New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-23
AMERLCAN NEGROS.


A look NJ the map of the Philippine Islands
will show the great importance oil the new
from Negros. That island lies near and parity
parallel with Panay, of which Ilolo is the cher
fort and has been occupied by the American
forcos Neeros Is great sugar-producng ISL
and and Bacolot. its administrative centre Is
near the northern end and directly east OF lio
TO- Beyond TO the east. separated by strait
about fifteen miles wide and generally paralel
,yith Negros lies Cebu, whose chief port OF
rho Same name is second only to Ilolo in all
the Vlsayan group The island of Cebu mas
obout 100000 inhabitants, Negros about 2oo'-
600 and Panay about 100000. This is essen
tally the heart of the large array Of ISLANDS
in which the visayan language is spoken ana
II is recorded that the Visayans had attained
relative degree Of civilization before the Span
ish conquest. readily accepted Christianity ana
assisted in the subjugation of the TagaS, VINO
compose most OF the insurgents on the isand
of Luzon
Between the Tagal followers Of Agulnaldo
and the Yisavans there are wide differences OF
race speech, habits. industrial ana CONNER
clal relations. and the memory Of early hos
tilty and conquest. 1t Is not unnatural that
the Visayans should be more readily inclined to
called government set up by Aguinaldo Is es-
sentially 1agal affair and its success Wouiu
mt that race in a position of supremacy over
others more numerous and more inclined low
ard civilized ways The very name "Filipino,'
which Is used by Aguinaldo and his followers
in all their declarations Is the term commonly
applied about Manila to the Tagals alone. Inc
voluntary application Of the President of the
md NJ
representative natives who first visited Gen
oral Miller at Iloilo, went back to the caplta'
of Negros and raised and saluted the American
flag. and then went to Manila and waited on
General Otis there on Tuesday therefore in
dlcates a tendency which is likely to influence
greatly the course Of events in all the Philip
pine Islands south Of Luzon. For commerclai
purposes the Vsayan group is scarcely less I'M
portant than Luzon itself. The fact that TINS
country has lately bought sugar more largely
than before from the Visayas, since supplies
Of cane-sugar from Cuba were reduced and
supplies of beet-sugar from Germany were
largely excluded is also Of National impor-
lance
In Congress. bv those who doubtless imagine
they are urging the independence or the peo-
pie of the Philippine Islands. Agunaldo and
his Tagal insurgents are supposed TO ne tine
people" but that organization. IFS force anu
such support as It has come entirely from the
Tagal race. which has no place or force out
side the island Of Luzon. and Is bitterly dis
trusted bv the entire Nisayan population.
Moreover. Il embraces only fraction or the
population Of Luzon, and occupies less than
half of its territory. More than half Is occu-
pied by savage tribes. and while some Of these
are in race related TO the Tagas the rest are
related to the Nigritos, whose presence in
Ncgros gave that island its name. Within
twenty miles Of Manila. It Is stated, there are
savage tribes who have no relation whatsoever
with the Tagals and utterly reject their pre-
tended authority. II is amazingly foolish to
represent this organization of small minority
Of the native inhabitants. embracing only part
of one race confined to one island and not oc-
cupying half OF that, and bitterly opposed by
other races much more numerous. as entitled
10 represent the population Of the Philippine
Islands.