The record-union., 1899-01-25
4 SACRAMENTAN IN MANILA.
HIS OPINION OF THE COUNTRY
AND IT'S PEOPLE.
Letter From F. E. Russell, Jr.,
Member Of the Signal
Corps.
Manila. December 18th

LINE host1lltieS between Spain and the
United States little was known about
Philippine Islands, one of Spain's col
on1es. The bulk of the exports and
imports trades are in the hands of few
British firms, and few other foreign
houses. Not many years ago, if one
talked to a man of average general
information about the Philippine ISL
ands, his knowledge of them went very
little beyond the fact that this archi-
| pelago was somewhere in the vicinity
OF China, and that it's Capital, Manila,
was a. place where cigars and hats were
| exported. If a person cared to look up
the subject he found himself at loss in
regards to any good reliable work, lit
erature regarding these islands being
very scarce.
Even now when I am located in the
Capital of the group find it equally
as hard to find good. reliable informa-
ton concerning it's history. climate and
products; what one man claims another
denies. The most northerly island is
with the exception Of a few islets of
10 Importance Luzon, situated about
two hundred miles due south of For
mosa Island. Manila, the Capital, on
| the Luzon Island, is about 630 miles
from Hongkong, or about sixty hours
steam in the vessels which regularly
ply between these ports; and one may
count on Hongkong steamer about
every five days. The archipelago con-
sists of an underlined number of islands
and islets, estimated at about 600, ex-
tending over approximately twelve de-
grees of latitude, including the Protec-
torate (Which is in the extreme SOUTH
of the Suatanate OF Sooloo. The islands
of commercial Importance, from which
the supplies Of produce are collected for
ieshipment from the ports open to for
eign trade, number about twenty-five,
the chief of which are: Luzon. Paway,
Negros, Samar, Seyte, Zebu and Min
danao.
Besides Manila there were three other
ports open to- foreign trade, which were
under very strict vexacious and re-
strictive regulations, which almost
checked foreign trade entirely, namely,
Iloilo In the island of Panay, and Zebu.
in the island of the same day name,
and Zambougan, in Mindanao. There
are no foreign capitalists there, and the
Spanish were virtually in possession of
only the coast of these islands, while
the interior is held by unsubdued ma
tives. There being scarcely any trade
at all with Zamboangan. The archi-
peiago may be regarded as ethnologic-
ally divided into three parts. namely,
Luzon and the northern islands consti-
tuting as a whole the Tagalogs sphere,
the middle the Visayas sphere, and the
southern islands, or the Sooloo Sultan
~ i RI m
division.
great racial antipathy. The Tagalogs
are by far the most civilized and ami
able, and their ancestors are supposed
to have emanated from the Malay
Peninsula centuries ago. They are
very nospitable, in fact. far more so
than can be realized by any one who
has not been in contact with them. The
yisayas are hospitable only for merci-
nary motives, callous, uncouth and of
brutal instincts, excepting the Zebuans,
who are the most docile of all. and who,
| in hospitality somewhat approach the
Tagalogs.
| Excepting the Zebu people, the vi
sayas are supposed to be an off-shoot
| of the northern emigrants, to a great
extent amalgamated with the Mussel-
men, occupants of the extreme south.
The lowlands of Negros the largest
sugar producing island are we'll known
to have been peopled by generations of
criminals, who fed from the jurisdiction
| Called civilized by some, but I have
my doubts as to its being properly APP
plied) of Luzon and adjacent islands. 1t
| is said that up to forty years ago they
we're lawless crowd.
The history of the Philippines is ex-
| tremely interesting. but like that of
most Spanish settlements. its pages
record far more deeds of strife, treach-
cry and oppression than of glory to
the rulers, or happiness to the ruled.
| The present population of Manila is
something like 100000 including 10000
Chinese and 10000 Chinese half casts.
These hold about four fifths of the retail
t-ade. IN the province there are about
40, 600 Chinese and Chinese half-casts
There are three chief channels of
speech in the Islands, which, may be
termed languages, namely, Tajalogs,
Visayas and Moro, of which the total
number of dialects is reckoned at TWEEN
| ty-two. The official language, however,
| is Spanish Besides the group Of ma
tives that I have already spoken of, as
were more or less under the Spanish
rule, there are several Independent ma
tive tribes that have never been sub
dued, namely, Negritos, Igoyotis, Tin
juianes, Tagbanuas and many others.
Restraint to the Filipino is quite repug-
nant, as he liked to be as free as a
bird, but is of a plant nature, and
easily managed with just treatment.
He is extremely sensitive to injustice,
and if he knows in his own mind that
he has done wrong he will submit to
thrashing without any thought of re-
venge.
On the other side, however, If he were
punished out of mere caprice, or with
palpable injustice, he would always
have lurking desire to get even He
has an extreme contempt for cowardice,
and would follow brave leader any
where, not complaining of fatigue or
chances of death. AS a subject he
would be early nodded into any fashion
which just, honest and merciful gov
eminent would wish. The real rulers OF
the islands have been the four cor
porations of friars, the Austin. Domin-
lean. Franciscan and Recoleto orders.
the power being almost supreme. They
had Governor General Bustamento muir
dered in his palace and followed his
dead body and hooted at it as it was
being dragged through the streets Of
Manila. They caused Governor General
Solano to be poisoned.
Any Governor General that did not
suit them they had removed some way
or other. One Governor General was
caused to be recalled because he was