Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-10

piled General Grant. There are, you
know, many different races here with diff
ferent characteristics. The Tagalogs are
the strongest race in Luzon, and they are
the most civilized of the Filipinos. They
make up the greater part of the population
of Manila, and there must be at least
million and a half of them on this island.
They are the richest Of the natives and
they occupy the best lands
How about the holdings of lands here.
general? l have thought the estates were
all small?''
THAT is so of nearly all the property held
by the natives" replied General Grant.
There are some large estate which belong
to the church and to foreigners. There are
some also which belong to the mestizos, the
descendants of natives who have intermar-
ried with foreigners"
Give me some idea of the Tagalogs.
General Grant, said I. How do they
look?"
'"The Tagalogs are much like the Malays
in appearance" replied General Grant.
They have about the same features and
many of the same characteristics. They
are believe, a cross between the Malays
and the aborigines. They a clearly
people, both as to their persons and houses.
They are not we'll educated as 1 had sup
posed, considering their churches and other
tie education outside Of Manila, and am
trying to remedy this by establishing
schools wherever l CO."
AmericanizinE the FiIipinos.
How can you do this?' 1 asked. 81
thought the whole island was in a state OF
war"
at is easily done wherever we have
driven out the insurgents and have held the
country for any length of time. What I
have done as soon 1 have taken posses
sion of a municipality was to give its peo-
pie a civil government, a police and schools.
I would call the principal citizens together
and tell them l wanted them to manage
their affairs hereafter for themselves. 1
would have them choose an alcalde, or
presidente, who should govern them as the
head man Of the town. and to appoint I'M
der him tenientes, who should be the
heads of the divisions of the municipality.
A municipality here includes more than the
town itself. 1t is a district. You might
compare it to one of our counties and the
divisions in it to the townships. The presi-
dente is the head of the whole and the ten
] ientes are the heads of the townships.
After these men have been elected they meet
in council and pass ordinances as to taxes.
| revenues and the general government of
| the municipality. They appoint the police
! and collect the taxes on meats. markets.
etc. They issue all licenses. and. in fact,
| govern the town"
| How do the people like it"
They say they are pleased with it, and
they take hold of it. 1t is very hard. how
| ever. to make them understand that the
| bulk of the taxes should not be given over
/ to US. The Spaniards have so accustomed
| lHeHl " oppitSSioi anu eAtoilioii lley
| cannot realize that We do not want to do
| they did.
| still, 1 am well pleased with the re-
| suits" General Grant went on. I'm Ba-
| coor for instance, where there are IA 600
| people in the principality. l established a
! civil government in July and schools in
| September and October. The latter are
/ doing very well and the people seem to be
| well satisfied with the operations of their
| government. They appear to be grateful
| and think I have persuaded them that
we are their friends rather than their
| enemies" - e.
| DO you really think general" asked
| that they can be made good American
| citizens?"
| Not at once" was the generals reply
| "but ] believe we can Americanize them
| much sooner than our people think. You
must remember that this country has fol-
| years been overrun with a large class OF
] dated the people, and 1t will be some time
| before they can be taught self-reliance and
| independence of thought. We shall first
have to wipe out the thieves, show the
people that they have rights, and that we
intend to protect them in the exercise OF
them"
do you ever hear the people express re.
greet that the Spaniards have been driven
| out?"
mo. think the natives were glad to see
the Spaniards 60"
."TeiI me something Of the Negritos, gen.
eral / suppose you met with some Of them
| while in the north?"
Eyes, I did," replied Gen. Grant. "Yor
see them occasionally in the Tagalog towns
Of the interior. They live in the woods.