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

countrymen and the hated "Castilla."
Centuries ago, how long we know not
these nerce Mohammedans swept east
ward from Borneo, driving from the
land the more peaceful people of an
earlier Malay immigration. In days
not very far distant their praus raw
aged all the islands as far ar Mindoro,
but steam and machine guns have
spoilt the trade; and the Spanish gun
boats. though they did not succeed in
totally supressing piracy caused it's
days to be numbered. 1t must not be
supposed, however, that Spanish au-
thority in the interior was ever more
than nominal. At Zamboanga, indeed,
the western point of Mindanao, the
surrounding district for a little dis
tance is settled: but at almost every
other post the Spaniards lived behind
loop-holed walls or in block-houses
their monotonous existence only brok-
en- by the occasional amok of a Sulu.
Travelling in these islands, then, the
wanderer goes with his life in his
hands, though if he has time to eX-
plain that he is no "Castilla," but an
Englishman, he may win some sort
Of a passport, and rejoice in the novel
gained admission. The less venture
some tourist will content him' 'f with
a run ashore at the ports of CALL ami
will take the beauties of the land for
granted. The charming scenery of
Sulu Islands has been praised by al
most all who have been fortunate
enough to behold it, and to escape
from it's fascinations with whole skin.
ANNEXATION INEVITABLE.
If In his search for information or
amusement in these beautiful lands
our hypothetical traveller should take
some such journey as we have here
sketched in outline, he viii find him
self in possession of sufficient knowl-
edge of the archipelago to realize some,
at least, of its vast possibilities, and
to wonder at the colossal stupidity Of
a nation who, having such valuable
possessions, should be content to de-
liberately throw them away. 1t
| may be said, Of course, that the first
| revolution of the screw of Admiral
| Dewey's flagship toward Manila Bay
| could only lead to one denouement;
| that the conclusion was foregone; and
| that it was as impossible for the Cav
lte aCtOn not TO pc followed DS an
neXation as it would be to cede Cy-
| prus, and Ior a like reason-that the
return of either to the original owner
being out of the question, it could
not be abandoned to a third party. But,
as a matter of fact it is more than
| probable that the train of events was
only FASTENED, not altered, by Admiral
| Deweys guns, and that the fruit
would have fallen before long in any
! case, whether the American lap had
| been spread to catch 1t or not. The
| coming debacle had long been fore
seen by every one acquainted with
| Spanish rule in the islands. 1t is but
seldom that one gets unvarying agree
| ment as to the cause Of things; but
all those who have attempted to dag.
nose the case of this latest "sick man
Of the Pacific have indicated the nat
ure OF the disease with remarkable
unanimity. 1t may have manifested
itself by different signs and symptoms
but they proceeded from one and the
same deep-rooted and constitutional
malady a malady which has evel
characterized Spain in her dealings
with her colonies-namely, greed.
SPANISH MIsRULE.