The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-09-06

American rule to any form Of governs
ment by their own people, The oniy
real irFeconelliRbles are the leadOfl,
who hope to get control Of che Is
lands, and thus get rich and make thele
friends rich. The SpRniRrdH ugea 70
buy them OF; to me that 10 a aihicioue
commentary on their characters. AZ
the city OF SorEogen, the lngurgent gan-
eral, Luna, resided as governor Of the
southeastern province OF Luna, and he
Is said to have taxed the people nearly
fiVe timea as much 0s the Spaniarqes
bad as the latter were. This sort oE
thing makes the natives who are IN
business, or who have money, very fear
full OF native rule. The European res
idents shudder to contemplate such
Filipino domination, which would mean
to them robbery and oppression, under
the gulse Of law, with frequent periods
OF anarchy.
The principal parts in the islands are
now occupied by our troops or vessels,
and except in the island Of LuEon ev-
erything Il tranquil. The ingurreeuon
has apparently never taken serious
form except around Manila. and the
revoIutionlsts are almost wholly OF the
Tagal race. Most OF the other lsland-
ers exhibit no apparent sympathy or
friendship with the Tagals. In several
of the islands the natives have begged
for our troops to come and protect
them against the ambitious natives,
who are attempting to foment disturb
ances, and raise lRwless bands OF aol-
diery, under pretense Of forning .
branch Of the Filipino army but Waiea
they would use for purposes OF roooeEy
and extOrtlon. We have at present al
NJ tho NnI0nna m
the Spani0rds ever had, ana IN many
parts much better than they had 8hoTt-
ly previous to the war.
The Ants Responsible.
II our people at home WIN stop their
nntI-expanslon talk for a while We win
little more bloodshed. the Filipino
leaders have the sayings Of our proml-
nent men who Rre opposed to anne1A-
ton translated into their own language.
and these, together with translations OF
editorials from anti-expRnEtOn neWlpaP
pers, serve to deceive the Filipinol Into
believing that they will succeed. With
out such encouragement. In the opinioa
Of many foreign residents. they would
have given up long ago. EVERY BIlOs
QUENT ANTT-EXPANsION sPE1CH
OR EDITORIAL MEANS. THERE.
EOAta EO NAAAE4 RASAhAA
AMERICAN SOLDIERS AND SAIL
ORS. don't wish to express an opln-
ion upon the deSIrabillty Of retaining
these Islands permanently, but It seems
TO me that the first thing to do 10 to
get possession and establish law and
order and then We can talk about Civ
ing them up.
As regards self-government, don't
believe the Filipios will be ready TOT
It for another century at least, ana
perhaps longer. They have been too
long a subject race 10 harsh despot-
ism 70 be able to take up self-govern.
ment at once. especially as their racial
characteristics are against them as wen
us lack OF education and knowledge o
the ethics Of civilization.
am sure your time Is too much tn
ken UP to read many long letters, 50
/ viii not spin this out any further.
would again refer to my hope that you
may see your way to doing something
for young Mendel In the matter of his
appointment to the naval academy.
Most Sincerely Yours.
LEWIS 8. VAN DuzER