The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-03-25
GOVERNING THE FnIP1NOS.


pine islands, after proclaiming their in
dependence OF the mother country, are
now in arms against the United States,
which is trying to force its government
upon them. Ii what young soldier
in Manila says in letter to C. A. Mag
nuson, vice-president OF the Northwest
ern Elevator company, is true, the Fill
pinos will not improve their condition
by changing masters. The letter has
been published in the Minneapolis Jour
nal, and that paper says that the name OF
the writer is in its possession. He gives
an insight into the mode OF admins
tering justice in Manila on the Ameri-
can military plan, and declares that no
worse plan could have been devised to
render our government more odious to
the inhabitants, or more humiliating to
the American soldiers. He says our
system OF taxation is more burdensome
than that of the Spaniards, and as the
writer fills clerical position he is famil-
lar with its operation and has thor
ough knowledge OF the subject. We
quote the following passage from his
letter, as printed in the Journal:
when the Americans took possession
of the city, they revived the Spanish
tariffs and collected everything set down
i'll the Spanish schedules OF taxation,
and in many instances increased the
taxes over $50 per cent and in others
brought certain lines of labor, such as
seamstresses, etc., which were formerly
exempt, under the exaction OF the COL
lectors. Taxes are imposed for nearly
everything, viz: To own horse, cart,
carriage, COW, oxen; they have to get
permit from the building inspector to
build house, or shed, as we'll as getting
a license; they have to have license
as we'll as patent to conduct any kind OF
business whatever, no matter how large
or small"
He then tells how law is administered
to the natives by the American military
authorities and expresses his righteous
indignation. We give the following as
an illustration:
Should poor native be arrested for
some trif1ing ofense, he is taken to Jail,
where he waits until the judge gets time
or good ready to try him, which may
be anywhere from week to six weeks,
and when at last the day for trial comes,
he is brought before the judge, who asks
the charge against the man, then asks
the soldier who made the arrest if the
charge is true, and if the answer be yes,
the man is given fine ranging from S.
to $50, or even $1oo, and perhaps he is
thrown in prison from ten to ninety days
as we'll; this in many cases without even
giving the accused permission to say
whether he is guilty or not. Do you call
that justice? Is that the principle upon
which our long heralded government OF
freedom, justice and equal rights for all
is founded? Then again, when a native
~ S1iiiiaiiidA SOlI4lllllo dill OllCllSc Ol ally
kind, he is promptly arrested, while the
American soldiers do nearly whatever
hey please, and if the poor native makes
A complaint, the offending soldier is
merely ordered to report to his QUAR-
ers."
He gives instances of maltreatment OF
he natives by American soldiers, and
says the latter escaped punishment, ex-
cept in the case of two corporals who
we're reduced to the ranks by Brigadier-
General Reeve on complaint of the
Chinese consul.
If what this young soldier reveals to
Mr.. Magnuson is TRUE, the sympathy OF
the American people should go to the
brave fellows who are struggling against
such injustice and outrage