The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-10
HOME RULE FOR NEGR0S.
4 PHILIPPINE EXPERIMENT IN SELF
GOVERNMENT.

Desire To Let the Friendly People Of the
Island Of Negroes Rule Themselves 30 Far
As Possibie--Di Difficulties In the Way
Temporary scheme Adopted by Gen. Otis.
MANILA, July 30 Because the island of
Negroes has been at least nominay friendly TO
the United States from the beginning Of the row
with the natives Of the Philippines. there has been
a special desire on the part Of the Americans TO
give 1t a satisfactory government in which its
own people should participate 10 the largest ex-
tent and that M soon as possible The great
experiment is now about 10 bc undertaken. From
the first IL was much question u the Americans
what would be 4 satisfactory government az 10
the ,r-opie Of Nogros II was felt veTy generally
here that they were entitled 10 very liberal home
rule, and that opinion was backed by the fact
that without their help we should be likely TO
make mistakes Of serious nature. some Of which
at least could be avoided by intelligent cooperation
precise summing up Of the difficulties Of the pro
position which has confronted Gen Otis in the
matter of this government IL is almost impossible
" make II il best done by the statement that
the EDUCATION and training Of the people have
been Spanish exclusively. But that Is an ex-
PLANTATION only 10 those who have knowledge
Of or have had experience with the Spaninrds
We ought to have the help Of the people governed,
but we are confronted with all sorts Of com
plicauons in the employment Of the people them
selves As a matter Of fact they have no real idea
Of republican government
The people of Negros hostcd the American
flag Of their own motion early in the insurrection
They for the mast pa well to do and intelligent
In the hills and mountains there some restless
Toyers whom the Spanish never thoroughly sub
dued and who have been making as much trouble
they could In Ncgros they are called Baby
lanes and they are Just the same kind OF brigands
that are called Tulisnnes In Mindoro When
the Stars and Stripes went up as the new flag Of
Negroes. they some persons who were dis
affected That was to have been expected, and
occasoned no great concern TO the authorities in
Manila There was only slight Tagalog influence
in the island, but Of course that worked on the
disafcctcd element Then there arose a little
bit Of religious disturbance that was promptly
taken up by the opposition So things stood whom
the frst American troops were sent TO Bacolod.
There was strong pro American party numbering
among its adherents the wealth and substance
of the island while the dsaffected included those
who were inherently opposed 10 those who were
for the Americans; those who were displcased by
the actions of the people in power and all the rough
and lnwlcss clement including the Babylanes
who are always against the government
Cot j. II. Smith with his First California Vol
unteers went Ia Negroes the first represen tative
OF the American Government that was 10 De ulu
mately to be established there. He found an
interesting situation The agents oil the Aguin
ALDO government had ios' no litne anu sparoo no
EFFORT IN spreading hu S"rs oi heS aoo"' '''e h"'9"
treatment the Americans would give the Negroes
people Col Smith went about his business
quietly and tactfully. He made mo- rough show
Of force, but kept his fighting men quiet and tried
the diplomatic effect Of the glad hand In meas
ure il very successful, and in way il was not
IL inc people OF Ncsfos feaiis un"efSVoou fepuo
mean government 'hes ""uiu p'ooaois navy o'''
np'e =" COPE WIN 'h''' ni'ii' u'"eN ''o",'e''
hu' inc 'ac' IN 'heS "'h very hho"'"s! ao'u' w.
Du' comprehehd IL very niue Every reno" wants
Jop IN inc government iof 'he immunity IL VIII
give MN ana 'he oPpor'uhi'! II one's MIN !" so'
even win inc o'hef io'io"s az wen az i" Sque'"o
ah'he can OUT oil everybody. "heh MI ochor
man was taking WIN some Oh Tue prominent men
81 Negros WIN reference " inc CONSTITUTION ""',h
'he9 had drawn up anu no" mas oeeh sun
hi'"" 10 'ne 'fes'uoh' W oe sen' " 'onsioN'' ITO
suggested inc auviSao'a'S Oh having Amercah
Su on inc pea 'ha' o'he' "ise .o'cisn
.,"onS rieh' "onoh' consular iu''su''oi',
iSe NeRfoSi'eS aefoeu WIN MIN anu a'"i"aiu
auihil'eu 'na' IL "ou'u oc oe''ei a'So oe'"uso 'ne
americans "oulu nave II" 'o'ai p'oIuui'e" vi III
"ieSs W o'aS 'ne'' l"S"'o' pe'oi''ns hio'o On
ph'" he! Sa'u INA" as 'o oe iea'e" 'na' luuses
selected from among their own people "ouid
abuse 'he'f ONCE LOT REASONS OIL gam or revenge
The main thing with republican government
IN the opinion OF all Negroes that was friendly to
ihc United States was a constitution. To meet
that imperative necessity the Negroes men went
t. work 10 draft such a document Naturally
enough they appealed to Col Smith. now made a
Brigadier General, and deservedly so for his
work in the instruction, and he helped them.
Smith was in one OF the most tickIish positions
mat any oil our men nave met OUT mere. lie was
expected I" keep inc people oil MS balh"ick salts
hea ana aS near! happy as poSs'ple ana no
maui" NV s''En'eS' so'' oi ''S""'"onS except
I" Keep peace for 'he resi- II was game oil loly
rom H'at' 10 h'''Sh' mere was apeoiu'e'y no
'ho'auoh "l "ha' Ihe 'h''eu slaves "ouid
u"ue''ahe III 'ne wa! I" so'ethmeh' 'ot INC isiahu'
-" om''n let lhem 20 ahean ana as he Is law
yer from 'ahiorhi" ana iamihar win 'he consul
'u',"h OF mat o'a'e' inc orai' OF cohsu'uuoh
"hlch Negros mas now suomi''ed Tor the approval
OF 'he americans Is a very iar reproduction oil inc
OASIS ior 'hhiorniah government As lar az
omith was informed " might nave been the In