Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-02-22

inant race so far as civilization goes.
This is because they inhabit the part
of Luzon nearest to Manila. They have
been patronized by the Spanish and
given greater opportunities for educa-
| ton than any OF the other tribes. They
are dark people, very much in color
like the Indians. They are rather small
Of stature, but have seen magnificent
specimens of manhood among them. In
fact. some of them are the finest look
ing men, physically, that l ever saw.
These are generally river boatmen, who
live in cascoes and bancas, and they
push boats for living They are kind
and hospitable people, and will give the
best they have upon the shortest ac-
workmanship I was surprised to find
that the great majority of the Tagals
can read and write, and that they are
good musicians. Just wait till you hear
the Filipino band that Is going to the
states. All the natives have been Chris
tianiZed to certain extent. For this
they must thank the different religious
orders of the Roman Catholic church.
These orders converted the natives.
who before that were the worst kind
Of savages. have not seen friar yet,
but outside Of Manila all church prop
erty has either been burned or destroy
ed in some other way. This was done
in nearly all cases by the natives. who
robbed and sacked every church and
monastery in the country The insur-
gents say they have cause for this be-
cause they were driven to rebellion by
the greed of the monastic corporations.
but Aguinaldo's greed and needs are at
the bottom of it.
THE TAGALS.
THE Tagals are quick to learn, and /
predict that the Americans will find
them apt pupils in all kinds Of trades.
But the Tagals represent only small
minority of the people on the island, al
though they are the only tribe at war
with the Americans, other tribes being
pressed into insurgent service against
their will
"The Tagals or any of the other
tribes are capable Of lf-government.
There are few bright minds among
them like Aguinaldo and Pllo del Pillar,
but If given power they would abuse it.
But Aguinaldo Is no longer factor in
the islands. From what I have seen of
the people they are simple and law
abiding, and were it not for few am
bilious leaders would never have risen
in insurrection. But after being aroused
they are revengeful and unforgiving.
These people are here to be governed
by some one else. They have been un-
der the Spanish yoke so long that it is
part of their nature. They expect 1t, and
have no respect for any one unless he
treats them as servants. That is how
Aguinaldo welded such power over
them. If he wanted head cut off he
simply had it cut off, and no one ques-
toned him why. The people at large
want American government. After we
have taken a town the people flock
back, and when we leave they beg US
not to desert them. Struggling bands
Of insurgents come in and rob them,
assault the women, behead the leading
citizens and burn down their homes.
That is why the Americans cannot
abandon the islands, and must pacify
them before leaving them. 1t will take
some time and lots of money, but every
cent is well spent, and will be paid back
with interest. as the islands are rich be-
yond description, and in few years the
benefits arising from American occupa-
ton will be enormous commercially.
The natives will be the tillers Of the
soil, the mechanics and the servants,
while the American will be the manu-
facturer, the property holder and the
capitalist.
zone more thing I wish to speak of,
and that is the extraordinary virtue Of
the women. Outside of Manila have
not seen nor heard Of a single woman
who is not virtuous. The few cases OF
our soldiers who attempted to assault
native women were punished with
death or Imprisonment for life, and
there is now no more virtuous army in
the world than the American army In
the Philippines, outside of Manila"
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