The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-02-22

valley. From this high point can be seen |
the valley OF the Msriquina river. To the |
right some miles away, is the Laguns. |
Across the valley in 'front.' are the noun
tains, and to the left, you look up the val
ley. All Of this valley Is one vast extent OF
yellow grain. About one mile out in front
Is the little matched village of Mariquina
AS we stand on the very bluff of the HILL
we are In the shadow OF a new stone block
house, riddled with bullets. The stone OF
which this block house is built can only
liken to good hard putty, as bullets do not
shatter or crack 1t, but simply penetrate as
q drill would. have measured some OF the
Mauser bullet holes and found them TO have
penetrated the stone from eight to twelve
inches, although no bullets have passed
through at any point, the walls
being about eighteen inches thick This
little blockhouse overlooks the water works
and protects the pipe line, at the point
where II runs through tunnel almost I'M
derneath.
As we pass along the road, aud try to
talk to the natives, the picture of doubt is
upon every face. They know not whether
to look upon us with fear, with malice, or
with contempt, and 1t Is always their first
endeavor to find out what we are going to
DO with them. We cannot explain to them,
and to make matters worse, the Spanish
papers contain articles solely to incite the
natives to rebellion. The natives cannot
read, and report goes from mouth to
mouth, its power to influence constantly
increasing, and when it has run its course,
anc come BACK to us, 1t is simply bundle
OF aDsurditeS whose original features may
not be recognized. For instance--they
have heard the negro troops are coming
nerei that they are the property of the
State, and are being sent here solely to
light the natives, and hence are in dire
trepidation. All Of these things must be
explained to them verbally, and 1t is very
I
not think 1t will be due to any concerted
move on the part of Aguinaldo, although
taking pessimistic view of the situation,
he may be driven into it by his subordinate
officers. ! understand quite well what The
native wants, and it is very little and I
am confident that such a government as
believe President Mckinley would approve
and indorse would make these people as
free as 1t is possible for such people to be
Tor their own good. Aguinaldo Is selfish,
but do not think to the degree that he is
credited with. He is shrewd and under
stands his people in their ignorance, far
better than is generally believed. L think
he sees, and understands, the situation, and
that he and Dewey hold the two links of
the chain that must be joined by them to
unite these people, and bring about salts
factory conditions
-, Superstition is the only cohesive element
that can bind these ignorant people to-
Aguinaldo is God. He is a saint, infal-
lible. In this does his strength lie, and
there Is only one Aguinaldo. I do not
think the army officer knows Aguinaldo as
Dewey does. He heeds the former little,
and cares for him less. No ADLER officer or
or-genersl OF these islands than Admiral
Dewey. He is able, honorable, just, rules
with an iron rod, and his word Is law.
No American is so we'll known or respected
as Dewey is, by all the natives. no matter
now Ignorant they may be. 1t would take
time, and patience, for another man, how
ever able, to come here, and gain the re-
spect OF these people, that Dewey gained in
one day, and from that day forward his
strength has continually increased.
The welfare of the islands seems to be the
dominating thought of his mind, and doubt
less will so continue to be. OF course the
relations are strained, for the people do not
know what to expect. They are in doubt,
and cannot be convinced 80 long as the
Spanish soldier remains here. Their de-
partnre will take load from our shout
ders, for they are the thorns which prod us
AL ana happy will be the day when the
last one shall have gone.
Newspapers also publish articles; appar-
emily FOR no other purpose than to excite
me people / can conceive of no other mo-
tive when l read articles written at length
IN the papers received, in respect OF affairs
hoioi huOW nave no FOUNDATION In
Tact. AS an instance of how little fuel is
required to start news conf1agration, / re.
late that only yesterday | was in the nsur-
gent camp, where everything was quiet and
peaceful. Imagine my surprise upon re-
turning to quarters to find every one ready
to advance to the front, at moments no
tlce, and two regiments had already gone.
The occurrence was in this wise A Filipino
guard and one OF our own guards were
posted on one bridge. AS they passed each
other on their post, their gun barrels came
in contact Our sentry turned around and
pushed the insurgent with his hand, where
upon the insurgent discharged his gun,
which brought his corporal of the guard,
and our sentry did the same. The matter
was settled there very promptly but mean
time word was sent to headquarters and
two regiments were sent out. Afterwards
it was given out that the troops were sent
out merely for practice. 1t is only reason
able to assume that our soldiers had had
sufficient practice in that line already. In
cidents like this bring forth lengthy news
paper articles, indicating imminent pros
poets OF hostilities, and If trouble comes /
predict that 1t will be largely due to Just
such causes, and there will be little doubt
as to where the fault lies. Although the in
surgents have no government, comparative
ly speaking they think they have, and that
they are entitled to be respected as a rec.
ognized nation, and therefore they must be
dSooIucu noulo oeuDlduCo VI recognition OF
trouble will follow.
They have become 80 accustomed to I'M
certainty and deceitfulness, through two
centuries of Spanish rule. that it is bred
within them TO suspect everybody and
every thing, and their ignorance increases
and multiplies their distrust and supersti-
ton, making it extremely difficult for them
to be convinced. More than generation of
earnest and persistent educational effort
will be required to accomplish any marked
improvement in their moral or physical
condition.
AS for their morals, they have none. AS
respects their physical being it is simply
trust TO luck" 1t cannot be by the hand
of a kind Providence that many OF them are
permitted to live, for they might better be
dead.
1t requires the utmost fortitude in an
American to endure the presence OF such
poverty and misery as here confronts him.
Yet theirs is far from being hopeless lot.
They are capable OF becoming intelligent,
AZ all of those now are who have had the
advantage OF an education.
Business prospects, in the near future,
will probably be limited to export trade,
and the cultivation of crops and such con-
tingent lines as immediate necessities may
These cannot receive attention