Arizona republican., 1899-02-22
OUR TASK AT MANILA
Consul Andre Discusses the Slfua-
 tiOn Ir: inc Philippine island.

1uI6IY6nIlOI
 the bombardment of that city by tht
 squadron of Admiral Dewey, in Au
 gust last, was avoided and a pradti
 cally peaceful surrender arranged ar
 rived here last night. He reached Sar
 Francisco ten days ago and went diTec
 to Washington, where on Saturday he
 had a long conference with President
 Mckinley. MT. Andres mission to the
 United States is in furtherance of rail
 way construction in the Philippines
 He said last night to a Sun reporter:
 q am not surprised that there has
 been a conflict at Manila, for I have
 felt for many mCnths that it could not
 be avoided. The insurgents have been
 pressing in around the city and prepar- ing for the attack. They did not find | the Americans unprepared and the vic
 tory of the American troops was mo-
 table one. I met General Otis several
 times, and know that for months he
 was never off his guard I believe that
 he will at once follow up his advantage
 and fully crush the power of Agui-
 na1do. General Otis and his officers
 have made a most careful study of the
 island of Luzon and are in possession | of all the information necessary for
 successful campaigning. I talked with
 Generals Macarthur and Anderson
 before I left Manila, and I was sur
 prised by their familiarity with the country. l do not think there will be | another big engagement in the main valley of Luzon and look for the aban- donment of Malolos by Aguinaldo. He
 will, I think, take his troops into the mountains and take his chances in guerilla warfare.
 Whatever he may do, however, I do not think that he can hold out longer than three months
 "The leaders of the rebels are a few selfish, ambitious men, who care little for the welfare of the sO-called Phil ippine republic and the poor natives whom they put up before the guns of the American forces. The reckless leaders deceive the simple minded na- tives, by making them believe the bull lets and shells of the enemy will not kill them if they wear an amulet that they call ''Anting Anting" This is a small sachet about three inches sqla9 e with mysterious signs on it. This ex- plains why so many of the natives are killed in the battles in which they par tlclpate. They are rendered fanatieal and stand before a raging fire. Tlis, l believe, must have been the case with the 700 YgOrrotes who fought last Sat urday night and Sunday morning. They left 500 dead on the field. After that l do not think that much remains of the story of the rebels who pretend to appeal to humanity to prevent any further slaughter of Filipinos. When any humane consideration is shown to the dlsorderly element in the Phil 1pp1neS it has always been rewarded with treachery.
 It is strange to hear men who de- ceive their followers, make prison ers Of priests and women, and work and starve their prisoners of war talk about humanity. What little the prisoners are given is extorted from the people in the towns in which they are quar- tered 1 may add that among the so- called Spanish prisoners are many men and women born in the Philippines who are treated as enemies. Agui- l naldo has often shown more humanity than any other Philippine leader, but he is not free to do as he wants him. self. He is really ruled himself by little clique whose bravery is limited | to the writing of eloquent proclama- t1ons. There are about a dozen of | them and not one of them has either | money or property. They have noth- ing to lose by plunging the country in- to war. They are gentlemen of fortune l who expect something to turn up
 They were once bought off by Gen eral Primo de Rivera. but America has other and better means than brib- cry to protect the peaceful Filipinos fnom these men who are their real en- emies. There are many prominent Fflipinos and others who are ready to work for the entire civilization and uPbuilding of the country and only await complete control by the United States. As soon as the American policy is defined these men will at once labor to assure the natives that American rule is the quickest avenue to an era of wealth and prosperity, and will advise them to return to their avocations of peace. The possibilities of the Philip pines are tremendous. Less than Cne- tenth of the island of Luzon is under yet it produces nearly $40,- 100000 per year. That figure is higher -han the official reports and statistics, put the latter are not accurate. With full agricultural, forest, mineral and industrial development I firmly believe the island would produce $500, 900 900 l year. In the center of LuzOn, which is one-third larger than Cuba, there Ire immense valleys covered with lux Iriant vegetation.
 The lack of transportation has kept .he country back, but I believe that hat problem will be solved by Amer- an control. l am preparing to incor- 5crate company to construct a rail- way from the northern to the southern extremity with Manila as the common enter. Many years ago I made care ,ui survey of the entire island, and , nave maps and profiles for railway ] completed They cover bout fifteen hundred miles of country have also prepared maps showing the agricultural and producing area That ; country is practically untouched, and [ have great hope for it if the American 'eople will but take hold of it. l
 ''The development of the mineral t esources will place the islands in the i 1ont rank of producers. There are ( m nenSe hedS of cnal and an al hun f