Evening star., 1900-12-10
NOT FIT FOR AUTONOMY
AN AMERICANS OBSERVATION OF
THE FILIPINOS.
Dangerous to Go More Than Nine
Miles From the City Without
Military Guard.

private letter from an American in Ma
Mia gives the following notes Of interest:
"Manila is the oldest new town. he
writes, land the newest old town that l
have ever SEEN Although centuries nave
elapsed since many of these quaint old two
story buildings were erected and the crook
ed strets laid out, with sidewalks two and
three feet in width, this Is now a forma-
tive period for Manila. 1t is becoming
Americanized every day; the Spanish signs
over the doors are coming down as the
American signs are going up. Kipling could
not have had Manila in view when he wrote
THE White Mans Burden The white man
carries no load here except, in many cases
that Of a liquid nature; nor does the idle,
listless. cigarette smoking Filipino. 1t Is
only the poor Woodworking Chino. the
coolie from Hong Kong, who Is weighed
down as he goes along with his load in
boxes or baskets suspended, from stick
resting his shoulder. Manila furnishes
queer mixture of languages races and
customs perhaps not to be found anywhere
else in the world. With a score of native
dialects, European and Asiatic nations rep
resented. as well as the United states. the
confusion of tongues here could hardly be
surpassed at the tower of Babel. The main
drawback just now is the ignorance OF the
English on the part of the natives, and OF
Spanish on the part of the Americans. So
far as the natives are concerned, this diff
Guilty will in time be overcome by the work
of Mr. Fred W. Atkinson, the educational
superintendent. and his assistants, while
the Americans-some of them, at least-are
busy with their Spanish grammars and
dictionaries.
DispOsitiOn of Troops.
"Our troops are at present in control of
practically every important point in the
archipelago, and many towns which the
Spanish had to abandon on account Of the
stubborn resistance Of the natives are now
flying the American flag. The extent of
our military operations therefore, is the
chief reason why so many soldiers are
needed at this time. 1t would have been
much better all around If, in the beginning
Of their 1nsurrection, these people had been
convinced of the strength of our nation by
a sufficient show Of military force. than to
have the fact to dawn on them gradually,
as has been the case.
cit is as yet unsafe for an American to
go anywhere outside Of the places under
military protection, as marauding bands of
Tagalogs and other tribes are ready to kill
an American on sight 1t is dangerous for
a person to go more than nine miles out
side of this city without military guard
and even then they run a chance of being
fired upon from ambush or openly attacked
on their journey If they constitute but a
small force. This is true Of many Of the
towns where the troops are stationed, the
lines Of protection extending but a few
miles outside Of the town, and a person
runs the risk of losing his life If he goes
any further. From this you will under
stand that there are some people on the
islands who are not yet pacif1ed.
Soldiers Harsh to the Filipinos.
1.-THE work Of pacification cannot be done
by the military. I have talked with scores
Of army officers. who frankly admit that
the pacification Of the people cannot be ac-
complished while they are under military
rule The soldiers, as a matter of fact,
have no use for the Filipinos, and do not
hesitate by rather harsh treatment to show
their feelings, while the Filipinos have in
their turn no love for the soldiers.
''Those in rebellion constitute but small
part Of the population. But the sreat body
of the peaceable and law-abiding do not
feel that they have any reason to like the
Americans, although they do not attempt
to molest them in any way. Manila, for in
stance. is as quiet and as orderly as Wash
irgton, and only the day before yesterday
Gen. Macarthur, by order, extended cur
few from II pm. to midnight. year ago
people were required to retire from the
streets at pm. This indicates how the
situation is improving In Manila. and SIM
liar results are apparent In other places
From what I can learn 1t would be practi-
cable to withdraw part of the troops from
different points where they are centered
without running any risk Of an uprising. It
is question. however. as to what extent
the peaceful situation In the cities Is due
to the presence of our troops, and no doubt
it is better to err on the side of safety for
the present by maintaining even larger
military force than Is needed to meet the
apparent demands Of the situation than to
take chances by Withdrawing the troops of
having an uprising and perhaps mas
saere. Force has necessarily been employed
by the military. and the fur has been rub
bed the wrong way, but with tact and judg-
ment on the part Of officers In the civil |
branches which are now being instituted
by the commission the pacification OF the
Filipfnos will, in my opinion, be rapid and
complete.
Unfit for Self-GOvernment.
"As to the capacity Of the Fdlipinos for
seif-government, my views have changed.
Before came to Manila was somewhat
In doubt as to this point. but that doubt Is |
now entirely removed. Many years, per-
hama genarat atinna mi,af eIarsa hefnrsa &1nc