Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-04-20
The situation in the Philippines

ton in the Philippines that has appeared
is that contributed to the New York IN
dependent by Ramon Reyes Laa Mr. |
Lala is, ii seems, a native Filipino, born
in Manila, and author of a beck on the |
Philippine Islands. He Is now an Ameri- |
can citizen. He ought to know what nc
is talking about; and we accept his
statements affording much sround for
hope that the present contest may not lie
interminable, and that before very long
some solution of the Philippine problem
may be reached. Mr.. Lala says that
Agunaldo is a representative Tagalog !
ambitious, brave, able, and constructive. |
But that he does not possess the conf
dence of the best classes of his country |
men, who will rejoice at his downfall, for
he has put into jeopardy both their lives
and their property, and will assist the
Americans in bringing him tn justice. Mr..
Lala thinks that he is now lighting mere
~ for an honorable captulation lie can
not fly to the hills OF Northern Luzon for
they are full of fierce aborigincs who hate
him and the Tagalogs. He cannot sol
southwark for there are the hostile Nis-
.
logs Thus he can neither advance or re-
treat; and though he is the leader Of cev-
cral thousands of well armed natives and
can give the Americans much trouble, the
hack of the instruction, Mr. LAla believes
to be broken, and If Aguinaldo can be
killed or captured, 1t will end. His gem
erals. Lala says. are not to be feared
they will SO down when their leader does
This is quite contrary to some things that
have been stated. as that two or three IF
the Filipino generals We're men of much
ability and military skill ami determine
ton We quote from Mr.. Lna's article:
at must be confessed however, that
Ag1linaldo has made excellent Use Of the
material at hand. In his army werc not only
the Tagalogs, OF whom he was the chosen
leader but also many other tribes, whom
he had persuaded to aid him against the
Americans. Among these ware the Igor
sotes a fine race Of great strength, who
for time immemorial have been the tradi
ii )nal enemies OF the Tagalogs.
These 1gorrotes occupy a considerable
part of Northern LuZon, and have resist
ed attempts TO subdue them. They have
never abandoned their heather rites. nee
yielded allegiance to the Spanards How
tho astute Aguinaldo lured them into his
service I haven't the remotest idea; how
ever one battle was enough; and they
may hereaft ar be considered among his
enemies-though it will take long and di-
plomatic handling to make them the
friends of the Americans.
The Igorrote-Chinas, a tribe of mixed
1gorrote and Chinese blood, with the
terceness of the former AMI the ehrewd
ness of the latter. were also In the insur-
gent ranks-lured doubtless by the hope
Of a reward that they will never obtain.
With the insurcent chief were also a few
of the Iingunes. that cruel race from FL
Abra. This tribe is distinguished by
graceful body, fine aquilne nose, Il turf Of
hair in tho style of the japanese, and eX-
ceptional intelligence They are all
heathens, but are monogamists. They
tattoo their bodies and blacken their
teeth. Their weapons are the knife and
lance, which they use most effectively.
Upon this tribe, as we'll as upon the Igor
Sotes. AGuinaldo cannot, however. depend
FOG support. They have much reason to
hate him; they have none to love Kim.
In addition to the tribes already men
toned were also a few Negritos aborig-
ines of African origln-and the Gdddanes,
a splendid warlike race in Northern Lu-
ION. The Gaddanes are great scalp hunt
crS.
"Of the warlike Itavls there were lrob-
ably also a few among the insurgent
forces, but all Of these savage tribes to-
Gcther could have formed but very
small mar. of bIs armv-and to-day in
The face of his defeat thev are surely not
IN bc denendn1 unon nov; that they have
divcovarad tha, tbnv have nothin, io o., i'm
h,, onnoei,g tho bated fo.eiyrer
/ "As tha Vis,vas f,lrtberrora have from,
tba Very la5;rning shown Ittia uesire to
combine viii, tbair horedi.arv enemies
tho Taga1ogs II is n,stn tb,r Apuinaldo'e
orlv bona is "a rotoir Tho Iov,Itv Of his
o,vn trjb, ard this a,cordin,r 10 all ac-
counte to docr.,sine dav Nv lav Tho
o,,,conoa &c tbcroforo ,ot - n,o,ter nf
mar. coniecturen
49,, 80. .. H.. ,,,. ,,,..,, 900
WI i|''e' '"S' ''''' MS S'''' -
not Yet ready Tor SUPERINTENDENT he-
case of the hatred between the different
t.ihes and tho hitter rivalry omonr their
'c''"e'9'
'Aguinaldo, Pic del Filar and Antonio
Luna hat. each other AS much as they
hate the Americans. Each claims TO be
the only and original patriot. Luna as
well as Aguinaldo, has been spreading
false impress sions concerning the Yam
KEGS, and on the strength of this ne has
, considerable. following. This, / am con-
WINGED. will melt away when the recent
proclamation shall be explained in the in
terror
TT is thus plain that the insurrec ion
Is practically at an END, and the govern
mAnt at Washington should therefOre al
once proceed to carry into effect, as fan
1 as possible, the many excellent measures
OF the proclamation
The Americans should now Mt once