El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-05-19
Philippines and flIipinos.

Buencamino, Palermo and other insur
gent leaders in the Philippines are, ir
certain parts of this country, believed
to be patriots, and as'such are landed
for their resistance to the Americans
If they are patriots, they are misguided
patriots, whose attitude is surely not
to their country's advantage, for Agui.
nsldo and his companions, 1 am glad
to say, do not represent the best ele-
| ment among my countrymen. I once
believed Aguinaldo q 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. It
was then that I knew him, and 1 must
say that what then saw of him filled
me with admiration. For he every
sincere.
And while I have even more cause
than formerly to admire his ability, 1
have lately, however, been led to ques
ton his motives. For, from the point
of view of the best element among the
Filipinos, he is at present pursuing
course that is working much detriment
to his country. For the wealthy ma
tive planters, the business men of Ma
Mia, and the other substantial classes
among my countrymen, are very de-
sirous for American rule, persuaded
that only stronger power can recon
Gle the differences among the various
tribes and establish stable and be-
nefceot government, one which will
command respect abroad and security !
ut home.
There are no less than thirty distinct |
tribes in the islands. or these the |
most powerful are the Tagalogs, the !
Visayans and the Sulu Mohammedsns, |
who, together, form about fve-eighths |
Of the native population. The other
three eighths are savage noun tain |
tribes of mixed and doubtful origin. |
ind who are as hostile toward the |
civilized natives of the valleys as to-
ward the Europeans. These barbar-
ans are nomadic, and they live in
primitive communities. Their tribal
government is of q patriarchaI nature,
md there is therefore no cohesion
'mong them. They have probably
lever heard of the Americana, and
would resent all efforts to civilize
ed Spain or modern America.
hey can therefore hardly be
aid to have q political attitude. Their
My philosophy is to live without
-ork and to steal all tt ey can. Their
Jews should therefore be entitled to
ut little consideration; and they will
'rm perplexing problem for Araeri-
an statesmen when the islands shall
ave been pacifed. Such are the Igor
}, Chinos, the Negritos, the Tinguia-
ss, the Gaddare s and the other saw
ge tribes of the interior.
Now, the Tagalogs, of Luzon, who
lmber about 100000, and the
issyans of the southern islands, who
e estimated at about 100000, are
ne Filipinos. The Inhabitants of the
llu protsctorate, who number only a
W thousands. who are all Moham-
edans. though civilized, are so diff.
rent from the natives of the north,
ave so little sympathy with them, and
cent events, that ] shall leave them
1t of this discussion altogether.
The Visayans are a far gentler race
an the Tagalogs. There is great '
ostility between these two races, both
whom have been under Spanish in
hence for centuries, and each of =
HON fs jealous of the others power. .
his bitterness and rivalry have re- s
entity been increased by the course of
lie hated Tegalogs in nearly all the S
isayan towns, putting the latter Into
state OF apparent resistance to Amer
an rule, when, in reality, the Visa /
ms eagerly desire it. For to them
)thing could be more odious than to =
, ruled by their hated rivals of the I
,rtb. j
1t will therefore be seen that the in
regents represent but small proper
On of one of many races, and that the
surgent chiefs who talk so grandilo-
lently about their battles for the
,litical and constitutional lndepend-
ice of their country are insiDcera |
Or the withdrawal of the Americans
ON the islands would be the signal
r a race war that would be carried to
cry part of the archipelago, bringing /,
ath to countless thousands OF it's peo-
g and destruction to every vested in (
rest in the colony.-Ramon Reyes =
la in Golfers Weekly. II