Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1899-06-02

have been victims Of Spanish cruel
ty and priestly craft. Their ideas
Of civilization are only such as
they have imbibed from Spanish
sources. Government with them
means simply legalized robbery and
oppression. Religion is summed
up as the right to buy exemption
from Gods wrath. Such thing
as liberty as we understand it is
incomprehensible to them. As near
ly rs 1 can figure they think Glib
erty" is equivalent to "a right to
exercise power" and "power" is
synonymous with "a right to OPP
press" Ingrained in the people is
the old doctrine Of the divine right
of kings, inculcated by their priest
ly advisers. Putting these differ
ent fragments together they evolve
the theory that power usually ex-
ercised by kingly rulers comes from
God and logically, therefore, that
oppression in matters governmental
is really approved Of God and most
laudable. Talk about such a peo-
pie being capable of self-govern-
ment! They are no more fitted for
it than horse thieves and murderers
are adapted to the management of
churches and Sunday schools.
Their minds are shrouded in ig-
norance and superstition and will
take several generations to remove
the incubus. Naturally the ma
tives, SO far as / have been able to
observe, are affectionate and gen.
erous. In these two traits l think
can see the key to their ultimate
reclamation. At present all they
appreciate in a white man is force.
When, after years Of care and in
struction, these islanders under
stand our methods and institutions,
the Philippines will be a most de-
sirable acquisition. There is no
question as to the wonderful re-
sources Of the islands. Several
islands are known TO be rich in
mineral, gold, silver, iron and
copper. Coal abounds in some
localities. The finest Of rare woods
are to be found in great abundance
The soil is very fertile, producing
enormously such crops as rice,
sugar, tobacco and all kinds o.
tropical fruits. Various fibre plants
grow to perfection. In the higher
portions of this Island, Luzon, ex'
cellent corn is grown. Ihave seer
| it in the markets both in the cal
and shelled. l am told that thu
temperature averages much lower
in the mountains than near thu
coast, to which my personal OBJ
servations have of necessity beer
confined. The possibilities herr
cannot be imagined. Heretofore
Spanish cupidity and greed hav'
stifled every enterprise. Taxes ant
extortion of all kinds have been re
sorted to for the purpose of dis
couraging the development Of tn
natural resources Of the islands
For instance, an extensive place
gold mine owned and worked by al
English company was placed unde
tribute to the extent of so per cent
of it's gross output. Thus tn
company was compelled to conduc
it's business with one-fifth of it
total output only; and yet tn
claim was worked for number G
years at a profit. Finally, how
ever, the owners were froze out an
literally the Spaniards killed tn
goose that laid the golden egg. S
it has been all along the line.
Although Manila rope is use
the world over there is nothing lik
a modern rope walk on this island
OF course there are few primitiv
establishments where inferior rop
is made to a very limited extent b
manual processes but nothing NOR
A few years ago an American fir
started an extensive rope factor
here and furnished it with the yer
best machinery. In less than 81
months from the day they starte
governmental extortions force
them to give up their business
Manila and remove their plant
: Hong Kong, where they are no
: doing a flourishing business. Sti
there is not much here for a con
, mon laborer. A white man cam,
work in this climate either alon,
side a native or q Chinamal
!, the latter do most of the work
! the city. For a man with sma
capital the field for investment
almost boundless.
F. A. FEM.