Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-08-10
~BOUT THE FILIPINOS.

DR.. T. Sumter Bratton. captain and
assistant surgeon in the medical corps
United States army, is back in York.
vile, after an absence Of nearly two
years in the Philippine islands. He ar
rived last Tuesday, accompanied by
Mrs. Bratton. who has been with him
during the past few months The doc
tor is looking we'll, feeling we'll, and
glad to get back to the states again,
and while he does not want any more
PHILIPPINES in his If he can help 1t. is
talking quite interestingly to his
friends about our new possessions in
the far east.
The reporter had quite long conver-
sation with DR.. Bratton on Thursday
and took occasion to ask him about
many things that are more or less i'm
perfectly understood in this part of the
world, and about which the politicians.
who know as little themselves, are de-
termined shall not be made clearer II
they can help it. In answer to the first
question asked him, DR.. Bratton said:
You published letter from Captain
SAWYER last summer. I knew nothing
of that letter until saw 1t in THE EN-
oUIRER: but I read 1t with much inter-
est, indorsing every word of 1t.
thought Of writing you to that erect at
the time; but didn't. 1t occurred to me
that if they would not believe Captain
Sawyer they would not believe me elth-
er. and I had just as we'll let 1t alone
But Sawyer was right, and he came
about as near telling it all in single
letter as any man well could"
What Is your deliberate opinion on
the subject of whether or not the Uni
ted States government made mistake
in taking possession Of these islands?'
Speaking from the standpoint OF
Democratic American, without regard
to politics, I will say that it might nave
been better for us If Dewey. after des-
troying the Spanish fleet, had weighed
anchor and sailed away; but inasmuch
as he did not do that, it afterWard be-
came our bounden duty to retain pos
session and restore order and quiet.
We owed it to the civilized people there
whose protection we had taken away;
we owed it to ourselves: we owed 1t TO
humanity. To have shirked our plain
duty under the circumstances, would
have been the most despicable coward,
ice. OF course to you people here, VINO
know nothing about the situation, 1t
may have been all right: but If such 4
course had been pursued and you had
afterward become cogniZant or all the
circumstances. you would be ashamed
to acknowledge that you are part OF
this government"
Are the Fi'ipinns not capable OIL gov
erning themselves?"
"J'll not say that: but I'll say would
prefer not to have them govern me: and
there are few foreigners in the ISLANDS
who would like to be governed by them:
There are among the F'ilipinos small
per cent. of wealthy. intelligent, ac-
complished. educated people, who are
ga asily capable of conducting almost any
kind of a government: but there are
other difficulties in the way. The race
question is more aggravated there tnah
It has ever been in the South. Thcre
are the Tagalogs. who have peen CIV
ing us so much trouble under Agulnal-
do. and then come the Macabeebees,
their mortal enemies, and also the fierce
Jgorrotes, who are both savage and for-
midable. The TaGalogs and Igorrotes
might possibly get along together by
agreeing to Disagree: but between the
NIacabeebees and the Tagalogs there
will be war for generations vet to come.
The MacabeeheeS were friendly to the
Standards and they are friendly to the
Americans but they are hereditary en-
emies Of the Tagalogs. and the rela-
tions of these people with each otner
are marked with constant assasslna-
tions. I shall not pretend to say Wnlcn
of the two people are better: but there
can never be peace between them eX-
cept under the guarantee OF Stroiisel
power than theirs.
"Wbat about the present conditions
in the islands? Is 1t safe for indiV1do
uals to go about the country unarmed!
1T is not at present safe for any
American to leave any OF the towns
without being armed. or course. IN
the towns where the troops are station.
ed. It is safe enough: but as general
thing it is not safe for an Amer
lean to go into the interior. alone.
The chances of his assasslnatlon
are good, and the fact as 10 VINO
did 1t is next to impossible of establish
ment. The people will not tell on the
murderer. In a case like that. II was
the custom of the Spaniards to make an
exampIe of q whole neighborhood, and
thev were able to preserve very good
order: but the Americans cannot do
that. If one Is aSSa SasSinated-and II oc-
ours quite freQuently-but little Is done
by the authorities. There Is nothing 10
be done but insist that greater care De
exercised. 1t is more than likely that
hereafter in those localities where the
civil commission has established civil
government. the native authorities VIII
he held responsible for all assassina-
tions and think this will greatly help
to lessen the evil"
What about the intelligence and CIV
iliZation of the average Filipino as COM
pared with the average southern Ne
gro?"
Having no education whatever. he
does not compare favorably with the
Negro in the matter Of civilization: but
he is much more intelligent than the
Negro. Given equal educational oppor-
tunities. the Filipino will outstrip the
Negro rapidly. They make capital me-
chanics. artisans and skilled laborers..
being able to do perfectly anything at
which you put them. They also make
good house servants if treated kindly.
being quick and willing: but to treat
them harshy is dangerous. They will
patiently wait their opportunity and
cut your throat. with as little com
junction as you would feel in killing
chicken"
From the standpoint Of architectu-
raj eycelIence and general wealth, how