The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-03-01
The Peoples OF the Philippines.

The Peoples OF the fhlllpplnes'
The dispatches from the Far East
recently announced the arrival at Ma
Mia of commissioners from the island
Of Negros, one of the Philippine group,
to declare the allegiance of the inhabi-
tants of that island to American au-
thority. "We put ourselves unreser-
vedly in the hands of the Americans,
relying upon their sense of right and
Justice regarding our form of govern
ment." This was the language of the
commissioners. They declared further
that Aguinaldo had twice asked them
to join him, but they had declined.
The stars and stripes had been raised
over Bacolod, the capital of the island,
amid the cheers of the people, who are
unanimously in favor of the American
government. The commissioners de-
clared that they would use their infu
ence to have the people of the other
islands accept American rule.
This information was received with
great satisfaction by the American al
thorities. The action of Negros
was the entering wedge for the early
occupation of the entire Visayan
group. Senior LacsoD, the head Of the
Negros commission, is president of the
Negros native government, which is
now styled the Canton Federal Ameri-
cano. Senior Lacson says the inhabit-
ants of the island of Cebu, also, are
ready to accept the rule of the Ameri-
cans. There is, he says, no sympathy
between the Visayans and the Tagals,
or Filipinos as they call themselves.
Negros is one of the larger of the
Philippine group, lying near Panay, of
which Iloilo is the chief port and capt.
tai, 1t is great sugar producing re-
gion. To the east of Negros, separat-
ed from it by narrow strait, is Cebu,
whose chief port bears the same name,
and is next to Ioilo in the Visayan
group. Panay has population of
about 100000, Cebu 100000, and Ne
gros 100000. These islands are de-
scribed as the heart of the Visayan re-
gion. Their inhabitants had attained
to some degree of civilization before
the Spanish conquest. They have
manifested less of that warlke ferocity
that resists civilization. Unlike the
Tagale, the leading race in Luzon, who
constitute the insurgent element there,
they have shown disposition friendly
to the progress and development that
follows in the track of Christianity.
There is a wide difference between the
Visayans and the Tagal followers of
Aguinaldo. The Tagals have been
the traditional enemies of the Visayans,
and they are naturally the allies of the
Americans. Tagal supremacy would
mean Visayan subsection.
The Philippine situation is develop.
ing. Aguinaldo and his Tagal bellig.
erents are not the only people in the
archipelago. This later development
of friendship and eagerness to accept
American control on the part of the
Visayans is reassuring. The CONNER
cial value and prospects of this group are
equally inviting with that of Luzon, Of
which the fact that this country has
been buying sugar more largely iron
the Visayas since the destruction o.
the Cuban supply is an indication.
The facts respecting the Philippines
in their entirety, those that have CONF
TO the light and that time and research
will bring TO the light, illustrate thu
wisdom of the Presidents course il
waiting for the fullest obtainable infor
nation before deciding definitely on
Philippine policy. They also empha
size the folly or political idiocy that i
ceaselessly bawling: for the announo
ment of such policy, for some instan
/ and offhand settlement of the Who'll
Philippine question. On this point, an
! as TO who constitute "the people" of th
= Philippines a competent authority says
SIN Congress, by those who doubtless in
agine they are urging the independence
the people of the Philippine islands, Aguii
aldo and his Tagal insurgents are suppose
to be "the people," but that organization
: its force and such support as it has CON
!, entirely from the Tagal race, which has L
@ place or force outside the island of Luzol
a and is bitterly distrusted by the entil
Visayan population. Moreover, it Ell
. braces only fraction Of the population
Luzon, and occupies less than half its te
= ritory. More than half is occupied by ga