The Irish standard., 1901-12-14
Their Zeal in the Cause of Civilization
Has Won the Admiration of
Various Critics.
A Timely Article on the Subject Which
Appears in Leading Paper
of Philadelphia.

The islands forming what is known
as the Philippine group were discov-
cred by Magellan in 1920, but the final
conquest of the islands was not
achieved until 1876, writes John l..
Harold in the Philadelphia Times.
The expedition which was to effect n
permanent settlement sailed by order
of Philip II. from Mexico, then called
New Spain, in 1864, under the COM
mand Of Lagazpi. In the company
| were several Augustinian friars, one
Of whom was commissioned by the
king Protector of the Inilians." On
April q of the following year the
| boat cast anchor before the isand of
Cebu. After entering into relations
with the Indians, the holy sacrifice of
the mass was solemnly offered in the
presence of the governor, chiefs
soldiers and many natives. This was
the beginning of Christianity and
civilization in the Philippines.
The friars at once set to work to
study the various dialects of these
savage tribes, and in time prepared
| text books and dictionaries for their
own and the natives use. After the
islands were gradually Christanizcd
the natives were formed into COM
munitics, churches were built, con
vents erected, schools, colleges and
universities established.
When the missionaries first entered
the islands they found the natives ig
nOrant of even the most primitive
modes of agriculture, so much that
they often suffered from famine
though their soil is highly fertile.
The friars began ut once to supply
these wants by bringing from Europ,
horses and cattle, unknown till tlcl
in the islands. and all kinds of tools
ana agricultural implements. The!
made Il special study of the llora ant
fauna of the islands for scientific Hilt
practical use. Their own gardens aIl(
fields were model farm lands whicl
the natives were not slow to copy, til,
resources Of the islands were opened
up, commerce began to flourish ant
the whole face Of the country wal
changed. The transformation thu
effected was not the work of n day
1t took long years of slow, pcrscvcr
ing effort. Some of the natives wcr'
of Il fierce, warlikc disposition, Others
belonged to wild, hcnd-unting tribes
ana were still sunk in the abnscmcn
of hcathGniSm.
But the monks patient and devoted
were aversc to Anglo-Saxon methods
which would have made away will
them all, some with fircwntcr and bul
lets, as in North America; others b,
starvation and poisoned food, as il
Australia, and the rcWainder by fash
ionable diseases, as in Hawaii
glance at the condition of til,
natives when first visited by til,
friars will give some idea of the diff
1icultics they had to surmount in til,
work of civilization. In religion the,
were idolatOrs and deeply supersti
tiO,Is; they feared and worshipped an,
objects in nature which they imagined
could injure them, such as the sun
moon, lightning and thunder, birds
plants and animals. Slavery existet
among them, and so prevalent had /
become that in many tribes the slaves
0utnumbcrcd the frecmen The live!
of all slaves were at the mercy Of
their masters, who could murder then
when they pleased. Women were ac
quired by purchase and were consider
ed slaves.
| Ideas of matrimony were unknown
among them and polygamy was com
mon. They were densely ignorant
They had no literature, and hence
were unable to give any account o
themselves or their ancestors. AS tt
morals, they were timid, inclined tt