St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-09-05

pondmaster Stiles Of the Goth Infantry
10. written the Lynn Item an interest
;.o letter from Jaro, in the Philippines,
nrder date of May TO- Mr.. Stiles is
,,erber of the regiment that has so
.ory Vermonters in it, is a native OF
n;s town and brother of E. L. Stiles
o4ct Iohnsbury. The letter will be read
with interest by our readers and Mr..
Stiles many friends.
Jaro., P. l., May 10, 1900
tn the Lynn Item The Philippine
orfstion is undoubtedly one of the most
FGnotty problems the people of the United
c+otpS have ever had presented to them
for solution, particularly so because the
E;linino is character entirely unknown
70 our people at home, and further, be-
cause politics form such an important
factor in everything we do. Eventually
tbe people themselves will decide the
question of what to do with the Philip
hines and the Filipino" Whatever the
verdict may be, no good, true American
citizen can doubt for d moment but that
il will be for justice to all concerned and
or the advancement of civilization. Be-
fore time can allow truthful view and
understanding of the situation to be
oIaced before the people for judgment,
many mistakes will have been made,
which it will take years to rectify; and
many lives will have been sacrificed
which can never be replaced. One posi-
tive fact is known to the whole world,
that we are trying to put down an
insurrection in our new possessions, +"
and another ought to be known to every
true American, that at must be done"
That people were fighting for the in
deDendence of their native land from a
foreign power, or for liberties from an
oppressive and unjust tyrant, should
appeal to Americans because we have
been taught from earliest childhood that
the United States of America was always
the champion of freedom and liberty,
having fought for and won the champion
ship when driven to it by urrepresented
taxation, oppression and tyranny. There
are people in the United States who
claim that we are now trying by force to
bully and place under subsection a PEG.
ple on their native soil, as a strong and
powerful nation would have done with
our orefathers when they fought for
their homes and their liberties many
Years ago. But if these same people
would come themselves to the Philip
pines, study the characters OF the natives
and thoroughly understand the situa-
ton as it is, they would see that these
are not two parallel cases, and in no
way can the actions of our forefathers be
used as an example to condemn the
policy pursued by our government in the
case Of the Philippine instruction. In
the first place, the Filipinos are
DIVIDED INTO ONLY TWO CLASSES,
the immensely rich and educated (for
this country and the exceedingly poor
and ignorant There is no independent
middle class as in our country or in Eng
land, which, consisting of a large major
ity of the population, acts as regulator
TO both extremes, and thinkingly and
unselhshly settle oil important national
questions and are the mainstay OF any
prosperous government. The inhabitants
Of these islands have been at war among
themselves or against Spain for the past
3Q0years. They are divided among them
selves, and have no system or organ
lied form of government. II they were
lett to organize alone, each rich and in
fuential man would have his followers
,x,o,,1l
Tor many years to come, the condition of
the people not improving, but getting
worse all the time. That they can be
blindly led after once their confidence is
gained is illustrated in their religion; the
word OF the padre is law, and they know
no other. If the church cared to it
could do more towards ending this affair
and bringing it to a satisfactory conclu-
sion than all OF Uncle Sans army; but
as it does not care to the people follow
its teachings in heart, even if they can
not openly. Christian people at home
may ask, why does not the church do
this for the sake othumanity ?" Because
the church is inscriptions; it has every
thing to lose and nothing to gain by
American supremacy, the introduction OF
the public schools and the education OF
the masses. For hundreds of years the
church has ruled the people and handled
their money without question or contra
dlction. The officials of the church are
all educated, and they realize that their
IRON grasp upon the common people will
be broken when they cannot play upon
their pI cnnarctitinn
1t has been proved beyond a doubt on
this island that the church is the most
influential promoter OF the instruction,
and that money collected in the name OF
religion for christenings, masses, mar
rIages and deaths is forwarded to the
rebel leaders to further the cause and
oriye the Americans from the country.
This is not Catholic religion here, or
any other kind of religion. 1t is simply
gigantic trust
IN THE NAME OF RELIGION
which takes everything from the people
and gives them ignorance and preacher.
Gus teachings in return.
Another reason why the United States
cannot give them their freedom and
withdraw our influence from the land
IL the protection of the United States
was entirely withdrawn from the Phil.
iippne islands, how long would it be
before the powers of the Old World
would have them divided up among
themselves, and any number of flags
would be flying where in time only one
nag will fly, and that probably over a
prosperous Philippine republic? I'm
aouotedly these people are in no condi-
Hon to govern themselves at present,
/ Dut they may be IN time