The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-01-23
FAULT OF THE MEsTIzo.
in the Philippines Due to
the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of Some of
These Individuals Who are Active In
Fomenting Trouble I'm Luzon.

edwin wildman = Harper's weekly.)
The Mestizo is ambitious and cor
rupt. To enrich his pocket, and 10
gain Importance. and perhapS recogni-
ton by the United States, he has
plunged the natives OF the Philippines
into a desperate struggle. He was sue
cessful in the first revolution, and with
i. the advantage OF experience he hopes
TO accomplish his aims in the second
He proved himself the equal OF the
Spaniard in duplicity, and he thinks 70
bring us to like terms. In this Ill
starred struggle the Filipino is the VIC
tim. He is led by the h~alf-caste, ignor-
ant Of the alien thoughts and asplra-
tions that are at work in the mind or
the meStizo. The language, the color
and the habits Of the mestizo are so
like his own that he is easily led 10 De-
lieve that his word ring true, and that
his lofty proclamations of brotherhood
and liberty are the honest expression
OF a brother.
1t is the mestizo who is entirely re-
sponsible for the revolution in the
Philippines. II is the mestiZo we must
punish. With the skin Of a native and
the heart Of a traitor, he works dam
age i~ncalculable. Clever, cunning and
rich. he must be thoroughly subdued
- ACS D%1OAS w ~1A @CHS -
affect his pernicious influence over the
natives and bring him to his senses. If
the Tagalog races are not fit for self
goVernment-and no one acquainted
with them for a 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
h 5000, 900 natives of the Philippine
islands. plunging their race into an ILL
starred revolution? What kin of a
man is A~guinaldo? Who are Palermo,
Trias, Ricardo, Mascardo. Artachio,
Pillar, Garcia. Sandico, Luna?
PEDRO PATERNO.
On Gale St. Rogue, in the new Ma
Mia, stands Pedro Paterno's spacious
house. 1t occupies a large section Of
the block, and it is there that I had
a most interesting visit with him. On
the frescoed walls hangs a life-si~
painting Of his mother, a Chinese mes
tia. 'Daterno, therefore, like nearly
all of the Filipino leaders, is a half
caste. For ear he has actually con-
trolled the FflipinOs. That he could do
no wrong vas and is their belief. Spain
gave him the Grand Cross" and the
Filipino university of Manila the de-
gree of LII. L. When in the first revo-
luton AguinaldO compromised, with
damages" Spain buying out the Fill
pino leaders, Pedro Paterno was so we'll
poised on the fence that he was able TO
draw a double commission for his SER
vices. 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
NSpanish-given hOnors, and point 10 him
as the most eminent Filipino, which he
undoubtedly is. He has published sew
eral novels and books of poetry, and
is the acknowledged authority on Fill
pino folk lore. He controls Aguinaldo,
writes his bombastic prOnunciamentos,
and is the head and spirit of the revo-
luton. Revolutions are in his line, for
he has found them profitable, and
boasts of an income of $685. 900 a year.
His property includes real estate, bus
mess blocks, plantations and steam
ships, all at present netting good
profits, managed and operated by his
family and his agents. He, like Agui-
naldO, keeps at a safe distance from
the firing line, cherishing, ~undoubted-
~, the cheering prospect of returning
to his inheritance.
Perhaps if Palermo had not been so
clever General Antonio una v Novicio
would eve have fallen by an assas-
sins bayondt. Luna was one of the
most daring of the Fflipinos, as we'll as
OI4S vi lhC I11ICSl ol1d lit IlIClAApACU
to indicate the policy of the insurrec-
ton. He was too ambitious, n when
his body was laid away ait San Isidro,
with much pomp and ceremony, Agui-
naldO said to one of Luna'S followers
who questioned him as to Luna'S sue
ceSsor, "Insomuch as there seems to
be among Luna's forces a question as
TO Tx is the government, l will my
self take command of his zone" which
he formally did, and was seen in ac-
ton hear San Fernando by some of our
soldiers. Luna was never thoroughly
trusted by Aguinaldo. He wants a
pitched battle with the Americans"
Aguinaldo is reported to have said,
while my policy is to Ira them into
the mountains, harass them and ex-
haust them"
GENERAL LUNA.
General Luna was a notable specimen
of the mestizo class. Of good birth,
morally and intellectually, he might
have been the leader Of his people a
not the treachery that is characters
tic of his race dealt him a death blow.
He was a brother Of celebrated
Juan Luna, an artist of European re-
nown, whose pictures ave hung in the
French salon. Another brother was a
violinist of more than ordinary fame.
By profession General Luna, like the
eminent Rial, was a chemist. He was
educated in Madrid and Paris, and
while abroad published a book-"Im-
p~resSions."
He returned to Manila in 1894, n
gained the confidence of Governor Gen.
eral Blanco. When the insurrection
broke he openly denounced h move
ment, but nevertheless was arrested as
a conspirator. Trough the intercession
Of Blanco his sentence of death was
committed to twelve years imprison-
merst. and he was sent to Spain. Even
tually he was pardoned, and returned
to Hong Kong. When hostilftieS broke
out between Spain and the United
States Luna returned to Cavite. 1t was
then that Aguinaldo offered him the
command of the army; but Luna for
a time refused, although later he &C
copied the post of minister of war in
the MalolOS cabinet, with h rank OF
general of division. Luna ~reorganized
the inSurgent army upon European
methods, which he had carefully stu
died abroad, and the discipline n
military tactics shown by the inSur-
gents, so often to our surprise, were
due ITO his skilled han In battle he