The times., 1899-07-19
FUTURE OF THE PHILIPPINES.
An Interesting Letter From Major
Sternberg, Now Mt IIoiIo.


Surgeon General Sternberg has just re-
eeived an interesting letter from his
brother, Major Theodore Sternberg. at
1ioilo, in the Philippine Islands. which
throws light on the situation there. Major
sternberg states frankly that the speeches
and publications against keeping the ISL
ands make him tired" He believes that
the Fiiipinos need educating and says they
are wishing for schools. The letter is
dated May 10 and in part is as follows:
i have now been in these islands nearly
eight months and up to date / have seen
more delightful weather than 1 ever saw
before in any country in the same time.
when | think of the beautiful homes at
Los Angeles, Cal, and at Pasadena, with
their sub-tTopical vegetation cannot help
thinking that when the same kind OF men
take hold of these islands they will be the
most delightful spots in the world. I'look
forward to the time when there shall be
american homes, American families, and
American schools here. | want to seq
american ideas grated on to this native
STOCK, and l believe the graft will grow and
Eear Irult. Catch these natives young and
they can be made, the rank and file of
them, good, useful citizens; but what can
you expect when labor is not considered
honorable-when the foreigner would not
get up to help himself to a cigar on table
IN the same room, but would call for a SER
want to get it for him? l am proud OF the
fact that in America Lincoln stands for
honest labor and its Just reward. We must
snow these people by object lessons the
honor which is in honest labor, the de-
hshts OF American home life on the farm,
and the dignity of earning your own farm
and living on it.
have met many enquiries as to when
are the Americans going to establish
schools. These people are anxious 10 learn
and want schools. and after the fighting is
over nothing our people can do would
meet quicker nor more grateful response
than free schools. | fully believe that
the rate of wages paid is the real criter-
ION by which to judge of the condition of
the people. Not far from Ilolio is a plan
tation, sugar; the owner. a foreigner. raid
u. Mexican, or 81, United States. a month
Tor his lahorers. Just think of it, 81 per
month for man. The man who wishes
labor at such price is the kind who be-
leves in Colonial government for these
islands, / want these people taught to
earn and get decent wages, and that is the
bottom of this whole question for the fu-
ture. and the elevation of labor here is
the oar we must use. That done in these
Islands will make 1t easier to benefit the
people of the entire Orient
1T makes me tired to read the speeches
and newspaper articles against American
occupation of these islands. The ist of
May Is the 4th of July of the future of
these people. The American Indian melted
away because he could not and would not
live the settled laborious life of civiliza-
tion. These people here WILL | fully be-
heve, the peasantry. quickly catch on if
shown, and will soon use American plows.
put on shoes and stockings, go to school,
get up caucuses, nominate tickets, vote
and hunt for office, as readily as our
Americans do at home. Those who have
bad an opportunity for education are as
highly cultivated as any one, but Con-
tinental rather than English. man is a
creature of environment any way.
"one of the funniest things illustrative
of this l noticed the other day / was in
troduced to Chinese mestiso who talks
English with the most pronounced cock
ney accent. His his are used or not used
and all the other peculiarities Of the cock
ney just as II he were born in sound OF
Bow Bells. More than that he thinks
English. calls himself a Britsher, and talks
OF his Queen, and our Navy and yet he
never saw England product of Hong
kong. America must create the environ
ment and time will DO the rest. 1t is be-
cause / think know and realize the phil
osophy of American ideas. the part these
ideas play now, and are intended to play
in the future of the world that l so wish
to see every one of our glorious soldiers
who wishes it enabled TO remain here
and each become centre of American
thought"