The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-11-16

New Guinea, there Is still room for the
coming generation to win their spurs.
But, even as a mere tourist, II is pos
slble to see something of the land and
enjoy It. We may omit the elaborate
outfit OF the explorer, but II is as well
to have a good Tagalog boy" as SER
want, and to pay careful attention to
the commissariat, while a certain
knowledge of the Spanish language is
and probably for some time will be
"a necessity. Thus provided, the trav-
eler, though he will not attempt un-
known interiors, may visit some Of the
more settled districts without much
discomfort, and get some idea of the
products and capabilities OF the islands.
OF the natives, too, he will learn some
thing, of the Tagal and Visayo at least,
for these are the peoples with whom
he will be brought into most frequent
contact; and they II is, as we shall see,
who bulk most largely in the problem
by no means the easiest in the world
which confronts American statesmen.
The Tagal, blended and crossed for GEN.
turtles with Chinese and Spaniards, and
to a less degree with japanese, MeXi-
can, and Peruvian-for the Acapulco
galleons brought over not a few set
tiers from the New World-inhabit,
roughly speaking, the lower two-thirds
of Luzon, and the island of Mindoro:
under Aguinaldo they are vainly striv-
ing to become masters of the archl-
pelago. The Visayos, occupying all the
islands between LuZon and Mindanao,
though even more numerous, are less
warlike and are not likely to give their
new rulers much trouble.
THE vIsAYos.
1t Is in Panay, whose capital Iloilo is,
next to Manila, the chief port in the
archipelago, that the tourist is most
likely first to become acquainted with
the Visayos; for thither most of the in
sular steamers seem to find their way.
The island Is worth visiting, though its
capital cannot be called attractive, and
Mr.. Foreman describes 1t as VERY dus-
ty in the dry season, and in the wet an
abominable collection of filthy pools"
But Panay is very fertile, and COM
mercially perhaps the richest of the
group, though why Don Jose Aguilar
should term it "the granary of the
Philippines" 1t is difficult to say; for it
is celebrated for its sugar and tobacco,
its industry of the beautiful pineapple
fabrics, pima and husi, rather than its
| rice. 1t Is, in fact, the sugar port par
excellence of the archipelago, though
| much of this product is sent thither
| from Negros, and enormous quantities
! are yearly exported to America. In
| spite of M. de Levals opinion that
| "rindustre sucriere est a pagonie,"
| the port is likely to be one of the first
| to attract the attention OF the Amerl-
| cans, for the harbor is a good one, and
| far less frequently visited by typhoons
| than Manila; and It seems likely that
| no great expenditure will be necessary
| to dredge the river and permit large
vessels to lie alongside the quays.
! Here, as in other islands, it Is probable
that the sugar-cane will give place to
hemp or some more profitable crop.
| The internsular steamers are among
the least unsatisfactory features OF
| Spanish rule in the archipelago. Even
the unexpected height of "round trips"
has been reached, so that the European
| visitor has at least the opportunity of
viewing the islands from the sea, even
If a closer acquaintance with them be
denied. From Iloilo he will have no
difficulty in reaching Cebu, a few hours
| distant; for thither, assuredly, he is
in duty bound to make his way, not
so much because, as the shrine of the
Holy Child of Cebu-the very image,
possibly, which Pigafetta gave to the
queen of the island in 1521-it is the
mecca of every good Filipino, as that
it is historically the most interest
ing Of all the ports, and commercially
ranks next after Iloilo. Here Magellan
made his bloodless conquest of the peo'
pie after his marvellous voyage across
the Pacific, and here, upon the little
island Of Magtan, which forms the
harbor, he met his death--"our mirror
our light, our comforter our true
friend" as his mourning comrade
Pigafetta lovingly describes him. A
half-ruined monument cOmmeroates
him on the spot where he died. there
is another in the town of Cebu, and
yet another. bedecked with sea mon.
sters, beneath the walls of old Manila
Spain has done we'll to make the mos
OF her hero even though he belonged
to her by no right of birth. Wha'
would she not have given for such &
leader in her bitter trials of today!
|
is no longer the capital, nor is is evel
likely to regain its former position
though it's trade in hemp is consider
able and it's coal mines likely to be
come valuable. Yet it is a far pleas
anter town than Iloilo, which we have
Just left; it's streets are clean and IT
roads cared for. The people, too, seen
more energetic and bright than an!
]
is this which led them into revolt il
1896, when they beat down their rulers
and eventually occupied the town
which was afterwards bombarded b.
the Spanish gunboats. Professo
Worcester speaks of the destruction
wrought. and of the ruthless disre
gard shown for the lives of the womel
and children of the insurgents during
the affair.
THE ONE RAILWAY.
The Philippines possess one line o
railway, the only part of an elaborat
scheme which has left the region o
the ideal to become an actuality. Many
> doubtless, wish that it had never don
so, for contractors and shareholder
alike burnt their fingers; but it i
equally certain that others, who re
garded the Eastern custom Of
squeeze" with no unfavorable eye
were content with their share in tn
transaction. Starting from the capita
and passing through Bulacan an
Pampagna, the richest districts of al
Luzon, whose great haciendas an
, | plantations have by this time probabl
been annihilated by the insurgents
: the line ends at Dagupan, over a hun