Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-08-17
TALKS OF THE PHILIPPINES.
Lieut.. Coilisus II. Ball, Returned Hero Of
the Twentieth Kansas, Says Agui-
naldo IL . Coward.

Kansas City, NO., Aug. l4.-Lieut.
Collians II. Ball, Of the Twentieth Kan
sas, was at the Savoy last night on his
way home from the Philippines. Lieut.
Balls home is at Sedan, Kan, and he
left for that place last night. He is
one Of the soldiers who returned on
the hospital ship Relief which arrived
at San Francisco about ten days ago.
Lieut.. Ball enlisted as a private in
company E. Of the Twentieth Kansas.
In the Philippines he earned promotion
by gallantry and comes home second
lieutenant. He was shot through the
jaw in the battle Of Calumpit on April
20, and 1t Is as a result Of this wound
that he is now at home. Lieut.. Ball
thinks that with the right man in
command the war in the Philippines
can be brought to a conclusion during
the approaching dry season. He says
that he participated in every engage
ment his regiment was in up to the
time he was wounded and that he never
saw $50 Filipinos together in body.
Lieut.. Ball says that he purposes to
return to the Philippines whether they
remain under American control or not.
He thinks that commercially they are
OF great Importance and offer opportu-
mites for men with capital. He does
not care to return as soldier and says
the entire regiment will be glad to get
back home. Speaking Of the Filipinos,
he said:
The Fflipinos are not capable OF self-govern-
ment. They have not the education and civili-
zation necessary to enable them to assume the
management Of an independent country The
population Is made up Of various tribes, speak
ing babble Of tongues. and their interests are
varied. They are on the verge Of war with each
other constantly. In fact, fierce blood flows In
their veins derived from the. Malay pirate,
their progenitors However, am inclined to
think that their appetite for gore Is now not so
keen as Of yore. was never able to find an In
surgent soldier who was able to give me his idea
Of independence. II tie people OF those islands
would only do up Aguinaldo and his so-called
cabinet" and serve them hot from the griddle,
peace would ensue and reign Of prosperity fol-
low never known to the Philippines
The American press never gave 80 much space
to so small potatoes as that allotted to Agui-
naldo. He Is perhaps the most overestimated
man In the whole world He has all the objec-
tionable and few Of the commendable traits Of
the hybrid Malaslan. He has dash Of educa-
ton added TOT deluge Of egotism. and the igno-
rant, misguided Tagalos flock around him like
moths about q candle. He keeps his learning
out for inspection and is the marvel Of oil the
mango pickers about Manila.
He Is crafty, but not wise. He Is covetous
treacherous and an arrant coward He has
never fought the battles credited to him, but
has spent his time lodging through the bamboo
jungles Of Balawag with Caraboo cart loaded
with pronouncementos and proclamations. He
is patriot without patriotism and q scoundrel
conscience. He has placed a cash con-
on his Washingtonism and measures
the independence Of his people In dollars and
cents. To sum 1t oil think that OF all the
native generals who infest Spanish American
and insular countries this chap is Of the small
est fry. So 1t Is queer that the American peo-
Pile should divide on the proposition as to
whether he Is or Is not the Washington Of the
Philippines.