The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-25
The Philinnincs and the rIIIpino..

I see that Aguiua.do. Luna. MaDini
Bueucamu0. Palermo and the other I'M
surecnt leaders in the Philippines are. in
certain parts of this country believed 10
be patriots. and as such are lauded for
their resistance 90 the Americans. lt they
are patriots. they are misguided patriots,
whose attitude is surely not tO their
countrys advantage. for Aguinaido and
his companions ] am glad 10 say. do not
represent the best element among my
c0uutrymen. / once believed Agu.ndldo q
patriot. purc-minded, and anxious only
for the good of his country. This was
m the days when. almost single-handed,
he led the fOfl0rn hope against SPAN.
10 was then that ] kuey' him. and ] must
say that what 7 then s.w OF MIN filed
me with admiration for be everywhere
showed himself able. alert. and sincere.
And while / have even more cause thani
formerly TO admire his ability ] nave
lately. however. been led 90 question bis
motives For. from she point OF view OF
the best element among the t.ipinos'
he is at present pursuing course thal
Is working much detrimeut % bis coun-
try For the wealthy native planters. the
business men of Manila. and the oiher
substantial classes among my country
mon. are very DESTROYS for American RUE
persuaded that only stronger power
can reconcile the differences among the
various tribes and establish O. stable ana
heuencent government. one Which VIII
command respect abroad and security al
homo.
There are no Jess than thirty distinch
tribes in the islands. OF those the most
powerful are the TaealOgs. the \'sayans,
and the su.u M0hammedans. Who. to-
gcthcr. form about fve-eiehfhs az the
native population. The other three,
eiehths are savage mountain tribes OF
mixed and doubtful origin. who were
never conquered by Spain. ana VINO are
as hostile toward the civilized natives of
The valleys as toward the Europeans.
These barbarians are nOmadic ana iney
live in primitive cOmmuniles Ihflr
tribal government is of a patrarch1l ma
turc. and there is therefore no cohesion
among them. They have probably never
heard of the Americans, and would re-
sent AN efforts 10 civlize them. whether
made bv antiquated Spain or modern
America They can therefore hardly he
said To have "a political attitude. Their
only philosophy is 90 live without work
and 10 steal AN they can. Their views
should there fore Doe entitled tC bur little
consideration. and they will form per-
picking problem for American statesmen
when the islands shall have been pacifed.
such are the Igorro-Chinos. the Negritos.
the Tngulanes. The Gaddanes and The
other savage tribes of the interior.
Now. the Tagalogs Of Luzon. who num-
beer about two millions, and the Nisayans
of the southern islands who are csti-
mated at about three millions. are the
true FinniuOs. The inhabitants Of the
suu protectorate. who number only
few thousands. and who are all Moham-
medans. though civilized. are so different ,
from the natives of the north. have 50
little sympathy with them. and have so
far been So little affected Dy recent events.
that I shall leave them out Of his dis
cussion altogether.
The Visayans are a. far gentier race
than the Tagalogs. There is great hos
uljtv between these two races, both or
whom have been under Spanish influence
for centuries. ard each Of whom is ieaI-
Gus OF the others power This bitterness
and rivalry have recently been increased
by the course of Aguin8ido. Who has put
garrisous OF the hated Taellogs DO nearly
AN the Nisayan towns. putting the iaiief
into % state Of apparent efs'an'e To-
American rule when. in realty, IHe
Nisayans eagerly desire b.. For t0 thon
nothing could be more odious than to he
ruled hv their hlted rivals # Che rofih
II will therefore be seen flaf ihe insil-
gents represent but "a small proportion ol
one Of many races. ana that ne -n-ur-
gent chiefs who talk SO grandNnoue
about their battle for the political and
constitutional Independence 81 their coun-
try are insinccre For the withdrawal or
the Americans from the islands would
be the signal for race war that would
be carried To every part OF the afchipel-
ago. bringing death 10 countless thous-
ands OF its people and destruction 10 ev-
cry vested interest In the coiony.-RamOn
Reyes Iaia In Golfers Weekly.