The Hawaiian gazette., 1899-06-30
ENGLISH OPINION
ON THE FILIPINOS.
London Army and Navy

| tisondon Army and Navy
So 1t seems that the Spaniards,
though wrong about many things,
were not far out in their estimate of
what would happen to the Americans
In the Philippines. They said that
when the wet season came round, the
new masters Of the islands would find
that they had won all the battles, but
that the Filipinos had won the cam
paign. This seems to be pretty much
what has happened. After a long
string of engagements, in which Agui..
naldo and his men have been con-
stantly' beaten, and the Americans
have been steadily advancing, the sec
ond have found that they had to evac-
uate most Of the places they had oc-
cupied, while the first are back in the
position In which they were when the
fighting began. Now, put 1t as You
please, this is failure, and 1t promises
badly for the future. The American
Government has been told by its gen.
erals that 100000 men will be needed
to occupy the archipelago effectually,
and the estimate seems by no means
excessive.
In the meantime 1t appears as II vir-
tue had a good deal to do with max
ing trouble for the Americans. They
have tried to put a stop to gambling
and cock fighting in Manila, and have
also set about enforcing cleanly hab-
its OF the people. This last effort is
highly to their credit, and will ulti-
mately be for the good OF everybody:
the temper of the Filipinos for the
moment. When people have been ac-
custOmed since time immemorial to
the indescribable habits of the natives
and their Spanish masters in sanitary
matters, 1t Is grievous to be reformed
by order all at once. AS for gambling
and cock fighting, no doubt they are
bad vices, though our ancestors of the
eighteenth century contrived to make
both OF them consistent with a great
deal of success in war and commerce
and colonization. But to prohibit them
to Manilaman is as If one were to
forbid the inhabitants of London to
drink beer, sing music hall songs, or
bet on football matches. The Filipi-
nos chief Joy in life is cock fighting.
He carries his fighting cock about un-
der his arm. 1t Is the friend and hon
or of the family. To prevent him
from setting 1t to fight (which, after
all. the cock enjoys every bit as much
as his mastery no doubt appears to the
poor Filipino in the light Of q cruel
oppression. Speaking seriously, an in
reference with the established habits
OF a people Is almost always injudl-
cious. Macaulay has said that II
James II had carried out his scheme of
shutting, the London coffee houses, he
would probably have precipitated the
rebellion, for the irritation caused by
an act Of tyranny is not always pro-
portionate to its dignity. It Is really
very probable that a good deal Of help
which has given to Aguinaldo from
within Manila is due to Irritation at
this interference, which is at any rate
very previous" The Americans ought
to have waited till they were masters
of the country before they began re-
forming the natives. II we had begun
in this style in India, the conquest of
the country would have been far
more serious business than it was.
We waited for a long while before We
prohibited "Suttee," which, after ALL
is much more barbarous than cock
fighting.
Be the causes of the Filipino resist
ance what they may, 1t is tolerably
plain that unless the Americans go
very seriously to work, they stand a
fair chance of burdening themselves
with another version of the Dutch war
in Acheen. This miserable business
has dragged on for twenty-five years,
because the Dutch will not make a
proper effort and occupy the country
with a sufficient permanent garrison.