Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1901-04-12
OTIS TALKS OF MANILA.

OAAO AAAhS Ne mAN 1LAs
GENERAL OTIS THINKS MANILA
WILL BE THE MOST IMPORTANT
MOST IMPORTANT OF EASTERN
CENTERS OF TRADE.
St. Paul, April 12.-General E. S.
Otis, so long in command in the Phil
ippines, was in st. Paul on business at
army headquarters. In speaking of
the capture of Aguinaldo and the pres
ent conditions in Manila and the
islands he said: .. lar - s>~2 :.
Manila is large city already, and
it's growing rapidly under our care.
I think it may surpass Hongkong as
the great center of eastern commerce.
Because not only Manila, but all Luzon,
will soon be peaceful 1t is and will
be kept under a strong enlightened
government that will insure stability
and safety to commercial operations.
I'm Hongkong the situation is diff
ferent. AS an English settlement,
Hongkong, the British island, has an
enlightened administration as one
could wish. But Hongkong is imme-
diately dependent in a trade way upon
China, and China, fear, will be in an
unsettled state for many years to
come. The anti-foreign spirit is abroad
there. The Chinese, of course, are
slow to grasp new idea and are
equally slow to relinquish that idea.
And the powers are going to find it a
very difficult thing to establish in
China a really stable government.
'All Chinese are cautious Chinese
merchants are paragons of discretion.
They won't take any needless risks of
robbery Or confscation. Trade will
be unsettled in China, and Hongkong
is. sure to suffer accordingly. But
Manila is sufficiently far from China
and sufficiently near to China, and
near to Japan and to Siberia, as we'll
as to the more southern countries, to
become a natural focus for an enor-
nous trade that needs a tranquil CEN
ter protected by a strong, enlightened
government.
''Of course the Fiiipinos are still
giving us some trouble. But the cap
ture of Aguinaldo takes out of the field
the last influential leader that the ma
tives had Aguinaldo may not have
been sagacious as some of his advis-
ers, but let me tell you he has a vast
amount of Chinese cunning in his
somewhat variegated blood.
Nov we fear no opposition of inn
portance. The few bands of strag-
glingg robbers, the few individuals I
might almost say, will not be hard to
handle. We have had, in fact, from
the very beginning the support of the
educated and better class of Filipinos.
They never wanted that so-caIed "in-
dependence They knew perfectly
well that the country wasn't able to
govern itself. These same natives
were anxious for President Mckinley S
reelection. Only the more ignorant
and less Intelligent natives were de-
sceived by the prophecies advanced as
to the result of Mr. Bryan's election.
It was a wonder really that the in
surrection was kept going as long as
ut was. But at one time many Fill
:pinos actually believed that the United
States could obtain no more recruits
for the Philippine service. At another
time the belief was general that this
country had exhausted its treasury in
fighting Aguinaldo and would be
Obliged to withdraw its army. Later
still the natives were convinced that
the Chinese diflculty would bring on
general war which would involve the
United States so that we would be
forced TO leave L,azon. But Manila
has seen the last OF the insurTection
and is 4 peaceful, orderly city. It il
quite healthy since we have cleaned il
up a BIT, The climate there is ad-
1nirable. In summer 96 degrees in
the shade is a rem ark ably hot record
and IL winter the climate Is almost ex-
actiy that of ST, Paul ii the summer
americans like the climate. Lots 81
my old soldiers keep asking for oppor-
|tunities 70 So back there. q