Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1900-09-13

ment, Mr.. Barrett, in January,
} 1899, said : ""rhis government
has practically been administering
the affairs Of the great island since
the occupation OF Manila, and is
certainly better than the former
administration.
Aguinaido's Army Described
Mr.. Barrett also described Agui.
naldo's army in this language /:
"The army, however. Of Aguinaldo
gas the.maryel az his achievements.
He had over twenty regiments Of
comparatively we'll organized, we'll
drilled and we'll dressed soldiers.
carrying modern rifles and ammu-
milton. saw many Of these regi-
ments executing not only regimen
tai, but battalion aud company
drill with precision that aston
ished me. They were differed
largely with young men who were
ambitious to win honors and were
not merely show fighters. The
people in all the different towns
took a great pride in this army.
Nearly every family had father,
son or cousin in it. Wherever they
went they aroused enthusiasm for
the Philippine cause. Aguinaldo
and his principal lieutanants also
made frequent visits to the princi
I pal towns aud were received with
the same earnestnoss shat we chow
10 greeting successful President. "
General Miller Of the United
States army paid the same tribute
TO the efficiency OF the native gov.
eminent, as he found il at Iloilo.
And United States Consul Wild.
man, speaking Of this government
/ said, 'Aguinaldo hos made life and
property safe, preserved order, aud
encouraged continuation Of agri-
cultural aud industrial pursuits.
He has made brigandage and loot
I ing impossible; respected private
property, forbidden excess, and
made woman's honor safer in
Luzon than il had been in three
hundred years"
Commander portu's Language.
Commander Forte, Of the United
States Asiatic squadron, used this
language "The Fihpinos des-
scribed in sentimental papers are
not the men We are lighting. The
fellows We deal with out there are
not ignorant savagos lighting with
bows snd arrows; but are intelli-
gent, liberty.loying people, full Of
courage and determination. The
idea that tho Filipino is an unciv-
ilized being is mistaken orc.
They have the intellect and stami-
ma Of governing Themselves. and
have done it for three hundred
years, although under the rule Of
Spain. They were the clerks, the
bookkeepers, the assessors, and
managed the entire machinery Of
government, While they fight for
entire freedom, all they ask is
chance for life, liberty and the pur-
suit Of happiness.
What General Whittier Said.
General Charles A. Whittier, who
was on General Merritt's staff in
the Philippines, and who went there
with the idea that the Filipinos
we're sayages, writes as follows about
them "But after little while,
with my changed estimate Of the
Filipino character, seeing their or
der, industry, frugality, temper
anee, tolerance Of danger and ia
tigue, and when | viewed their
struggle for independence, the bru-
tality inflicted upon them for years
by the Spaniards, theii dignity and
skill, il seemed to me our duty to
use them aud our credit and re-
sources in making a great country,
as believe it could have been
made l felt, and still feel sure,
that with little tact and diploma
cy the people would have accepted
our protectorate. My idea being
to iutrust them with the admins
tratiop Of all the local offices, to adj
NIT them to subordinate places in
our army, by which in d short time
a force OF five thousand men would
/ 4