Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-25
A Filipino on the FiIipinos.

In these times when there is so much
interest in our new Pacific acquisition,
the Philippine archipelago, and it's in
habitants. an utterance by an educated
Filipino now in this country attracts
much attention. Ramon Reyes Leila is
a native Filipino whose home is in
Manila. but he is now in New York and
has contributed an article to the New
York Independent which throws much
light on the Philippine problem He
declares that all the better class Fill
pinos are eager for peace and to well
come American rule. OF the question
Of a Filipino government he says:
II don't believe that such a govern
ment is at San Fernando or anywhere
else. The back Of the insurrection has
effectually been broken. and it is
bound to die. though it may be lin
aering death. Aguinald1 can go
neither backward nor forward. He
can not fly to the hills of northern
I.uzon. as he pretends: for there are
the Aetas, and the fierce aborigines,
who hate him and his Tagalogs bitter
w. He can not go southwark. for
there are the Nisayas; and these also
are the mortal enemies of the Taga
logs and therefore would resent the
leadership of the arch-rebel. Indeed,
the NisayaS have already manifested
their hostility To Aguinaldo. and if he
were once so unfortunate as to fall in
to their power there is little doubt
what his fate would he. So the Fill
Pine rebel is. as it We're. between two
fires. He can neither advance nor re-
treat. 1t is true that with Il few thou
sand of his followers he can lead the
Americans Il lively chase. but there
can be but one result. and that is his
final defeat and capture, and of this ne
is well aware
Senior Lall believes that Agunaldo
should be hunted down, and captured
at once, as he is the backbone of the
whole rebellion ana without him the
FilipinoS would readily come to terms
Of peace He says that the Filipinos
do not follow Agunaldo because they
love him, nor because they have any
great desire for independence, but be-
cause Aguinaldo has great power as a
leader. and the Filipinos follow a lead
ar more by instinct than anything else.
He is of the opinion that if the rebel
leaders We're captured the insurgents
would then ask peace, and would even
fight for the Americans if occasion de-
l. ,TG GIL,
because they have nothing else to do.
and because some shrewd leader com
pels them to do 50. Senior Lala says Of
the question of government:
Il have always said that my coun-
trymen We're not fit for self-govern-
ment. because of the hatred between
the different tribes. and because Of the
bitter rivalry among their leaders.
There are now three different leaders
among the rebels. Aguinaldo. Pho Del
Pillar and Antonio Luna. All of these
hate each other as much as they hate
the Americans. Each claims to be thu
only and original patriot, and each will
fail to be even impressive. Luna, as
we'll as Aguinaldo, has been spreading
false impressions concerning the Yam
KEGS, and on the strength of this he has
considerable following. This | am con-
WINGED will melt away when the recent
proclamation shall be explained and
interpreted in the interior | have
seen this splendid document criticised
by some newspapers; but really | can
not see what better could be done to
inspire the natives with confidence in
and respect for the Americans. Great
care should be taken that this procla-
nation be explained in every hamlet in
the islands, so that every native shall
hear the good news, and all haste
should be employed to make good at
least part of these splendid promises.
for ii must not be forgotten that the
Filipinos have for centuries been fed
on Spanish promises-promses that
never saw fulfllment."
In conclusion he expresses the opn-
ion that the United States should as
sumo sovereignty. but leave the in
terror government as much as possible
to the natives.