The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-02-01
THE TAGALOS.
Some Peculiarities of the Fiiipinos
The Possibility of Governing
Them.
From the New York Tribune.


From the New York Tribune.
Manila, December SIS there to be peace or
war between the Filipinos and ourselves? Al
present no one knows the answer TO tnls qmes-
tion and every one wishes that he dld. Ine
cry among the natives, at least among lnose
Who are vocal, Is independence at any cost
and the word seems 10 oe 10 lneH neallS ~, ~
Informed people maintain that II the Unlteo
States were to declare protectorate over lne
islands the natives would be satlsned, no mat
tar what system of government might actual-
ly be introduced, AND possibly tnls Woulu ue
the sim plest way OF dealiDg win the natter.
On the othe hand, the natives do not appear
TO be inQuiring what an nexation would mean,
how far they would be personally Tree, what
local autonomy they would enjoy. AnneXa-
tion and slavery they consider as synony'
nous. Their ideal seems 10 oe this: me
Philippines TO be absolutely Independent, but
America 10 undertake their defence against
the outer world; the two countries to De al
lies. but the United States to bear all tne
trouble, risk and expense of the alliance, IN
retnrn Tor endless gratitude. They do not
seem TO perceive how childish is such dream
nor Is there any evidence that they are aware
how helpless they would be were the Uniteo
states 10 grant them Independence and leave
them 10 the meroies Of world afnicted Win
Not ali OF the natives are thus unreasona-
natives who. though they would Ike inde:
pendence, see that tt Is impracticaole. me
Question, peace Or war, depends upon which
set Of natives carries the day IN their conn.
ellis. The sentiment against annexation ls
actually producing reaction 10 iavor OF
Spain One would suppose this Impossible !;
but they seem 10 argue that II they must suo-
ruled by Spaniards, with whom they are In
full intellectual sympathy, rather IMAM py
, these Americans, whom they do not In the
least comprehend. Unfortunately, tne @ op,
voices are heard, and indeed, IT Is easy for
these to put forward telling arguments against
''slavery" while the other party Knows LOO
little Of the United States to have command
OF efficient counterarguments.
THE EANTI-ANNEXAT1oNIsT ATTITUDE.
, The attitude OF the eanti-annexationists can
be best illustrated by extracts from their Or
EIlipina. The latter sheet on December I'd
made this proclamation:
Never will the Philippine people consent to
in torrents, and will shed II again, before they
will bow 10 the dominion OF foreigners, for.
however light, such dominion would be none
the less odious.
Does the great free people OF North America
perchance intend 10 IN axe slaves OF US? are
they going TO impose their sovereignty upon
J as BY 1orce? Oh, II II is u slrategem
on ihe part of Amerlc,. TO buy the Philippines
in order 10 give az our Independence, wei
may we wait for II; but If IT Is menace oil
Slavery-D0 never, uc'ef may tno eouotiJ
fa.l q sacrifice! -
On Decem Der 8 the same paper printed an
excited editorial under the caption, Let Us
Waltz Among other remarks are these:
The Fiiipinos hope with reason that Amer
lea will Immediately recognize their lnde-
prndeDce reim bursing Itself for lis expenses
in some way which Will not defeat q perfectly
iegi%ate a'p,sni psciiHisy. Non. tnaR OF = war
ali hug peace. How terrible IL would be 10
undeceive q people so situated. The impulse
and courage which It's indignation would
arouse could only be measured by the penii'
tude of It's present confidence. Finally,
the country is ready TO fight for lis independ'
ence, that IL certain. -. 10 America
itself the English troops, disciplined and
Injured 70 war as they We're, were compelled
TO cs pitu late before u handful Of country folk.
This is we'll known TO America. our friend
our ally, and perhaps our providence. 1t Is TO
be wished that she may be. Let us walt. .
In commenting on the price or the archl-
pelago, the same number computes that 1t IL
81 head OF the population, and adds: What
cheap things come very high"
The reaction toward Spain Is evident In the
same paper for Decembero:
What great pity that when Spain fell we
were h;ndered rom giving her the support OF
our arms By the insult which she had just
spit in our faces! 1t IL unQuestionabe that
Spain, falling from her high estate. has sought
so she has replaced her own ideal, the NOBLE
Quixote, by the mercenRry Sancho. forgetting
tnat her indiscrstion Involved fatal cOnse-
uuences for the Philippines, which she used
10 call her favorite daughter. Though ber
favorite she has disipherited this daughter
30 far as liberty is concerned. and sold her of
spring for handful Of gold.