The San Francisco call., 1899-08-15
ESTIMATE OF THE FlLIPlNoS.

qucsted Luzon and Panay single handed, and that
under the laws OF nations it theirs by the title
OF conquest when Spain pretended to sell It to US by
the treaty OF Paris, will again rouse what may be
called personal interest in these people 10 what
stage OF civilization have they advanced and to what
extent are they educated queries that bear for-
cbly upon their standing and upon the most deplor
able relation we occupy toward them.
There are two recent contributions TO the stock OF
information this subject that deserve respect and
will command widespread confidence Mr.. John
Howe Peyton OF Pennsylvania, missionary OF the
Episcopal lay order OF St Andrew who has been in
service among United States troops since we invaded
the islands, has written very Comprehensvey TO MI
Fortune OF Pittsburg who has published his letter
Mr. Peyon after describing excursions into the coun-
try intercourse with the people and investigation Of
their social and educational status, says: These peo
PIE surprise me greatly larger percentage OF them
read and write than found among the country people
OF West Virginia Tennessee and other OF our States
They are wonderfully polite and courteous genial and
even affectionate when not repeed And they have
shown themselves brave in battle and persistent in
purpose
When the battle OF Manila Bay fought there
stood with Dewey on the Olympia eX-naval OF
fcer whose offer to volunteer for the days service
was accepted by Dewey. This volunteer was Joseph
l. Stclney whose account OF the battle written
the outside world Mr. Stickney has remained in the
Philippines and in touch with every phase OF the sub
jcct ever since and has just issued book War IN
the Philippines" which begins with the first event
and presents with pansaking particularly all obtain
able documentary evidence every side OF the sub
ject It's narrative comes down to June II, 1890 so
that it is a reliable book OF days to that date
The author made the acquaintance OF Aguinado
and the members OF his government. He says that
Aguinaldo is only % years old, but IS thoroughly
trained and intelligent leader, is we'll educated and
lawyer OF merit Mr. Sticlncy continues: He won
his leadership not by chance but by his energies
and abilities Joining the nsurrection against Spain in
the latter part OF 1896. Spain maintained strict
blockade making the importation OF impossible,
and the rebellion languished, When it its last
legs Spain offered to all the rebels demands Tor
governmental reform and pay the leader the sum OF
100000 in gold to abandon the outbreak Aguinaldo
was TO be paid the first half OF the money in Hong
kong whercupon he to notify his followers, who
were then to lay down their This was carried
out at the close OF 1907 and the treaty OF Biyak was
signed in all solcmnity. Then dealing with the Fill
pinos just as she had with the Cubans in 1873 Spain
refused to carry out the rest Of the agreement and the
insurgents renewed the hostites fast they could
obtain equipment the 100000 received by Aguinaldo
going for that purpose When the United States de-
clared war against Spain the rebellion well
under headway,"
Here Nh Stckney quotes General Francis V.
Greene L. S. A. to show how honorable the po-
ston maintained by Aguinado. Though he was sued
by Artacho another OF the leaders, for division OF
the money, he kept the intact the trustee OF his
countrymen for the purpose OF forcing redemption OF
the Spanish pledge OF government reform This part
OF Sticncys narrative affirmed by General Greene IS
OF special Importance since Aguinado has been held
f,,,+ he
ary who sold out his countrymcn for Spanish gold.
This view OF him has been OF injury to the people OF
the United States who are furnishing the men AMI
money to fight him. because it represented him as
ncrcenary quittcr, poItroon who might be expected
to run at any moment.
OF his officers Mr. Stckney says: The Secretary
OF Foreign Affairs is Cayetano s. Arellano, formerly
professor OF Law in Manila University magistrate
and leader OF the bar his. assistant in diplomacy is
DR.. Pardo de Tavera, author OF repute and grad
uatc OF the University OF Paris The General Director
Of the War Department is Antonio Suna, bacterolo-
gst student OF Paseur at Paris and graduate OF his
institute Jose Acxandrno is chief OF the Bureau OF
Agriculture and Fernando Cannon OF Public Works,
one graduate of Client and the other Of Leyden.
The Bureau Of Hygiene and Sanitation is in charge
OF Dr. Jose Albert graduate OF the University OF Be-
lin Ibarra Secretary OF Home Affairs; basa, head OF
the Department OF Justice; Alos Chief of the Police
Establishment and TangeO, Registrar OF the Depart
nent of Justice all university graduates and law
yers OF distinction Baldomero Aguinaldo is Secre
tary OF War Trios. Secretary OF the Treasury is
wealthy merchant and are Ledesma, Secretary OF
the Navy and RQmo. Chief OF the Bureau of Com
merce Pedro Paterna is President OF the Filipino
Congress and graduate OF the University OF Madrid
Scgardo Chief OF the Treasury Bureau is graduate
OF one Of the English universities.
II is quite doubtful if any Cabinet in the world has
large percentage OF educated men as that OF the
Philippine republic while Mr.. Peytons testimony as
to the universally OF education among the people goes
to show that the university not exceptional
instances resting upon foundation OF ignorance but
the natural outgrowth OF the love of people for learn
ing and the liberty to which it leads.
u--E1Uzz.nzuIzzzzDEs
THE IMMIGRATION QUESTION AGAIN.