The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-20
THE FII.IPINOS.
Facts About Them written by One
of Their Number.

of Their Number.
Ramon Reyes Lala, in Golfers Weekly
l see that Aguinaldo, Luna, Mabini,
Buencamino, Paterno, aud the other in
surgent leaders in the Philippines are, in
certain parts of this country, believed 20
be patriots, and as such are lauded for
their resistance to the Americans. If
they are patriots they are misguided pa
triots, whose attitude is surely not to
their country's advantage. for Agunaldo
and his companions, l am glad to say, do
not represent the best element among my
countrymen. ! once believed Aguinaido
"a patriot, pure-minded, and anxious only
for the good of his country. This was
in the days when, almost single-handed,
he led the forlorn hope against Spain. 1t
was then that 1 knew him. aud l must
say that what l saw of him filed me
with admiration. For he everywhere
showed himself able, alert and sincere.
And while l have even more cause than
formerly to admire his ability, l have late
ly however, been led to question his mo-
lives. For, from the point of view or
the best element among the Filipinos, he
IS at present pursuing a course that is
working much detrlment to his country
For the wealthy native planters, the bust
ness men of Manila, and the other sub
stantiai classes among my countrymen,
are very DESTROYS for American rule per-
suadcd that only a stronger power can
reconcile the differences among the varl-
Gus tribes and establish a stable and be-
nefcent government, one which will COM
mand respect abroad and security at home
There are no less thany thirty distinct
tribes in the islands, OF these the most
powerful are the Tagalogs, the Visayans.
and the Suu Mohammedans, who, togeth-
er, form about flve-eghths of the native
population. The other three-eighths are
savage mountain tribes of mixed and
doubtful origin, who were never conquer
ed by Spain, and who are as hostile to-
ward the civilized natives of the valleys
as toward the Europeans. These barbar-
ians are nomadic, ana they live in PRINT
tive communities. Their tribal govern
ment is of a patriarchal nature, and there
is therefore no cohesion among them
They have probably never heard Of the
Americans, and would resent all efforts
to civilize them. whether made by anti |
quated Spain or modern America. They
can therefore hardly be said TO have DO
litical attitude. Their only philosophy is
to live without work and to steal all they
can. Their views should therefore be en-
titled TO but little consideration; and they
viii form a perpleXing problem for Amer
ican statesmen when the Islands shall have
been pacihcd. Such are the Igorro-Chi- /
nos, the Negritos, the Tinguianes. the
Gaddanes, and the other savage tribes of
the interior.
Now. the Tagalogs of Luzon, who num-
her about 100000 and the Visayans OF
the southern Islands, who are estimated
at about 100000. are the true F'llipinos |
The inhabitants OF the Sulu protectorate.
who number only few thousands ana !
who are all Mohammedans, though civil
lized. are SO different from the natives OF
Tho North. have so little sympathy with
them, and have so far been so little affec- /
ted by recent events, that l shall leave
them out of this discussion altoge Their.
The Nisayans are a far gentler race than
the Tagalogs. There is great hostility be- |
tween these two races, both Of whom have
been under Spanish influence for centu-
ries, ana each Of whom is jealous of The