The evening times., 1899-04-13
Filipino Opinion.

There are intelligent natives and resi-
dents of Manila. some of whom have been
educated in Europe and in this country
There are others who are natives OF Europe
and few of America, who have lived in
the Philippines for years. They are lnti-
mately acquainted with every class OF the
inhabitants excert the hill men, who are
fully half savage, or who have only the
least trace of the influence of civilization
While there are no accurate statistics, II
is known that the civilized races are con-
fined to a mere fringe of the more import
ant islands, the interior being occupied by
the primitive peoples Even in Manila the
majority is made up Of laborers who are
intellectually, industrially, and socially De-
low the plane of the least intelligent classes
i'm America. Their amiability Is proverp'ai
but they are treacherous to the last degree
indolent. ignorant. vicious, uncleanly, and
dishonest.
The prosperous people of the Philippines
are Spanish half-caste, Chinese, lie"
Spanish and fewer other foreigners. Inelr
relationship with the laborers. who consu-
tute the majority. is not intimate, but they
know all about the latter. II Is, there-
fore. very sensible for the American COM
mission to seek information from the men
who have property interests and influence.
Some of them favor ultimate independence
which is very natural when ii is considered
that with their wealth and the easy virtue
of the majority they could hope to achieve
political POSITIONS Of importance. But even
these, in reply TO the question OF the COM
mission whether the Filipinos as whole
throughout the archipelago are capable OF
self government assert that independence
would result in endless tribal wars, massa-
cres and European Intervention. The ldea
of the few who favor independence Is that
each province might be able TO maintain q
distinct government. The majority OF the
business class however. favors American
superyisiop of the whole, with self-gov-
ernment in the townships
The publication of the results o. the en-
uuiry by the Commission must leave the
American advocates of Philippine inde-
peudence in an embarrassing SITUATION
They are bound to accept as maj the
Judgment of the most intelligent residents
of Manila men who have property inter-
ests AT stake 1t must be admitted that
Independence would mean the tyranny OF
ambitious adventurers. anarchy and mas
sacre. and either the seizure of the archi-
pelago by Germany or a European protec-
torate and repetition OF the Samoan eX-
perience. There is no better authority in
opinion on this subject than that appealed
to By the Commission. In these replies Is
full warrant for the policy of the Presi-
dent and the rejection of all the argu-
ments of the anti-eXpansionists in favor OF
independence. The latter are left to
choose between American or republican
administration of the Philippine govern
ment and European intervention. OF
course. they prefer that Europe should
take hold. but the exposure of the alb
surdity of their plans for Filipino re-
public must destroy the little influence
they may have had over the Amsrican
people. What is quite as important, this
intelligent class of Filipinos urges the
vigorous prosecution of the war and the
sending of American troops to all the
towns along the coast where, they assert.
Tagal tyranny is vastly worse than Span
iEh