The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-16

our national salvation. Therefore. even in
the event of American annexation, the
Fiipinos will in the main rule themselves;
nor can anyone else do it so well.
American annexation win give us not
the rule Of a hated foreigner, but the op-
portuuity of political equality-where each
individual can work out his own destiny
on lines of individual choice.
other Effects of Annexation.
The Fnipinos are by nature agricultural
lists. The farm suits them better than the
store or factory The Chinese and the
foreigners. indeed almost monopolize the
trade of the islands; the natives being in
the main producers. or else in the profess
sions. And right here will come the great
opportunity for American commerce; for
the carrying trade of the islands, as well
as the various kinds of manufacture will
soon be in American hands, and the
chances for large profit will soon draw
many. investors to those golden shores.
The hemp, tobacco, sugar lumber, in
dgo rice and cocoa Industries will thus
alone receive a magnificent impetus and
the production of these articles of export
will be stimulated, so that within five
years their yield will be increased three
fold. Hitherto there was little incentive
70 work hard for oneself, since the profits
were shorn for the benefit of the oppres-
he was heeccd in a thousand ways by the
officials of the state and Of the church.
Thus ambition was atrophied and en-
terprise of every sort was dwarfed into
apathy Foreign investors also We're
similarly encouraged, and many We're
only allowed TO leave the scene of their
unproftabfe Investment after they had lost
their last dollar. l remember two English
men who had discovered a great ledge of
penso, to develop it until the point when
it was about TO become profitable. Then
the government began to impose restric-
ton after restriction, until every further
endeavor was attended only with loss. The
investors were finally forced to give up in
despair, as the Spaniards intended that
they should; and both of them left the is
lands in disgust. Another investor, an
American friend of mine, Thomas Collins,
went into the lumber business and seemed
on the high road to great wealth, when
he became involved in a lawsuit which
corrupt Judge decided againts him, leav-
| ing him penniless as the result of an I'M
just decision.
1t can thus be easily seen why the ma
tives have manifested so little business en-
teTprise an the inglorious past. Believe me-
let them once know that they win profit
by the results of their labors and they
win be encouraged to labor and to indus
trial art.
Keep Out American Liquors and Pol
tiles.
Millions of acres of arabic land are yet
! untitled. They wait an era of demand to
impel them to fruitfulness; and America
viii create that demand by an increas sing
commerce, that will rebound to her double
advantage. For in exchange for the pro-
ducts of the islands, she will give the thou
sands and one articles of civilization man.
ufactured in America. Send us prayer book
and missionaries for our rice and hemp if
you wish; but keep out American liquors
| and American politics. No one can drink
| the strong beverages of the temperate zone
! in the Philippines and live. Many foreign
| ers, it is true, insist upon their arrival in
Manila on calling for WHISTLES and bran
| dies; but such Indulgence is sure, even if
! continued only moderately, to supernduce
fatal fever, or some other tropical dis
ease. Many of the foreigners who have died
| there owed their deaths TO the daily tipple
| alone. For this reason the climate has not
been SO dangerous TO the natives of wine
! drinking countries, like France and Italy
! American troops should be cautioned in re-
gard to this insidious danger, and strong
! liquors, both for your sake and ours,
| should be kept out of the colony
| Professionalism VIII Not Flourish.
Professionalism viii not flourish in the
| Philippines. The pomp and ceremonial
of the Catholic Church appeals most
strongly TO the native Imagination, and
no religion which is wanting in splendor
and in grand music villa find a foothold
| in the islands. There is thus little dan
| ger of the Fihpinos ever becoming Quak-
| ers They are a very musical people.
! Every village has its native orchestra,
and in the professions, of which the ma
tives are so fond, and which occur every
| few days, the music is the chief feature.
| Indeed, it may be said that every Fill
| Pine plays some instrument, and even lit
| tie children five or six years of age play
| the piano or guitar amazingly well. Ii is
refreshing to go through the suburbs OF
| Manila on a fine summers eve and to neal
the happy people on the wide verandas CT
! their houses singing and playing popular
airs, which the passersby below will take
up, so that the whole street resounds with
| melody. Music is truly a great civiliZer
| and 1t has doubtless been a powerful an
| strument in the hands of the church 10
| win the natives to the standard of the
| cross To the native, however, all music
is divine and it is music of the stirring
operate sort that most appeals to him. II
| must be fun of movement. The soft,
| tender airs of sentiment. or the music OF
| emotion do not affect him. Thus in the
churches and at funerals il is a common
thing to hear lively marches and the lat
| est waltz-while the audience listens en-
housekeeping time with hands and
| feet
Filipinos in Art.
Strange 10 say, the Fihpinos, notwith-
standing their great love for music and
their wonderful ingenuity in inventing and
constructing musical Instruments have no
distinct school of their own, preferring to
play the compositions of European com
! posers than TO take the trouble to wrile
their own. I believe, however, that they
are capable of a high order of composition,
for one of the gifted Luna brothers, whom
l knew very well, composed some pieces
| of extraordinary merit-and 1 am sure
others also have the genius to do so.
must make some reference, also. to the
| Filipino in the realm of art. We have pro-
| duced few great painters-and yet another
| of the Luna brothers, who studied in Mad
drid, took prizes in the art academy there
| and gives promise of a remarkable career.
| ~ v-b no,