The record-union., 1899-05-22
IA FINE COUNTRY"-HEALT IN
LUZON.

John I. Howland was practical
farmer in Clackamas County, Oregon.
On the outbreak of the war with Spain
out of patriotic devotion to his coun-
try he enlisted in an Oregon regiment
and was sent to do service in the Phil
ippines- His regiment has had a deal
of travelling to do in Luzon. 1t has had
is an observing man as well as a good
soldier. He has kept his eyes open
While in the Philippines, and after
nearly years observation he pro-
nounces. Luzon "a fine country" This
judgment is from the standpoint of on
Oregon farmer. Of course, but it is, we
submit, an excellent point of view. Mr.
Rowland finds time to write of his OBJ
servations and he communicates some
of his thoughts to his friends, who
make them public. through the columns
of the "Oregonian." The soldier SAYS:
This is fine country. We want to
keep the Philippines. The volunteers
here have been invited home, but the
boys do not want to go. All the boys
go " &GlllSd4u the war l2
over
think if the United States will give
US each 160 acres Of land and guaran-
tee US the title, that one-half of Com
pany 1 will be settlers in these islands
We will defend the islands against in
Vasion, because they are the most valu-
able part of any country that the United
States ever obtained possession of.
Ine Ellinin0G a RI OH
but are not as good fighters as the
American Indians. These people are
not equal to self-government. They are
not as capable of self government as
We're the American Indians, although
tney are more advanced. If the United
States Government will guarantee 100
acres or land to each settler, I shall
take quarter section myself and live
IN the philippines. This is going to be,
as believe, the gateway from the
West to the East
This has q very different ring from
the lugubrious stories the anti-expan-
sionists circulate, who would have us
believe that the islands are fertile in
nothing desirable for us except hemp,
rice and tobacco, and that as for these
we nave ample sources Of supply with
out possessing the new territory. But
men of Mr.. Howland's stamp look be-
yond what they see the natives of Lu-
zon doing with their lands Such men
peer into the probabilities Of the soil
under intelligent ownership and culti-
vaton by the American. We have our
political blathersiSites who lie about
the q
and numerous misinformed and Ill
Judging, though conscientious and de-
voted citizens who make sad mistakes
about the Philippines. The "Oregonian"
says on the subject, taking Mr.. How
lands letters as a text:
The low per cent. of deaths in the
oregon volunteers during a whole
years service is sufficient proof that
the climate is as healthy as any part of
the south from Virginia to Texas, and
nearly as much so as any part of the
North from Maine to Oregon. Our Ore
Son volunteers have been there some
fenfmonths. They arrived in a strange
iand and climate after a long, tedious
s7a voyage, during which they had had
little exercise ana had necessarily been
S01iii1iSo ~ t1S comparatively narrow
diet TO which soldiers and sailors are
restricted during a long journey on
transports. Our volunteers arrived
there about the beginning of the rainy
season; they lived several months about
Manila; they ate of strange fruits; they
mad to learn to live and dress wisely in
a new climate; they were in easy reach
OF city Of 100000 people, with the
same opportunities for dissipation that
are found in the cities of our own land.
1t would not have been strange if as
high rate of mortality, under these cir
cumstances, had prevailed during the
first six months of service as prevailed
in the Army of the Potomac from Au-
gust, 1861, to April, 1862: in the Fed
seral forces in Louisiana, during the
summer campaigns of 1S62-63, with
Rosecrans about Nashville, or about
Vicksburg under Grant
But no such mortality rate has been
reached in the Philippines in our ranks
since the war began. In fact, the care
eful examination of returns and reliable
statements by intelligent observers jus
titles the judgment that since the army
has been engaged against the nsur-