
They are brown and dark brown in color,
we'll built. muscular and vigorous. Some
of the young men are quite handsome and
many of the young women graceful, at
tractive and even pretty. They are very
dociie. kindly and affectiorate. and under
proper auspices make model citizens in
every respect.
The seat of government is at Agana sit
uated on narrow arm of the sea or river
called Apra- Here there is governor s
house, military hospital, an arsenal bar
racks, prison, court house and other admin
istrative editices There is also a college
for boys and a girls school
In the seven largest towns the Spanish
state and church together maintain four
boys schools, five girls schools and nine
mixed schools, under the direction OF
twenty male and six female teachers The
entire number Of students is nominaly 800
and actually about eighty, few of the teach
ers having been paid their salaries and no
exertion being made to secure attendance
by the little ones
How the islands are used for politicaI
purposes by Spain can be seen in the Span
lsh Blue Book. For the East Carolines
there is lieutenant colonel with full
stan, and for the West Carolines there is
another lieutenant colonel with a full
staff; then for the Ladrones there is a third
lieutenant colonel and staff.
Fhere is provisional administrator at
each place, a judge, a commissioner and
ten or fifteen smaller officials. The Span
ish record gives some curious reading in
regard to these islanders. During the first
century of Spanish rule the natives ac-
cording 20 the chroniclers. became pos
sessed by devil of insubordination and
not They persisted in carrying weapons,
al hough they were severely fogged and
alterward shot for the offense.
Native women refused 10 marry and ma
i've mothers threw their children into the
sea IN order. says the Castilian historian
10 diminish the poll tax and also 10 Sc
cure happiness in the heather hereafter
These disorders dispieased heaven because
aiter they mad lasted long time and bar-
ned the government. Providence sent a
great pestlence. which killed off nearly All
OF the rlotous spirit in the island During
one hundred years the Spanish government
was never able to collect any direct taxes
and not even today, with all the ineerlcus
modes or indirect taxation. have the re-
ceipts been equal to one-haIf the exDenai.
lures The other half is defrayed from the
taxes levied In the Philippines