The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-11-16
THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.


According to Johnson's Universal
encyclopedia. the total area of the vol
canc group of over loo islands
known us the Philippines is 11l,326
square miles. The minerals found
there are gold. copper. coal, sulphur
and %alcna. The vegetable products
are hemp. sugar, tobacco. coffee. rice.
cotton. etc. and only oncfifth of The
islands arc under cultivation. These
for which Spain w:lS paid $.D.OoDOOn.
Did we get the worth of our money:
Many travellers have written about
The islands and their inhabitants. but
up to the present time the majority
of Americans know but little about
them. In fact the people are so busy
no time to think of the FilipinoS and
their archipelago. Other people APP
pear lu he better posted on he subject
than the Americans. \ French cores
ponlrnt in Il letter to Il Paris paper
says that Americans are following the
example of the English in South \fri-
c in the treatment of the natives and
are hanging E'iiipinnS by the score
iir states that 100 natives have been
hanged or gHrrut",l recently in Manila
for political otfcnSeS. and HAT over 100
more are in penal srrvit.,lr or hAniSh-
mrnl for offering Resistance To foreign
hrSputiSml. for that is W hat our GOV
rrlIln"n> "f the lilipinu> really is nr-
cur'lin- to our own Irrlaral ion Of In
dependence. The Mnlay> of the Phil
iplinrS are justified in rrSistii," all
foreign invaders who presume tn
govern them by force for their own
selfish interests. They are justified in
lighting against alien rule. Tllrv are
fully capable of self government and
ought to have it under the flag of the
United States. Consul Barrett. who at
tended sessions OF HE Philippine con
"r,sS prior to tl!c illS,lrrrctioll says of
the hundred men in that legislative as
Srmbly:
THEY ronlll,',"d themselves With
great hr,olim and showed Il linOwl-
edge of debate, and parliamentary law
that would not compare unfavur;,hly
with the 1;ilrhnr*" parliament The
executive portion of the government
W;lS made up of Il ministry of bright
men, who seemed to understand their
respective positions"
The Taft commission has recognize
rh the ability ut the natives by having
three I'ilipi,i,S added to that govern
in" body. Three i'ilipilns are on the
bench; !'ilipinns are gov
errors of nearly all the provinces: the
solicitor general is Il Filipino: and
many other officers have been appoint
rd t" Positions of trust ana RESPONSE
hility. They discharge their duties
and perform their work
us we'll as the Americans. Why not
let them fill those positions by vote
of tho people instead of by appoint
lnent of the American government:
The people have taxation without
representation. against which the
American colonies rrbrlr,l. Dewey
declared that the l'ilipinoS are far
in their intelligence and more
'alrhlr of government than the
natives ct Cuba" Why not let them |
nay" self government instead of con-
"ntrltion camps. hanging. aud trans
p"rla1i"n To Il penal colony. Arc we
- initiate the bHrlrlrouS conduct of /
'-A%Ihnd in South Africa: If we are,
"" shall have cause to regret our
l'ilnn III years To come
The Republican party has abandon
vi the principles of its founders and
low wants to govern alien races us
subjects. That party has fallen from
is high estate and will suffer for its
crrranry when Tie American people
wake frnm their lctllaryy. 1t made
Ii" mistake OF its life in purchasing
he Philippine" islands and in govern
ny the inhabitants as Wcylcr COVE, n
II the CubanS
One Daniel De Corscy. Il Mnncapu-
is man now serving as Il soldier in
.uzon, recently wrote to Il friend in
his city and gave the following sketch
If our oriental possessions:
"Thc Philippine islands are Il big
punch of trouble. The occupation of
he natives of the islands is building
rrnrlcs and making bolos. The chief
m'lsrmcnt is cock fighting and steal
ny. Tho chief exports are hemp. rice,
var bulletins. American soldiers, arms
mi ammunition. The native houses
re chiefly built of bamboo and land
cape. The natives are fricndly-at
he point of the rifle.
"Thc climate is pleasant for ants.
nosquitocs. snakes. scorpions. tarantu-
MS. centipcdcs, reaches and allgators.
they have established communication
between the islands by substituting
he mosquito for the carrier pigeon.
icing larger and better able to stand
he long journey.
"fhc Philippines are on the west
lorizon of civilization. bounded on the
vest by hoodooism and smugglers. on
he north by the rocks and destruc-