The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-16
WHAT He THINKS OF EN-
Our Captain Hallahan Has Been
Looking at the Filipinos.
HE'S NOT PROUD OF THEM
In an Interesting Letter He Has Thing
or Two to Say About the islanders
and They Don't Win Any
Words of Praise.


of Company NJ, First Montana volun-
teers. now with his regiment at the
front in the Philippine fighting, is a
close and intelligent observer of condi-
lions in the region where the campaign
is progressing. The Standard prints
herewith interesting paragraphs from
letter written by Captain Hallahan and
addressed to his brother, D. F. Halla-
ham, of Anaconda. The letter is dated
lin the trenches at Caloocan, March 81
The captain writes
We are still camped on our last bat
tletield A few skirmishes and some
heavy firing from the insurgents is all
we've had to break the monotony of
life in the trenches. This place is about
three and one-half miles north of the
Escalta, and about one mile east of Ma
labon-a small town on Manila bay
1T is decidedly amusing for us to
read the opinions of the learned ones
who air their views on the Philippines
and Filipinos in the American press.
Our soldiers have made a practical
study OF the natives. They have seen
them in their outgoings and mornings
for weeks and months. They have
Toasted, danced with and fought them,
so that after reading all that / could
lind about the natives, their habits, and
the islands, l can really get more prac-
teal knowledge of them in a little talk
with our men or the Spaniards than I
can in all of the books and papers pub
lished thus far.
They tell us of the child like simpli-
city of the natives, their industrious
habits and all that. 1t is a pity that
the people who pass such opinions of
the Filipinos did not have enough ac-
tual intercourse with them to show
them up in their true character.
Il do not pretend to be able to do
this; but as soldiers we can see that
the average Tagalo is about as simple
and bland as the heather Chinese, mi
nus the latter's Industrious habits. He
is quite religious at times, is very quick
to learn the mechanical pursuits. is
| most obedient as a servant, he likes
pomp and display. He likes all these
things by turns; but above all he seems
| to like little of the seasoning of hui
| man blood, and this is as natural in
| him as in our average Indian.
1T would seem as if the Tagalo We're
| the Apache of Luzon. He is vastly in
| ferior as to number: but in mental en-
| ergy, diplomacy. self-esteem and gen.
| eral cusSedneSS, he attainS a high aver
age. We have had frequent opportuni-
| ties to note their diplomatic manners in
| trading with them, their readiness of
invention and their hardness with
knives. Their perceptive faculties are
finely developed, but they are deficient
in reflective power. This may be noted
| in their various rash acts, which, when
called upon to explain, they will satisfy
themselves by saying: I did it when
| my head was hot In this way arson
and murder are accounted for, and the
culprit will stoically proceed to his
| doom.
Take them all in all and they are
about as uncertain human quantity
| as Uncle Sam could find. If progressive
| thinkers are in the ascendant, in our
| present government, and they have suf-
| ficient faith in that pet theory of the
survival of the fittest.' it might be a
| good notion to send a large committee
of them out here With Roosevelt or the
| blood to- the bride ex-governor of
| Colorado to investigate the moral. men
tai and physical condition of the Taga-
los and be empowered to treat them in
accord with the above theory. We fail
to see the wisdom of fastening this huge
| human cancer on our people. But of
course, we have thousands of smart
people at home, who are willing to try
their theories, so I suppose we will have
| to bow to the majority.
I'VE are satisfied that the large ma
jority of the Filipinos do not want to
| fight u.s. but they have to yield to the
will and threats of the Tagalos. This
| is a beautiful country and we do not
blame the natives for their frantic
struggle for independence. 1t is Won
derful how their leaders can control
| them.
81 suppose that 1t will be many
moons yet ere we return to Montana
but now that we have a job on hand
we want to finish it. The boys stanC
the campaign we'll, and so far it seems
to agree with me, as I am picking ur
in flesh. The hot weather will soon be
here, though, and then we'll catch
well. not what a sinner signs for.
1.-THE insurgents received heavy rein
forcements along our front last night
so we may expect a destructive flank
| and front fire, as they will not over
look such a fine opportunity to emf
| lade u.s.