The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-22
THE FILIPINO.
A Correspondent Who Thinks The Natives Arc m
dusirIous and Thrifty Under Proper Conditions.

No one who has gone i25 miles
through the rich upiands and valleys
OF Luzon and seen the results OF thrift
and industry on all sides can consls-
tently call the native Filipinos lazy
and worthless lot, declares a writer I'm
Leslie's Weekly Their movements are
moderate, and they take time for the
enjoyment OF their simple pastifnes,
like all tropical races. but they Keep
eVerlastingly at IL from sunrise until
dark. In many Of the provinces the IL
ale OF the land ~ In the name OF the
church, for every pretty village - over
shadowed by a great white-walled ca
thedral or monastery, and the tribute
these oppress0rs have levied upon the
ong-suffering natives has made them
a "nand-to-iDOuth" race, who fully
realized that any surplus boarded or
any evidence of prosperity would bring
down an extra tax upon their neads.
Half the product OF their labor has al
ways gone 20 the friars and the other
half has usually been discounted for
petty necessities before their crops RI
pene1. SO they have plodded on year
after year, the debt OF the previous
season a standing mortgage against the
labor OF the next.
The power and abuse In the name OF
the church are the monsters that have
SNItltUtu tnclf ldiOn, over TIC oppItrr-
ei Fiiipin0s for centuries Every aspir-
ing ambition has been discouraged; ev-
cry attempt at the Improvement or
their highways. which can hardly be
dlgnifed by the name OF lanes. such as
run 10 the back lots OF American farms,
and every effort at organization or the
diffusion Of intelligence mi -Milh
speedy ana effective opposition. With
half a chance The Tagal VIII make an
Industrious and sl<iilful workman IN
occupations other than agriculture.
The Manila and Dagupin Railroad Is
operated by natives. They run the en-
gines build the oars act as conductors,
! brakemen station masters. and in the
general offices at Manila many OF them
act as clerks and acCOutants, keeping
double-cntry books, operating the type
writer telegraphing and. in fact. doing
everything that Is required in railroad
ing. In the shops at Cal0ocan all the
wOrknen are natives. They rebuild the
engines, make boilers. do fine lathe
work and handle steam hammers and
all kinds Of improved machinery salts
fGctorly and effectively. At Cavite, in
the shipyards, | have seen the native
building launches repairing ships in
drydOck and operating In wood and
iron to the entire satisfaction Of the
American naval constructors and en-
giners. In Manila ! have seen him
building houses erecting masonry. paw
ing streets. making cigars and cigar
cites operating street. car lines, work
ing i'm iron. copper. brass and silver.
and engaged in every department of
industry.
In the Manila observatory / have
seen him working over scientific in
struments. computing delicate observa-
tons i'm meteorological, seismic, astro-
nomlcal and magnetic registration.
where education and skillful intelli-
gence are required.
1 have seen him as a schoolmaster.
al a cure as navigator, as a store
keeper. as a surveyor as a shipowner-
there is no department OF life where Ia
Dor. brains or skill is required that the
native cannot compete successfully
Encourage him. govern him and give
him the reward of his labor and he
will develop into an American citizen
OF whom Uncle Sam will be Justly
prDul