The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-08-06
NEWSPAPER MANS VIEWS.
a RESIDENT OF MANILA VISITS
THIS COUNTRY.
Relates His Opinions on the Status
Of Affairs in the Phil
ippines.

douglas Young, proprietor and United
states representative Of Freedom,
daily newspaper published in Manila.
Pnll1ppine Islands, passed through TINS
city last night, on his way to the East
and dropped in at the Record Union
ofhce while waiting for the overland
train,
He was accompanied by young Arthur
Gl1ckman, the mascot of the Second
oregon, who was in four or five bat.
ties and had the honor of being the
only one invited on board of his ship
by Admiral Dewey on May LIST. He is
a bright, modest appearing boy OF 10
Or IA. Mr.. Young was also accom-
panied by a young Filipino, IL or IS
years old, who has come with him Y
this country and who. when he goes
back, will be able to tell his country
men something Of the extent and power
of the United States.
Mr.. Young addressed a large meeting
in San Francisco, under the auspices
of the Chamber of Commerce, and ex-
poets to stay in the United States tor
a year, during which time he will de-
liver addresses in the principal cities.
and disseminate information concerning
the Philippines among the people which
will give them more intelligent appre-
citation of that country and the situa'
ton confronting us in our new pos
sessions.
He says we have no idea of the re-
sources of the islands, as they are tina
richest in the world. in his opinion.
They are almost undeveloped, however.
the policy of the Spanish not being fav-
orable for their development. Tha
great staple raised for food is rice, ana
the other main crops are tobacco, hemp,
sugar and copra. The great fertility
of the soil and the fact that these crops
are raised without irrigation gives tbs
Philippines a great advantage and ha
estimates that our commerce with them
could be easily built up to S1OO,O0O,OO0
a year. He thinks it will add largely
to the development of the commerce OF
the United States, if judiciously fos-
tered.
AS to the climate, there are three
months in the rainy season and wheh
it rains it does rain and no mistake.
May, June and July are the hot
months and in the middle of the day
all business is suspended and the in
habitants take a siesta. If person
dresses in accordance with the climate
and takes proper care of himself in
other respects, he says, the climate is
not an unpleasant one to live in, and
= although it is hot in the middle Of
the day, the mornings and evenings are
pleasant and the nights cool enough to
call for blankets.
He likens Manila, although a Grey of
100000 inhabitants, to what San Fran
cisco must have been in 1S49, and says
in,
but it is in a primitive state compare
lively, Spanish rule not tending to
progress. The wealthy class are almost
all favorsble to American rule, as an
also the Spaniards and not many
wealthy or influential men side with
Aguinaldo, as they readily see thar
their interest and security lies with our
Government of the islands. There is
only a small portion of the population
fighting us, which is composed of the
Tagalos and the only thing that gives
troops to Aguinaldo is his power of
compelling the people to serve as SOL
diers.
He says that with the rainy season
over his army will soon be disposed Of
as if it is driven back to the noun.
tains, the hill tribes will soon slaugh,
ter his soldiers and dispense them. AS
for the other islands. he says there ia
very little rebellion on them, the in,
surgents being little more than bri.
gands.
He thinks it would be wise policy in
Congress to pass laws establishing 8
code of civil laws in the islands and
giving the natives partial self govern
ment and also to pass tariff laws for
them, doing away with the old Spanish
laws. These things would aid much
in the development of the islands.
AS for the mineral wealth, there will
be, he thinks. much of it developed in.
the islands. the Spanish rule have pre-
vented it's development hitherto. Parties
went out near Manila and washed out
gold enough to show that the pros
poets are good and can be opened up
with a little capital.
The people as a rule are intelligent,
and the Weather classes are more or
less we'll educated in the Filipino lam
guage. He thought they would de-
velop into good citizens when they
realized what we wished to do for them.
The few that are opposed to us are SO
opposed because they had hoped, When
Spanish rule was overthrown, to set
up a government of their own and be-
come dictators and rule the people.