The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-05
SOLDIERS
Called Drunkards, Rakes and Gam.
blers by an Episcopalian.

NEW YORK, Oct. Army Secretary
Peyton, of the Brotherhood of st. Andrew,
who has just returned frCm a stay Of six
months I'm the Philippines, declares that the
United States has 5000 "~drunkards, rakes
and gamblers in and around Manila. and
that religious progress is quite out Of the
question while American soldiers are there.
He says the Roman Catholic priests have
made up with the Tagalos, and are losing
no time and sparing no money to tell the
Fflipinos that the Americans now in Ma
Mia. who have made that city what Mr..
Peyton calls a "hell hole" are fair speci-
mems of Protestant civilization.
Mr.. Peyton went to the Philippines. under
commission from Bishop Doane, of Albany,
chairman of the board of domestic and for
eign missions of the Protestant Episcopal
Church. charging him to examine conditions
and return in time to report to the mis-
sionary council. which will meet this month
in st. Louis. Mr.. Peyton visited five of the
islands and enjoyed exceptional opportuni-
having seen service in the Spanish-Amer-
lean war and having served at Montauk
while the convalescent camp was there.
In the course of an interview he said:
Without any qualifying exceptions, the
Tagalos are the most moral and the most
religious people L ever saw; but they are
mere children in ability TO govern them
selves. 1t would never do, in my judgment,
for the United States to abandon them. The
Tagalos could not hope to control the other
principal races of the island, and there
would result a lot of petty states too weak
to take care of themselves and too ignorant
and too prejudiced to join in one united
state. But the Tagalos could not even gov
ern themselves. for. with American nOwer
gone. the friars would not let them do so.
AT the present time there is no chance
less to undertake to do anything there until
tne United states troops depart or reform.
The United States has in and around Ma
Mia at this moment. or had when L left a
few weeks ago. 5000 drunkards, rakes and
gamblers. OF course, there are exceptions.
but they are not worth mentioning. The
statement is sufficiently accurate. When
the American troops landed In Manila there
Was only a saloon o. two in the whole
place To-day Manila is a hell hole.
There are 430 or more saloons. typical
places of the Western frontier, or worse.
ana the saloons are more respectable than
are many. OF the other places within the
city. which Americans have either planted
or kept alive by their support.
"When the 1nsurrection was at its height
many Spanish priests were driven out and
left the island. With the coming of the
americans a common danger has brought
sores have been healed. To-day not only
Luzon, but the islands I'm the west and
south. are covered with friars who are ac-
tive as they never were before. Every
where they are preaching to the people
this: Behold these men. They are a sam
pie of Americans. America is an inhdel. or.
what Is the same thing. a Protestant ma
ton. See the danger of fighting Mother
Church. An infdel nation has sent the
flower OF its men here, and behold them.
Your lots may be hard. You may nave had
grievances In tbs past We may have
sinned, but your state Is certainly better
than that of Americans. You are moral.
You are religious
Jus as long as these priests have 45, 100
Americans there, and such Americans. as
examples of what they are pleased TO call
an infdel civilization. so long Is IL useless
for Protestants to try TO convert Taealos
and other Filipinos. Let the army do its
work and get away. Then, and not TIL
Episcopaiians stand any chance" J.