Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-01-20
To tie Editor of tie Age:

While the Springfield Republican
is trickling what many call treason
along the Connecticut valley and
telling it's own side alone of the
Philippine question, as is the wont
of independent papers, would it not
be fair to publish the views of a
man who has been in the fight and
on the scene, viz, the late Gen,
Lawton. Says Mr.. Wildman:
No record of Lawton should be
made without mention of a dramatic
incident that followed his death.
He had been quoted far and wide
as saying that he wished "this &C
cursed war" would stop. His friends
say he really used the expression,
'this damned war; 1t was inter-
preted to mean that he did not SYM
pathizc with the war on the Fill
pinos. He was entirely misunder-
stood. AS if it were voice from
the grave, former Minister to Siam,
John Barrett, read letter from
him, written in November last, at
the New England dinner in New
York on December ~. He wrote :
would to God that the whole truth of
this whole Philippine situation could be
known by every one In America as know
1t. II the so-callcd anti-imperialists
would honestly ascertain the truth on the
ground and not in distant America, they.
whom believe to be honest men misln-
formed, would be convinced of the error
Of their statements and conclusions, and
of the unfortunate effect Of their publica-
lions here. If | am shot by a Filipino
bullet, it might as well come from one of
my own men. because know from obser-
vations, confirmed by captured prisoners,
that the continuance Of fighting is chiefly
due to reports that are sept out from
America.
We have been told that this is a
war of the Filipinos for independ-
ence. Would it not also be fair to
tell your readers who these fighters
mostly are.
In an article by MIR. Edwin Wild
man, in Harper's Weekly, the pic
lures and biography Of most of them
are given. Nearly all are half-breed
(Mestizos) youths, school teachers,
reporters, mechanics; very few if
any represent the great social, polit-
ical or commercial interests of the
country. Mr.. Wildman says:
1t shall be my endeavor in this article
to sketch the Mestizo leaders of the Fill.
Pine insurrectiOn, and to Illustrate how
they predominant in the army and govern
mens. My object Is to establish In the
minds of those not personally acquainted
with the Filipinos, the distinction be-
tween the native and his present master.
the Mestizo, and to show how absolutely
the Mestizo has forced his stewardship
upon race with whom, In normal con-
ditions, he rarely consents to mingle eX-
cept for gain. The MestizO is ambitious
and corrupt. To enrich his pocket, and
to gain Importance, and perhaps recOgni-
ton by the United States, he has plunged
the natives of the Philippines into a des.
perate struggle. He was successful In
the first revolution, and with the advan-
tagc OF experience he hopes to accom-.
plish his aims in the second. He proved
himself the equal OF the Spaniard in du q.
pliclty, and he thinks to bring us to like
terms. In this ll-starred struggle the
Filipino Is the victim. He Is led by the
half.caste, ignorant of the alien thoughts
and aspirations that are at work In the
mind Of the Mestizo. The language, the
color, and the habits of the MeStizo are
so like his own that he is easily led to be-
lieve that his words ring true, and that
his lofty procamations of brotherhood
and liberty are the honest expression Of Il
brother.
It Is the Mestizo who is entirely re.
sponsible for the revolution IN the Philip
pines. 1t Is the Mestizo we must punish
With the skin ofs native and the heart
Of q traitor, he works damage incalcula'
BILE. Clever. cunning. and rich, he must
be thoroughly subdued, If not banished
before we can hope to affect his PERM
cIous influence over the natives and bring
him to his senses. II the TagalOg races
ara not fit for elf-gOvernment-aad nc
one acquainted with them for momcn,
thinks they are-then the MestizOs are 9
thousand times less capable of governing
them.
Here is what they are according
to Mr.. Wildman:
Aguinaldo, a Mestzo, his wife the
same; murdered his schoolmate Bobi
facio and had his rival Luna assassinated
Luna, his only real general AMI fighter
assassinated.
Artachio, local native chief, impris