The San Francisco call., 1899-05-27

miles long. There are no other railroads
Electricity as a motive power is unknown
and StreetCarS nave no existence outside
1t seems to me, inexperienced as 1 am,
that the Philippines ought to be a para
disc for the capitalists who wish to in
troduce electricity, put up sugar refin-
cries, build sawmillS and planning mills,
Introduce modern agricultural implements
and all kinds of machinery. The Island of
NegroS on which l am at present locat-
ed, is rich to a degree, and the sugar
planters live like princes of olden times.
il has progressed more than any of the
other islands in agriculture, yet there is
much TO be done to bring il to even
moderate state of progress. 1t has PIT
rivers and streams emptying into the
ocean, few roads and no kind Of transpor-
tatiOn save the cardDao, whose trotung
record is about a mile month
The people of the islands are not capa-
bic of self-government considered as an
entirety There are certain classes, how
ever, whom ! think might be safely en-
trusted with the reins of local self-gov-
ernment. The educated class, the prop
erty-holding class and the householders
who have the responsibilities OF tamlies
and property, might, l think, be allowed
the privilege of the ballot, and under
proper protection, encouragement and ad-
vice would in all probability in very
short time establish a stable form OF local
self-gOYernment. Underlying these three
classes of inhabitants in the islands are
the irresponsibles, who live from hand
tC mouth and who only work when COM
not work at all and prey on their fellows
ana the Savages, who, of course, have no
responsibilities and have no desire to as
sumo any. In my opinion the ldlers and
lrreSponsibleS ought TO have no voice in
the government at all, but they form an
element dangerous to the peace and well
fare of the community, being ready at all
tunes 10 fan IN line with the dlScOntented
OI ambitious because they are "agln and
ever prepared to oVerturn existing cOndi-
uonS- think, however, If the irTeSponSi-
bies and idlerS were utilized for military
purposes and to form a local canstabu-
larry that under the influence OF discipline
and education they might in time become
useful citizens
The present trouble in the islands arose
through no fault of the military power
al attManila- Everything was done to con-
vince the leaders Of the insurgents and
the people that the United States intended
nothing but what was for the welfare of
those who had been oppressed SO long.
Am1cable relations were encouraged IN
every way by General Otis The insur-
gent soldieTy ana officers were permitted
free entrance into Manila al all times
and at all hours and We're allowed to come
and go as they pleased but the mortal
offense has been given on the 18th of
August when the iEsurgent soldiery We're
not permitted to enter the city and loot
ii TO their hearts content For that in
jury there was no forgiveness and eX-
preSSlons OF open dlsapproVal OF the
Americans began and the Government of
the United states Which had lifted the
yoke from their necks was openly claimed
TO be an enemy 10 the people greater than
Spain. The American troops were not
permitted TO go into the country with
out being constantly interfered with, FREE
quentiy annoyed and sometimes arrested.
Manila was virtually beleaguered by hos
ules VINO only waited the word to begin
operations against the forces whose kind
ness, forbearance and leniency the un-
grateful Tagalos had mistaken for cow
ardice
Daily for q month their soldiery stood
upon the trenches, defed our sentries to
combat, called them women, spat upon
them and invited them TO come over and
have their throats cut Conferences were
held with the leaders and representatives
OF the insurgents, but their demand for
absolute independence, their insiStence
that our navy should not be further
strengthened, and that the regular troops
should not be permitted to land, coupled
with the threat that unless these things
were promised the people could not be re-
strained, and that trouble would begin,
rendered futile all efforts 70 bring about
a more satisfactory condition of affairs.
The lnsurgent paper, the lndependencia,
took the stand that the attack should be-
gin at once on the Americans; that the
regulars were not coming for the pur-
pose Of relieving the volunteers; that the
conferences. were being had for the pur-
pose of accomplishing delay, and that the
ankeeS wanted to gain time for rein
forcements to arrive and so be enabled
10 cope with the force about Manila.
1nSurgent colonelS and captains began
to warn their friends in Manila to leave
stroY Yed.
Arms were secretly smuggled into the
city and secret Societies for the purpose
Of numbering American officers and burn
ing the town were formed in every dis
trict. The insurgent lines were advanced
until their sentries brushed elbows with
ours Enlisted men were seized within
our own lines and carried to MalOloS
Products were not allowed to be sent into
the city, and about everything that could
be done was done to cause the American
forces to take the initiative and fire the
first shot. This plan which was probably
the result of deeper cOunsels than their
own, did not succeeed-the shot was not
fired.
Then they began to send armed men
across our lines in broad daylight, but
after threats, protests, menaces and nego-
tiations would withdraw them Finally,
on February 4, the Filipinos determined
to force the first shot, and at night they
one Of the American sentries located at
Santa Mesa The sentry called Halt,
the armed party halted, consulted and
then retired In a few minutes it re-
turned. The sentry again called Halt
and persisted in calling Halt" until they
had crossed his lines. They would not
halt, and then he fired his piece. That
was the signal the Filipinos were waiting
for. The immense string of fnsurgent fire.
crackers, having its large end at Calocan.
from which 1t stretched to Santa Mesa
had been ignited at the smallest diameter
in Santa Mesa and the insurgent fire. at
will, in a short time spread from one end
Oh the lUSuISeIlI UQe TO the other. Thew
rang out the volleys at Santa Mesa The
Nebraskans had tumbled out Of bed and
got to work Next came the yolley firing
at Sanpaloc and Vicinity-the Colorados
Montanas and Dal<otas had rushed to the
support Of their threatened outposts and
pickets. Last of all the steady fire Of the
Pennsylvanians, Third Artillery, and
Kansans showed that they had buckled
down TO meet the heavy attack on the
Calocan front Now and then a heavy
gun would boom" showing by the sound
from the water or from the land whether
the execution was being done by the nayv
or the Utah Battery
So was the second battle Of Manila
brought about by the very people on
whom kind treatment was worse than
wasted and by whom courtesy and con-
sideration were taken for timidity and
fear. The fight waged all night on the
north side of the river, and with the break
Of day the conflict spread to Santa Ana
Singallon and Malate. These are tho
facts as i understand them concerning
the commencement Of the struggle be-
tween the Americans and Filipinos God
knows an American was compelled to en-
dure almost everything rather than do
ANYTHING which might be ground for com
plaint or bring about a rupture OF peace
f1l relations. yet ] am sorry to say emf
ncnt and able men of my own nation have
geen fit in the halls of Congress and from
the rostrum and pulpit to denounce the
action Of the American soldiery al Ma
Mia and to assert that the conflict was
Initiated TO force the treaty in the inter-