The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-08
THIRTY TRIBES IN PHILIPPINES.
A PerpIexing Problem That Must Be
Solved.
From Golfers Weekly.

From Golfers Weekly.
see that Aguinaldo. Luna, Mabni,
Buencamlno, Palermo. and other insurgent
leaders in the Philippines are. in certain
parts of this country, believed to be pa
trlots. and as such are lauded for their
resistance to the Americans. If they are
patriots they are misguided patriots,
whose attitude is surely not to their coun-
try's advantage, for Aguinaldo and his
companions l am glad to say, do not
represent the best element among my
countrymen. l once believed Aguinaldo
a patriot, pure-minded, and anxious only
for the good of his country. This was
in the days when, almost single-handed,
he led the forlorn hope against Spain.
Ii was then that | knew him. and / must
say that what l saw of him filled me
with admiration. For he everywhere
showed himself able. alert and sincere.
And while | have even more cause than
formerly to admire his ability. | have
lately however been led to question his
motives. For. from the point of view Of
the best element among the Flipinos.
he Is at present pursuing course that Is
working much detriment to his country.
For the wealthy native planters, the
business men OF Manila, and other sub
stantial classes among my countrymen,
are very DESTROYS for American rule, per-
suaded that only a stronger power can
reconcile the differences among the va
rious tribes and establish a stable and
beneficial government one which will
command respect abroad and security at
home.
There are no less than thirty distinct
tribes in the islands. OF these the most
powerful are the Tagalos, the Visayans
and the Sulu Mohammadans, who, to-
gether, form about fiVe-eighths of the ma
tive population. The other three-eighths
are savage mountain tribes of mixed and
doubtful origin. who were never conquered
by Spain, and who are as hostile toward
the civilized natives of the valleys as to-
ward the Europeans These barbarlAns
are nomadc, and they nVe In primitive
communities. Their tribal government Ia
of a patriarchal nature, and there is,
therefore, no cohesion among them. They
have probably never heard of the Ameri-
cans, and would resent all efforts to civ
ilize them, whether made by antiquated
Spain or modern America. They can.
therefore, hardly be eaid to have a poiti-
cal attitude. Their only philosophy is to
live without work, and to steal all they
can. Their views should therefore be en-
titled TO but little consideration; and they
viii form perplexing problem for Ameri-
can statesmen when the islands shall
have been pacified. Such are the Igorro-
Chinos the Negritos, the Tnguianes, the
Gaddanes and the other savage tribes of
the interior.
Now the Tagalos of Luzon, who num-
Der about 200 900, and the Visayans of the
southern islands, who are estimated at
about 100000 are the true Filipinos. The
inhabitants Of The Sulu protectorate who
M mber only few thousands, and who are
all Mohammedans though civilized, are
so different from the natives of the north
have so little sympathy with them, and
have so far been so little affected by re-
cent events, that / shall leave them out of
this discussion altogether.
TIE Visayans are far gentler race than
the Taga,os. There Is great hostility be-
tween these two races, both of whom have
been under Spanish influence for centu-
ries, and each of whom is Jealous of the
others power. This bitterness and rival
ry have recently been increased by The
course Of Agunaldo, who has put garri-
sons Of the hated Tagalos In nearly all of
the Nisayan towns. putting the latter into
state of apparent resistance TO Ameri-
can RUE, when, IN realty, the Nsayans
eagerly desire IT. FOR 10 them nothing
could be more odious than to he ruled by
their hated rivals OF the north.
u viii, therefore, be seen that the in
surgeuts represent but a small proportion
Of enc OF many races and that the insur-
gent chiefs who talk so grandiloquently
about their battle for the political and
constitutional Independence OF their couu-
try are ins.nccre. For The Withdrawal OF
the Americans from the Islands would be
the signal for race war that would be
carried to every part of the archipelago
bringing death to countless thousands OF
It's reople and destruction to every vested
interest In the colony.
---s--ty-s--
you don'i mean 10 say you have had