Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1899-03-14
TEE FILIpINoS.
Z Correspondent Describes Them ~
IN IndustrIou M and Thrifty
People.

No one who has gone 125 miles
through the rich uplands and valleys of
Luzon and seen the results Of thrift
and industry on all sides can consistent
ly call the native Filipinos a lazy and
worthless lot. Their movements are
moderate, and they take time for the
enjoyment of their simple pastimes.
like all tropical faces, but they keep
everlastingly at it from sunrise until
dark. In many of the provinces the
title to the land is in the name of the
church, for every pretty village is over
shadowed by great, whito-walleG ca.
thedral CT monastry, and the tribute
these opprcssors have levied upon the
long-suffering natives has made them
a "hand-to-mouth" race, who fully re-
allied that any surplus boarded or any
evidence OF prosperity would bring
down an extra tax upon their heads.
Half the product of their labors has al
ways gone to the friars and the other
half has usually been discounted for
petty necessities Eefore their crops
ripened. So they have plodded on
year after year, tie debt of the previous
season standing mortgage against the
labor of the next.
The power and abuse in the name of
the church are the monsters that have
stretched their talons over the op-
pressed Filipinos for centuries. Every
aspiring ambition has been Giscour-
aged; every attempt ut the Improve
ment of their highways, which can
hardly be dignified by the name of
lanes such as run to the back lots of
American farms, and every effort at or
ganiZatiOn CT the diffusion Of irtelli-
gence has met with speedy and eff
fective opposition. With half a chance
the Tagal will make an industrious and
skillful workman in occupations other
than agricultural.
The Manila & Dagupin railroad is OPP
Grated by natives. They run the en-
gincs, buiI& the cars, act as conductors,
brakemen, station masters and in the
general Offices at Manila many of them
act rs clerks and accountants, keeping
double-cntry books, operating the
typewriter, telegraphing, and, in fact,
doing everything that is required IN
railroading. In the shops at Caloocan
all the workmen are natives. They re-
build the engines, make boilers, co fine
lathework and handle steam hammers
and all kinds of improved machinery
satisfactorily and effectively. At
Cavite, IT, tie shipyards, have seen the
native building launches. repairing
ships in dry dock and operating in
wood ard iron to the entire satisfaction
of the American naval constructors
and engineers. In Manila l have seen
him building houses, erecting masonry,
paving streets, making cigars and
cigarettes, operating street car lines,
working in iron, copper, brass and ell
YER and engaged in every department of
industry. In the Manila observatory
have seen him working over scientific
instruments. computing delicate CbEer-
vations in meteorological, seismic. u.s.
Economical and magnetic registration,
where education and sEillful iGtclli-
gence ale required. 1 have seen him
as schoolEGster; rs cure; Gs nav
igator; as storekeeper; as q surveyor;
as shipowner. There is 10 DEPART
ment of life where labor, brains or
skill is required that the native cannot
compete succe ssfully. Encourage Kim,
govern him and give him the, reward of
his laECr and he will develop into an
American citizen of whom Uncle Sam
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