Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-12-13
LIFE IN THE PHILIPPINES.



l.. W. Hizar to G. a. Rudolph,
Charles A. Rudolph has received
from Lannes w. Hizar, who is in the
auditors Office of the United Statfs
Military Government of the Philippine
Islands. letter dated at Manila about
two months ago. 1t is strongly in favor
OF our retention Of the Philippines,
Mr.. Hizar holding that the nation is
committed to responsibility il cannot
evade or hand over to Others.
He believes that the native is unfit
for the privilege Of governing himself,
and he has faith in the value OF the
islands to Us by reason of their near
ness to China.
1t is still dangerous for natives to
show loyalty to the Americans for they
are likely to be killed by members OF
their own race. "These people," he
writes, ARE not as far removed from
the savage state as 300 years of contact
with civilization would indicate. The
fault is not with the people, but with
the method used in civilizing them.
And the best OF them don come up
to our idea Of what man should be
and know, who votes, and has all the
powers of an American citizen" He
finds the people very unreliable 10 ever
relation of life. 'tThose who appear
loyal are in many cases not fully trusted
until dead. They are all treated with
the consideration appropriate to their
friendliness, but know it is ques-
ton in many minds il they are not
still working in secret against the
government. This distrust is based
on experience with them."
There is much stealing in Manila,
from diamonds to horses and carriages
IL is said servant will work faith
fully for months or even years until EN-.
ployes get such confidence that things
are left lying around, and then the
servant makes good haul. The chill
dren gamble with pennies in the street.
Gambling is very general with the
natives, who are little thin ohested,
stunted race with very small bones.
Their hands are long for the width and
thin and puny, hand built for deli
cate work-like picking pockets. They
are better musicians than the Southern
negroes, and make fine harps and
| guitars. Their churches show some in
teresting carving. They do not care fer
work. If they get store, the women
tend it. They are great on schemes for
working someone. 1t will be sometime
before they can be made to conform to
American ideas.
The native police get money from
gambling joints and practice the usual
gratis, but are really of some use and
may be improved, but will always have
to have firm hand and honest, upright
men over them, for the reason that the
general characteristics Of the Malay
lace dominate all acquired virtues.
The saying is that "a Filipino may
work faithfully for 20 years and finally
stab you in the back. -
Under Spanish rule, people were
put Into prison on accusations of those
who. wished to iniure them, and in
vestigations evidently were tardy-in-
deed, they were too busy failing them
to try them, and the simpler plan was
to let out those who paid WE'LL When
our troops came in the jails were full,
many of them never had been tried or
even heard some in for years; some
there was no record about 1t was not
the Spanish laws SO much as the man
ner of their enforcement. The natives
are finding out that brides don't work
rs formerly, though they still try that
method. 1t is absolutely funny to see
their surprise at our attitude in this
matter. -
Mr.. Hizar has good word to say of
the Chinese. There is but one record
of a conviction of Chinaman for
stealing since the American forces ar
rived. Chinese servants never steal
81 have lost some of my prejudice
against them (the Chinese) since
coming out here. If they will not steal
from you, will work, and make good
servants, they will be useful here and
should be allowed TO come in -
1t is an unusual thing to see native
intoxicated. They settle differences
with the bolo without the stimulus of
drink. A Spaniard employed by the
secret service department, who was
known by Mr.. Hizar, was killsd by in
surgents.
The writer finds the native courts an
interesting institution, where Justice
appears to move very slowly. There is
superior" and inferior" court
The former can sentence up to seven
years, but man can be kept in jail
without a hearing until the judge ia
moved" to act. There is no jury or
trial. Statements are submitted to a
clerk and filed with the Judge.
Manila is, in Mr.. Hizar's opinion.
splendid site for big commercial city,
easily approached from the land and
with an attractive bay. The commits
sion has appropriated 100000 for
roads, highways and bridges in the
islands and the same amount for harbor
improvements IN Manila. The climate
will not prevent Americans nom living
there. Most of the soldiers are salts
fed, except in cases where they did not
known what army life was and are
tired of 1t.
81 like MANILA" writes Mr.. Hizar,
$50 do many others. / feel sure that
in time the inhabitants of the Philip
pine Islands will be creditable addi-
tion to the American nation, if they