The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1898-12-31

WIN, Plpkin Says They are Moro cGpahls Of
SELF Government Thsn Cubans.
MANILA. r. 4. NoY. I4. Iea0-

Win, ana see OF this place. the more |
believe that The United States should
retain these islands. While do not
view their acquisition rs beneficial TO
The United states, from financial
standpoint alone, think that their rich
ness should have some bearing on the
question. "Sbonld we, or should we not
retain the Philippines3" To abandon
them TO Spain and Spanish rule, the as
sertion that we waged this war on
humanitarian principles would fall TO
pieces, for II the cubans for whose ben
eiit we went to war. are worthy Of their
freedom, why, are not the half score
million Of Spanish subjects here in the
Philippine archipelago equally worthy,
or has the great American nation lost
sight OF the goal for which il started,
when the echoes OF Dewey's guns
sounded throughout the worid? IL the
C1bans ARE entitled To their freedom,
why not the Filipinos2 The color is
near the same: the Intellect and ability
to govern themselves greatly in favor OF
the latter. They are more intelligent,
and equally honorable race; and while
as warriors they cannot be classed
among the ADgiO-Saxon race, they are
rs good as any on earth whose ancestors
we're few generations since considered
as devourers Of human flesh. I have
repeatedly tested children of the ages
from seven up. and not one whom /
ever tried but could read naently, and
write fairly good hand. You ask me
bow know. who myself know not one
word OF any language on earth but that
of my mother tongue, and ! answer you
that We have many books such as die.
tionaries aud readers In Spanish, each
sentence translated into English, and
have never found native tripped either
on words or letters, hence say they can
lead. have seen them write often.
They are natural musicians, and no air
rendered by our many bands but the ma
tive kids" can whistle or play on instru-
meats known here. and that is by the
token. While am writing this there
Is native girl across the street, not fifty
feet distant, pounding piano keys to the
air OF Hot Time In the Old Town"
The system inaugurated since the
Spanish lirSt acquired these islands has
BEEN such as TO make of the natives a
race of the veriest slaves TO heartless and
tyranieal task masters and tax -gatherers,
robbing them while living, and desc.
Grating their burial place after death,
taxing every child Eve collars at birth.
or taxing the parents Is 1t any wonder
that infantieide is plentiful here? The
owner of horse is taxed seven dollars
per head regardless Of the value OF the
animal: buffalo OK or COW is assessed
hugh enough TO bring the tax TO FIVE
dollars. Hogs that will weigh rs much
as two hundred and fifty pounds, and
they are numerous. are compelled 20
furnish taxes 20 the amount Of four dol
lars per head, so you can readily see that
the poorer a man Is, the richer he really
is. am writing OF the present time,
and II seems strange that such should
be the state Of affairs here after the
stars aud stripes we're hoisted, and
where the country they represent is SUI
preme: but an order recently promnl.
gated from headquarters Of this (Sth)
army corps declares that all civil laws
shall be aud remain in force the same as
prior to the capitulation. Only the
criminal laws are administered by
Americans, aud the manner IN which
they are dealt out surprises all former
resldents-natyes or Spanish. Our laws
are firm but lenient, but when man.
date is issaed 1t must be obeyed.
Since the army Of occupation took
possession here in Manila much has
been done by our officials toward i'm
proving sanitary measures but the city
is by no means as clean as Il should be,
and there lie consequently good deal OF
sickness when there should be none to
speak Of. The sickness most prevalent,
and In most cases fatal, is dysentery
Very few cases are ever successfully
treated. Several cases of small pox have
proven fatal. mostly among the regulars.
Idaho lost one man from the last COM
plant, and four from dysentery. Co. +,
OF Wariner, lost three men by discharges
for disability, and two from dishonorable
discharges, one sentenced TO serve two
years in the military prison and dishon-
orably discharged, another received a
sentence of eighteen months and dis
honorable discharge-the former for
striking a commissioned officer, the lat
ter for an assault with intent 20 kill.
Co. + lost also Gillespie, former .Spo
kane policeman, who died from wound
received while attempting TO escape
from guard. As n general thing the
health OF the regiment is good. Our
company, b, has, however, two in the
hospital whose chances Of again seeing
Idaho are rather slim. John Frederic
is daily expecting a discharge, aud we
hope for his sake, that he may receive
It In time to return on the 'sScandia, :"
which will carry this and other mail,
not later than the 10th inst. Link left
here on the para" on the Goth OF last
month and should be near San Francisco
now.
Through the kind assistance of Lieut..
Graham, am at present on special duty
in the quartermaster's department. and
am thus relieved OF much onerOus and
fatiRuiIR duty attendant upon me In