The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1899-10-18
NOT WORTH IT.
A Private Soldiers Opinion Of the
Philippines.
MORE TROOPS NEEDED.
Angeles One of the Finest Cities
in luzon and the Seat Of an
Intelligent Government.

III IuZcn 4hG tnG S0at OF an
Intelligent Government.
A private soldier writes as follows to
tho Washington Post from the Philip
pines:
Tt has been littlo over year since
Manila was surrendered to tho Amcri-
can troops, and from that time on it has
boon hard and cxhausting work for tho
troops, with everything at tho present
timc pointing to fighting and stubborn
resistance for ovory milo of territory
we are now advancing over What has
been accomplished in the past year
seems so little in comparison with what
is before us that tho sentiment is that
fen years from now wo will be lighting
in tho Philippinca. 1t is true that we
have advanced into territory that tho
Spaniards never were within miles Of,
for all OF their campaigning was mover
more than five miles from Manila at
tho most. Still wo arc a long way from
conqucring the Filipinos. Towns and
villages that wcro captured months ago
by tho Americans on the line Of tho
Jaill Dads arc giving tho troops left to
garrison them great deaf Of trouble, as
the main body advances farther north
BY this harassing largo body Of troops
has TO bo scattered along the railroad to
protect it, thus preventing their assi,-
tanco IN tho advance. The situation
along this road can be summed up in a
few words: We have control and the
tight of way over nearly fifty miles Of
tho road, which wo can hold by force
of arms, but milo on other sido it is
as good as a mans life is worth to YEN
ture, and hardly night passes that
there is not somo trouble about Caloo-
can and Malolos, towns captured months
ago. This alone seems to point to the
fact that the Filipinos are not thirsting
to drink of tho waters Of protection
held out by Uncle Sam, but prefer thoir
modo OF governing themselves.
1t can be nothing else than patriot
ism with these reoplo or they would
never have hold out as long as they
havo. They arc not savagos nor ignor-
ant and illitoratc, Their mode Of living
is different, their manner Of dress and
culture are different in somo respects
from ours but in business respects they
arc able to hold their own with Bax-
ter street merchant. They all soem to
be fond of the advantages of education,
and very devout in their religious be-
lief, judging by the class Of books left
behind in their houses, as all tho works
are religious or historical. Their writ.
ing shows great caro- in their ponman-
ship, and some Of their ledgors and nc
count books compare favorably with
those OF any bank in tho States.
With this advantage Of education
and tho cunning instillcd into them
from their ancestors and intermarriago
with the Chinese, they make foe diff
ferent from any that tho American
orcos have had to contend with yet.
It can never bc olsargod that the Amor
lean army was over anything but hui
mano in its warfare, but it is at times
bittor dosc with those people. Our
forces will advance on town and aftor
q slight resistance the native vamooses
and the American forces take posses
sion. The next day in they will como
through our lines, dressed in their whito
clothes and carrying white flag. Thoy
are "Amigos" or Macabcbes then, but
We have learned at last at the cost Of
the lives Of several good American sol
der boys, to trust mono Of them, for
there is no confidence or respect Of word
to be placed in any of them. Tho
"alcaldo," or mayor, of townwill meet
you with all tho protestations of friend
ship and goodwill for the American
and tell you that tho Filipino and
Aguinaldo are NARROW" (no good
and at the same time, as was shown
few days ago in capturing ono Of the
most friendly to tho American cause,
have commission as colonel or some
high oflico in tho insurgents army. 1t
is hard thing to have to do, but the
only plan before the American army is
to drive them before you women and
children, and if they want to come back
in the town take the mon prisoners and
send tho women outside Of the lines.
This has moro effect than the use Of
force, as the Filipino household scoms
to be happy and pcacoblo home, and
to separate the husband and father
from wifo and children causes tcars and
lamentations, moro than the bullet will
ever do; but God forbid that tho Amor
lean army will over be compelled to
resort to such actions to gain their vic
tory.
There is one peculiar thing noticoa-
bio as tho advance is made farther
north, and this is that though Manila
is spoken Of as the chief city of 7 zon,
and tho seat oil learning, wealth and
culture, tho farther north you 60 from
Manila tho appearance Of the country
and habitations of tho people show
marked improvement. The land seoms
to be botter cultivated and the homes
arc far better built, making neatcr
appearance than those near Manila. In
this town Of Angeles, captured by ten
companies Of the 18th infantry on Au-
gust 16, after tho strongest resistance
encountered yet, every indication points
to an Intelligent, woll.govorned city.
Tho houses are largo and commodious,
number Of them built of stone, brick
and franc, while those built of bamboo
are Of different dosign than in othcr
places. There is magnificent church
built Of stono and finished in mahogany
and tho furnishings Of tho altar will
compare favorably with the finest
church in tho States. There aro no
pows in any Of the churches hayo
aeon in tho interior. l should say be.
tween 5000 and 1000 could worship in
this church without providing.
On Monday morning, August ID, q
part of tho 17th infantry and 5lst Iowa
went out on q scouting trip, to gain
knowledge Of the lay Of tho land in our
front, and met O largo partv of insur-