Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-09-28
NOT FIT FOR GOVERNMENT,
But Dewey Thinks the Fillpinos Are Bet
ter Fitted Than the Cubans-Praises
the American Sailors.

New York, Sept. 26-The Evening Post
prints the following interview with Adj
miral Dewey:
They are a splendid lot" the admiral
said, speaking of his men.
1.-The very pick, the finest in our navy,
and that means the best in the world
Before l got to Manila, the archbishop
with whom / afterwards became very in
innate said that the American sailors were
the scum of the earth, a blood thirsty lot
of cut threats who would destroy every
thing in their power.
Later on, when l did get there" said
the admiral, with a knowing smile, "the
archbishop came OF board one day while
! had battalion at drill, the very Same
battalon that will parade in New York
The archbishop went on the bridge and
watched them closely. l knew he was
admirng them and | said to him. We'll.
what do you think of our American sail
/ ors?'
They are splendid he said, I have
seen the men of most navies but never
anything like these. They are magnif-
cent. ! cannot understand it-such splen-
did young fellows. How does 1t happen .?
| Well said the admiral I'VE look for
! the pest men, we come closer to our men
we treat them better than other countries
do, and we pay them better
| Then | called a man and said to him
How much do you get month He sa-
luted and said eighty dollars sir The
archbishop was astonished. You know $50
would pay a whole load of Spaniards Az
ter that the archbishop had very great re-
spect Tor us and became very friendly
Here have a picture of Gen Luna, which
was given me by the archbishop"
| The admiral then sent an orderly for tho
picture of the Philippine general who was
murdered by order of Aguinald do" as be
said. The picture was that of a negro in
a sort of military uniform. On the back
bishop of Manila. Father Berna rdino Mesa
lado. 1t was signed by Luna.
Admiral Dewey then said that Luna was
the best man the Fflipinos had. 1T was a
plot, he said, 'to assassinate him. A
crack swordsman was placed on sentry,
and when Luna appeared he simply stab
bed him"
But these fellows ALL" said the admiral,
"are queer lot. They were simply ser
wants and stablemen and Agunaldo was a
junior clerk in the navy yard. He is d
pretty smart fellow, l know him pretty
well. In fact. we were great friends, and
are for the matter of fact, but he has not
the brains. There are people behind him,
some of them lawyers, and able fellows
who make tool of Aguinaldo Here, by
the way, is a cane which he presented
me-" and the admiral produced a thick
black stick carved and resembling Irish
oak more than anything else.
II thought" said the admiral. that this
thing in the Philippines would be over
ong before this, as it should have been.
can't imagine hoy they have stood GU,
until now. OF course, there was the RAINY
season and | suppose little was done. The
great trouble Oft there has been Gen, Oti.
has tried to do too much. He wants To bs
general, governCT, governor general anC
everything else, to have hold Of all the
rcns No man can do this, This is the
great trouble. 1t Is enough for a man tC
do one thing, TO be one thing. and wher
"A man tries to do everything and to b,
Everything 1t - easy " imagine the re