The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-06-03
Lieut.. Henry Pages Observations OF
the FilipinOs.

Lieut.. Henry rage OBSERVATIONS OI
the Filipinos.
Lieut.. Henry Page, son of Judge Page,
of Princess Anne. Md, who is occupying
a post as surgeon in the Eighth army corps
at Manila. in d recent letter to the Chicago
Record gives the following interesting OBJ
servations of Filipino characteristics and
glimpses Of native government under Agui-
naldo
after a stay of about eight months
among these people, during which time no
opportunity has been lost to study their
qualities, find myself still unable to ex-
press decided opinion about the matter,
but can unreservedly affirm that the more
evidence collected the greater my respect
for the native and his capacities.
The recent battle Of February > was
somewhat Of revelation to Americans
They expected the motley horde to run at
the firing Of the first gun. 1t was my
good fortune to be placed-about 10 hours
afterward-near the spot where this first
gun was fired found the Americans
still held in check Oar artillery then be-
gan to aSsail the enemy position, and 1t
was only by the stoutest kind of fighting
that the Tennessee and Nebraska regiments
were able to drive him out
The Filipinos retreat, however was
more creditable than their stand. Perfect
order prevailed. One Of their companies
would hold our advance until the company
in their rear could retire and reload when
in turn this company would stand until the
former had retired and reloaded 4 fire.
quent exclamation along our lines was :
Haven these little fellows GOT grit ? 7
They had more than grit-they had organ
ization
When we reached the headquarters at
Santa Ana another surprise awaited Us, for
here was found some Of the machinery OF
Aguinaldos government Among the
papers scattered about in confusion by the
re,reating officials were telegrams, letters
aud commissions. showing something OF
their system. One letter was FROM town
ship governor asking relief from his duties
4 surgeon certificate was incloSed. II
had been forwarded through official chan
nels To Aguinaldo' secretary of state and
returned with abundant Inducements ap.
proved. With it was an order TO the GOV
ernor Of the province to have new clcc.
tiun Another letter was a complaint made
against another local governor for mahd
miuistration 1t stated the charges in rea'
I legal form. and was duly signed Tn,
numerous papers concerning school teach
erS' appointments showed that the Filipino'
had already perfected arrangements for tn,
education Of the youth on large scale
Il might also mention the deeds OF
( property. records Of births, etc. to show
T that A-uinaldo : organization Is at leas
not laughable farce. ! might mention
. also meteorological and other scientific IN
I struments and records to show that tn,
+ Filipiuo~ didn neglect science daring tho>,
busy. warlike times. Letters dated Feb
+ ruary { from Malolos showed that they ha,
I A good courier system \ book ON tactics
( engraving, Of the several uniforms. beauu
T ful typographical maps, copies Of the dec
laratiou Of Independence and the reyolu
tionary constitution. military and state seal
and other articles all went TO show tha
labor and intelligence were united in thei
I production.
I Each village contains the ld-iashion
ed stocks and whipping posts whici
I are worn smooth By much usage. Th'
petty criminals are confined in the ''cala
F boza. or jail, at night, and during tn,
day they clean the streets and do othe
/ public work. Aud this work Is well done
/ for nearly all the towns are well ditche,
and are quite clean The village goyerno
also keeps a written record of eyeythin.
pertaining to the public interests. Births
deaths. inventories Of real estate, transfer
/ Of property, ownership Of live stock, an'
everything else that i taxable Is all regis
tered in neatly arranged columns.
In each town church. convent, o
priest home. tribunal which j. cuur
house, Jail and record office all in one, an'
a school. constitute the public buildings
The schools were neat, substantial build
ugs. which testified that the Spanish mad
an homes, effort 10 educate the MASSES
The Filipino Is very anxious TO learn, anD
the new government of Aguinaldo use'
every effort To start atresh these schools
The number of natives who speak Spanlsl
as well as their native tongue, and VIII
also know how TO read and write, is re
markable No school teacher has bee
appointed in san Jose, aud the schoC
buildings are held by the American oth
cers. In spite of this encouragement ther
Is private school fourishing in a uatiy
hut.
The educated and polished Filipino
not at all bad fellow He Is very quic
to comprehend, and he possesses peculla
dexterity in accomplishing his work. II
Is among other things a natural musician
The negro race Is called musical, but tn
Filipino also possesses the soul Of mus
and can easily rise to lofty heights. Whe
| see these ragged beggars playing sele'
tions from Faust, ''Rigoletto, Ca
men and "Tannhauser on home mad
instruments. with an expression and touc
ike German orchestra, | am impelled
believe that there is somewhere an undo
veloped capacity, Such music does n'
dwell in mind barren of all else say
music, Such music appeals alone to hiSht
qualities, undeyeloped though they ma
be
If Caught VIII be Lynched.