Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-09-28

were the scum of the earth, a blood
thirsty lot of cut-throats, who would
destroy everything in their path. La
ter on, when did get there" said the
admiral, ',,the archbishop came on
board one day while had battalion
at drill. The archbishop went on the
bridge and watched them closely. l
said to him, We'll, what do you think
of our American sailors"
"'They are Splendid he said. 4
have seen men of most navies, but
never anything like those. They are
magnificent / cannot understand it;
such splendid fellows. How does it
happen?'
"'Well, we look for the best men;
we come closer to our men; we treat
them better than other countries do;
we pay them better
after that the archbishop had very
great respect for us, and became very
friendly. Here ! have picture of
General Luna which was given me by
the archbishop"
The picture was that of a negro in a
sort of military uniform. On the
back was an inscription in Spanish to
the Archbishop of Manila, Fir. Bernar-
dino Heselado. 1t was signed by Luna.
Admiral Dewey said Luna was the best
man the Filipinos had. st was a
plot" he said, ITO assassinate him. A
crack swordsman was placed as SEN
try and when Luna appeared he sim-
ply stabbed him.
But these fellows all, J" said the adj
lot
simply servants and stable men, and
Aguinaldo was junior clerk in the
navy yard. He is a pretty smart fell
low. l know him pretty well. In fact,
we We're great friends, but he has not
the brains. These people behind him,
some of them lawyers, are able fell
lows who make a tool of Aguinaldo. 1
thought" said the admiral, this thing
in the Philippines would be over long
before this, as it should have been. l
cannot imagine how they have stood
out until now. OF course, there was
the rainy season and l suppose little
was done.
Zone of the great troubles out there
has been that General Otis has tried
to do too much. i told him so. He
wants to be general, governor, judge,
and everything else. No man can do
this. This is the great trouble. 1t is
enough for a man to do one thing, but
when man tries to do everything and
TO be everything, it is easy to imagine
the result. 5g
"The fight in the Philippines should
be easily ended. The people have been
- Ia, III, e,un1, larr+l, ~
time by the Spaniards that they are
distrustful. This is the trouble in deal
ing with them. Where, we have met then
they have been in such contact With us
as to learn we mean to treat them
well where they have seen we mean
what we say, there is no trouble. They
stand by us atlall times. They will get
from under the influence of Aguinaldo
or rather those people who are behind
him..
do 1 think the Filipinos fiji. for self
government? Well. no, not just now
They probably will be in a little time
They are very queer people, a very
queer mixture. Many of them are
quiet, civilized and good people, but
do not think they are fit for self gov,
eminent Just yet. But when say
that it is my candid opinion they are
more fitted for it than the ,Cubans, that
they are a better people than the Cub
ans in every way.
II do wish. however. that the whole
business was settled and / think that
after a little the Filipinos will take
kindly to MS.
1t was suggested to the admiral that
the democratic state had been settlee
with Admiral Dewey for presiden,
and General Wheeler forvice president
Well said the admiral. "we. shoult
make pretty mess of it. Wheeler. OF
course, has had some training in politi
cal schools; but then he is n Wes1
Pointer; / had forgotten that. Ht
would want 10 run everything as be
would a regiment and OF course woul&
make a splendid mess Of it. You can
not run a government as you can ;
regiment
We'll, admiral suggested the re
porter, lit would not be much of /;
change from the ship Olympia to the
ship of state" yes" said the admir-
ia, iii would be a very great change
am not a politician. am Il sailor; my
training has been all thar wayn