La Junta tribune., 1901-10-19
PHILIPPINE LETTER.
interesting Description OF the Trip
Made by viii Lewis to Our
island Possexsions.

Immediately previous to my
departure from La unta tor the
Philippines, | was invited by the
editor OF the tribune to write oC
casionaliy Tor the paper such
things pertaining to my expert
ences, observations and impress
sions, as would, III my mind, appeal
ers. | agreed 10 do so, and II IS
in iulhllment of the conditions of
my agreement that | begin to-day
series OF papers which | hope |
may be able TO continue from time
to time so long as remain in the
archipelago. wish II understood,
/ however, that in writing these pa
pe.rs the dominant motive which
prompts me TO do so is not simply
that may fulfill promise. | am
glad TO have the opportunity, and
1t shall be my purpose to try TO
aid the people of Otero county N
gaining A better understanding Of
the conditions here, and OF the
work which Is being done here by
our government. One OF the
things most needed by the Fiji
pinos is 10 be understood by Amer
leans. Almost as important is the
sympathy and support OF the Pun
ippine policy OF the present admin
istration. II, through thu RiEuNE,
can help, even IN a very small
way, to bring about IN the states
such understanding. 81 mparhy and
support, | shall feel that | can, on
that side OF the Pacific as well as
on this, be OF service to the Fill
pinos.
Narratives OF voyages across the
Pacific are likely to be somewhat
similar. no matter by whom writ
ten; descriptions OF Honolulu and
other points OF interest along the
route, TO possess certain elements
OF sGmeness even though coming
from different people. No two
voyages, however, can be made
under exactly the same conditions,
and no two people can ever see a
thing with the same eyes. Thus
while many OF the things given
here are not new, the standpoint
NAV possibly no; be the same that
has been occupied by others.
The United States Army Trans
port "Thomas, '" during the short
time the ship has been in the ser
vice OF the government, has made
number OF voyages, and II IS to
be hoped that in the future she
may make many more. But it is
safe to say thar her trip from San
Francisco to Manila, beginning at
noon on Tuesday, July 23d, and
ending at 4 p. IN. on Wednesday,
August Il, 1901, will always be
considered the most momentous
and far reaching in results OF all
her cruises. 1t is safe to predict,
too, that this voyage will go down
in history as one OF the most i'm
portant events not only in the
history OF the Philippines, but of
America.
The sending OF a thousand teach.
ers from the United States to these
islands is without parallel in the
annals OF the world. Churches
and missionary societies have
done, and are still doing, much in
the way OF educating the classes
among whom they have labored.
But the spectacle of great and
powerful republic undertaking the
work of establishing popular and
universal education upon broad
and solid foundation, among a
| people who have heretofore sat in
at least partial darkness, is unique
spectacle, and it is as inspiring as
it is unique. Some of these teach
ers have been in the islands for
some months and others are yet to
come; but they have come and are
coming at irregular intervals, on