The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-03-26
THE PHILIPPINE QUESTION.
crews OF A RETURNED SOLDIER
CONCERNING II.
.,,xe. Do Not Know what They Are
Fighting For, but Follow Their
Leaders BIindIy.

NJ, n. f. Barker, formerly a member OF
,.,tery q, Third artillery. United States
.rnv was in the city yesterday en- route
a. his home In Lebanon, Ind. from Ma
n. he having been recently discharged
,rop the government service at the latter
nlaee. Mr.. Barker is gentleman of no
ordinary amount OF intelligence and
.nowlsdge Of current events. and his views
on the Philippine question are of consider
.b,e interest. Judging from editorials we
..oa in some OF the American journals
concerning the attitude OF the Filipinos
toward the American government" he
said TO a Post reporter yesterday, we
who have been in Manila and know little
about the Filipino. his surroundings. his
ignorance and his superstitions, are in
cIIned TO think that many of the American
.dltors are az ignorant of the true situation
IN tbe Island of Luzon as the natives are
of America and Americans Spain never
Ala control but a smalk part of the islands
surrounding the harbors, and there are
thousands of natives who have never
heard of Spain. Also, there are thousands
Who have never heard of the American
soyernnent Many who are fighting our
doing so, but are blindly following their
leader. lust as thousands OF American citi-
FANS are blindly following the republican
party.
| Some of our people Seem to think It
very strange that the natives do not ap-
nreciate what the American government
has done for them. They think that the
Filpinos should accept American ideas
OF government upon faith at once and be
II Ia.
from the yoke OF Spain. Does a child APP
preciate his fathers kindness when he is
/ spanked for playing with coal oil and fire /?
Nv no means. But he does when he be-
comes better informed. Neither can the
Filipinos appreciate the blessings OF a
civilization OF which he knows absolutely
| nothing We have been trying for more
than 200 years to civllize the Indian and
| get him to accept our ideas of life ana
4 government, and what success have we
/ had Then why should we expect the Fill
| pino who Is just as much heather as
4 ever the Indian was, to accept our ideas
of government, take us in his arms and
| thank US for our exceeding great kind
ness TO him?
Before the feeling OF hatred for the
Americans grew SO strong some of our
boys got a pass from Agulnaldo into the
interior of the Island of Luzon. Less than
tlu iulltsS away IlOh hdnlld luBy 1OuUu
people dressed In necklace of beads
and a smile (some times the smile was alb
sent, and with their teeth filed sharp
like saw teeth. Their food was much
worse than locusts and wild honey, con-
sisting Of tropical fruits, fish, lizards and
snakes, uncooked. And yet some people
complain because they do not appreciate
what America has done and will do for
these heathens.
There is wild, fierce tribe back In
the mountains known as the Meccabees,
who have sworn to kill one American each
week and they have succeeded IN keeping
their oath In part. DO you tbirk they are
capable of approaching any good sentiment
Or that any gang of robbers or murderers
can appreciate good government?
The Filipinos in Manila had such a
long training in cruelty that VIC need not
wonder at their cruelties. The wonder is
that they did not exterminate their OPP
pressors long ago. When man has beea
buncoed once he is not so ready the sec
ond time to listen to the smooth talk of
his newly made friend The natives of
Luzon. who we're near the Spanish garri-
sons have been imposed upon for the last
800 years and are not so ready to listen
10 Uncle Sans advice TO be good as they
otnerwlse might have BEEN