Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-15
FAULT OF THE MESTIZO
Revolution in the Philippines Due to the
HalfCaste.
Sketches of Some of These Individual.
Who Are Active in FOmenting
Trouble in NLuzOn.


Edwin Willman in Harpers Weekly.
The Mestizo is ambitious and corrupt
To enrich his pocket, and to gain import
ance, and perhaps recognition by the
United States, he has plunged the natives
OF the Philippines into desperate strug-
gle. He was successful in the first revolu-
ton, and with the advantage of experience
he hopes to accomplish his aims in the sec
ond He proved himself the equal of the
Spaniard in duplicity. and he thinks to
bring US to like terms. In this ill-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 Ian
guage, the color and the habits of the
Mestizo are like his own that he Is
easily led to believe that his words ring
true. and that his lofty procla mations Of
brotherhood and liberty are the honest ex-
| preston of a brother.
1t is the Mestizo who is entirely respon-
| sible for the revolution in the Philippines.
| 1t is the Mestizo we must punish With the
| skin of a native and the heart of traitor,
| he works damage incalculable. Clever,
| cunning and rich, he must be thoroughly
| subdued. if not banished, before we can
| hope to affect his pernicious influence
| the natives and bring him to his senses. If
| the Tagalog races are not fit for Self-gov-
/ ernment-and no one acquainted with them
| for moment thinks they are-then the
| MestiZos are a thousand times less capable
of governing them.
| And now, who are these men that have
| placed themselves at the head of the s.
| 100000 natives of the Philippine Islands,
plunging their race into an ill-starred revo-
, luton? What kind of a man is Aguinaldo?
Who are Palermo. Trias, Ricardo. Mas
cardo. Artachio, Pillar, Garcia, Sandico,
| Luna?
Pedro Palermo.
| On Gale st. Rogue, in the new Manila,
| stands Pedro Paterno's spacious house. 1t
| occupies a large section of the block, and
! it is there that 1 had a most interesting
visit with him. On the frescoed walls
| hangs a llfe-size painting of his mother, a
| Chinese Mestiza. Palermo. therefore, like
| nearly all of the Filipino leaders, is a
| half-caste. For years he has actually con-
trolled the Fiipinos. That he could do no
wrong was and is their belief. Spain gave
him the Grand Cross and the Filipino
University of Manila the degree of LID.
When in the first revolution Aguinaldo COM
promised, with damages Spain buying
out the Filipino leaders, Pedro Palermo was
SO well poised on the fence that he was
able to draw a double commission for his
| services. Despite his open dickering with
\ Spain. and his public acceptance Of money
( from the Spanish government. the childish
/ confidence of the natives was mistaken.
| They rejoice in his Spanish-given honors
and point to him as the most eminent
flNplnO, winch ne undoubtedly Is. lie mas
published several novels and books of poet
| ry. and IS the acknowledged authority on
Filipino folk lore. He controls Aguinaldo.
| writes his bombastic pronunciamentos, and
| is the head and spirit of the revolution.
! Revolutions are in his line. for he has found
| them profitable, and boasts of an income of
| So 900 a year. His property includes real
! estate. business blocks. plantations and
steamships, all at present netting good
profits. managed and operated by his fam
! lily and his agents. He, like Aguinaldo,
| keeps at safe distance from the firing
| line, cherishng, undoubtedly. the cheering
| prospect of returning to his Inheritance.
| Perhaps If Palermo had not been so clever
| Gen. Antonio Luna Novcio would never
| have fallen by an assassins bayonet. Luna
| was one of the most daring of the Filipinos
as well one of the richest. and he at
| tempted to Indicate the policy Of the insur-
rection. He was too ambitious, and when
his body was laid away at San Isidro
| with much pomp and ceremony. AguinaIdo
said to one of Luras followers who cues
| toned HIM as to Luna's successor "Inso-
| much as there seems to be among Luna's
forces a question as to who Is the gov