The Hawaiian gazette., 1899-01-03
A Well Considered Letter On
Affairs In Manila.
REBEL CHltF AND PEOPLE
Great Task Of SuoIsctlon-An ~"
Business Chanoes-rhe
Army And Fleet


can navy, well qualified to write upon
the various subjects treated, has the
following to say 10 a Honolulu friend
who had lodged a request for views:
Aguinaldo's government is still in ex-
istence. but he has now a rival govern.
nent on the Island OF Panay. From
this We judge that Aguinaldo and his
revolutionary government does not sat
isfy the entire population OF the
islands. Aguinaldo himself has proved
TO be a diplomat of the highest order
but one who is very intent upon look
ing out for number one. He has formed
"A Cabinet, whom he Is supposed to con-
suit on all matters pertaining to the
government OF the islands, but this he
does not do when his own interest is at
stake. The situation at present, owing
to these two rival governments, is al
best complicated one, and one which
| am afraid 1t will require more than
diplomacy to straighten, when We final
ly decide to occupy the entire islands,
which in all probability we will from
the present outlook, innumerable diff
culties will present themselves.
The natives have decided that indie
pendence only is what they will take
with a protectorate II necessary, We TO
give the latter. What return they ex-
pect to give us for this protectorate
am at a loss to state, and really the
idea has never entered their heads To
deal with a people OF this kind am
afraid our country will have their
hands full.
1t will be a great pity to be compelled
to wage war on these people, which
will be never-ending one, and at best
will not accomplish the desired end
namely, to rule the islands. They cover
such vast area of territory, many OF
them peoplad with tribes even more
savage than the Indians Of North AM
erica. In and around the cities the peo-
pie are intelligent, but in the interior
they are illiterate and naturally OPP
! posed to be subjected to any prescribed
law. ! have talked with many intel
ligent natives and men who have been
in the interior, and from one and all
the same story is heard. They will
fight for what they call independence
and will tolerate the ruling of no ma
5 ton. This may seem a rather vague
2 story, their fighting, but they have a
complete military organization, and
from conservative estimates by unin-
terested parties, their number is put al
$50 900.
While the Islands are very valuable
from both a naval and commercial
view. yet, in my mind. they are not
, worth one mothers son lost in their
/, retention. And II the United States in
! tends to keep them. not only will 1t re-
Quire vast fleet of ships. but stand
, ing army OF nearly 10000 men. have
often wondered If on the LIST of May,
, We had left after destroying their fleet
and batteries on shore, and gone, say
to Honolulu, what would have been the
result. have mentioned this to a num-
her of people and they smile at the
= idea Yet IL would have saved our
q army from being transported here, in
fac, II presents so many possibilities
that the subject Is best let alone. Had
4 We known at that time that the Hawaii
an Islands opened their ports to our
ships, the probability is that we would
have gone there. But Dewey had no
( way OF knowing this and ii was his
; duty to seize, while he could, port for
, his vessels.
II will be some years before the peo-
pie of our country will actually realize
what our little tin-clad fleet las the
Eastern Squadron called u.s. has done
l. has been the means of opening one
of the richest ports in the world,
which, in time will rival and excel
Hongkong The actual value of this
port has never been realized, owing 10
the almost prohibitive tax placed upon
products by the Spanish Government
and their secretive method of handling
shipping. Not two days ago as many
as eight ships came into the harbOr
from various ports with and for car
goes.
IL Is surprising to me that the VEN
turesome American capitalist has not
yet made his appearance. The English
firms from HongkOng have realized
what gold mine the place Is and have
opened many branch stores But there
Is room for a hundred dealers in mems
wear alone, Just imagine over 10000
men, who must be supplied with the
actual necessities OF life, who are
class that will spend their money free
ly, yet, can buy nothing OF American
make. | tried to buy an ordinary neg
ligee shirt in the city not many days
ago. and, after four-hour search, was
compelled 10 do without IL. And so It
Is in everything. II one OF our large
wholesale houses would come in with
a ship load of mems wear such as are
1T to be worn in this tropical country.
they could return with a ship load OF
Mexican dollars in less time than il
takes 10 load the ship.
The health of the fleet Is excellent
no sickness whatever, that OF the SOL
diers ashore is improving The estab-
/ lishment of convalessent camp at
Corregidor island, at the entrance OF
the harbor, is plan OF the near future
and q good one.
The Buffalo" We understand, is on
the way with over GOO men for us This
is just about the number whose times
will have expired by the time OF her ar
rival, and 1t will be great boon. We