The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1899-11-17
FACTS
Truth Concerning the Situation in the
Philippines.
OmciaI Documents That Passed Between
Consul williams and Admiral Dewey
to the state Departments Before Hos
Utilities With Fiipinos Began.
>


is focused upon the Philippine islands
and the TransEsaI, and for very similar
reasons. Americans are chiefly con-
cerned with the former. Eighteen
months ago very few Of Us, except those
! in or fresh from the school room, could
have located the archipelago which has
achieved 50 much prominence.
How many knew, a year and half
ago, that a section Of the United States
navy was in that quarter OF the world?
How many knew there was such a
man as George Dewey in our navy?
Thus a little reflection viii show our
ignorance Of the whole Philippine ques-
ton. We should study it without par
tisan prejudice. To this end, and by
request, I send you the following ex-
cerpts from the public documents
named:
military Notes on the Philippines,
Government Printing Office, Washing
ton, D. c., 1898"
They we're discovered by Magellan
in 1921, but it was not until 1894 that
the group received its present name in
honor of Philip IL"
Page %: "The population has been
estimated at about 100000, the bulk
Of which is Of Malay origin. On first
arrival the Spsniards found a part of
the natives somewhat civilized, but
while they had a written language, Of
which some specimens have been pre-
served, it was of no value in throwing
light upon their early history, and
their traditions are very few"
Page 21: %The Philippine Malays are
a superior race to many other Asiatic
peoples; orderly, amiable, courteous,
honest and exceedingly suPerstitious,
they are easily influenced upon prOfes-
sion Of Christianity. Like most trOp-
zeal people their efforts are intermit-
tent rather than steady, their wants
are readily provided for, and they
take life easy. The inhabitants
are generally tractable and amenable
to government, and generally not hos
tile to foreigners. In some Of the in
accessible parts Of the islands there
are still tribes Of unsubdued savsges,
whose number is estimated at about
GO2,OOO."
The next document from which I
quote is senate document No. 81, part
1, third session, Fifty fifth congess,
printed by the government printing
Office at Washington, bearing date of
1899, and containing the peace treaty
and the official letters to the depart
ment Of state Of Hon. Oscar T. Viii
Eams, our consul at Manila, when our
war with Spain began Beginning on
page 30 is a letter from Mr.. Williams,
dated Manila, February -, 1898, in
which he says:
peace was proclaimed and since my
coming festivities therefor were held,
but there is no peace, and has been
none for about two years. Conditions
hers and in Cuba are practically alike.
War exists, battles are Of daily occur
renee, ambulances bring in many
wounded, and hospitals are full. Pris-
oners are brought here and shot with
out trial, and Manila is under martial
law.
"a republic is organized here, as in
Cuba. Insurgents are being armed and
drilled, are rapidly increasing in num-
bers and efficiency, and all agree that
a general uprising will come as soon as
the general embarks for Spain
which is fixed for March"
Under date of March 10, 1898, Mr.
Williams says:
'InsUTrectiOn is rampant, many
killed, wounded and taken prisoner on
both sides. AbattIeship, the Don Juan
de Austria, sent this week to the
nOthern. part of L1zOn to cooperate
with a land force of 1000 dispatched to
succOr local forces, overwhelmed by
rebels. Rebellion never more threat
ening to Spain. Rebels getting arms,
money and friends, and they Outnum-
Der the Spanisrds, resident and sol
diery, probably a hundred to one"
On March q, 1895, he wrote:
Cuban conditions exist here pOssib-
" in aggravated form Spanish sol
diers are killed and wounded daily, de-
spite claimed pacificatiOn, and { he hos
pitfalls are kept full. Last Thursday
! March a, s crown regiment Of natives
the Seventy fourth, stationed at Cavite,
was ordered to advance against native
insurgents nearby. The regiment re-
fused to obey orders and eight corpOr-
ais we're called out and shot to death
in presence Of the regiment, which was
/ again ordered to advance, and threat
made that q refusal would be death to
all. All did refuse and we're sent to
barracks to await sentence. On the
L