Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-09
L OYALTY OF FILIPINOS
CONFIDENCE OF THE NATIVES IN
PURPOSES OF AMERICANS.
Letter From an AttRche of the Philip
pine Commission Describing
Conditions in the Islands.

| The following personal letter from an at
tache Of the Philippine commission has
| been received by a government official in
| Washington:
The entire commission has recently
made trips to four of the northern and one
OIL the eastern provinces of this Island Of
Luzon, and has established therein pro-
| Vlnclal civil governments. The trips have
peen most interesting, and in many re-
| spects, surprising Nowhere have we re-
celVed anything but the most enthusiastic
| welcome, and nowhere have we seen any
thing but the evidences of the most COM
plete tranquility and order. Some of the
receptions accorded us, principally that in
| the province of Bataan, showed the great
est regard for the purposes which took the
commission to their midst, and feeling Of
thankfuness that the American people and
government were giving evidences Of carry
ing out their promises to the natives. The
greeting the commission received at Ra-
langa in the above named province was
really splendid demonstration, which it
would take too much space to describe here
but which will be treasured in memory s
vaults Tor many day. The harbor was
every description, literally smothered in
American colors; the ride of the commits
sion and party from the harbor to the capt.
tai of the province was like a triumphal
procession; the American flag f1oated from
every house and window, and there were
hundreds of school children each carrying
small American flags, and singing the Red,
White and Blue and the Star Spangied
Banner along the route.
In Memory of Warrington.
ION the eve of Washington's birthday the
federal party Of Manila gave a banquet
TO the general officers in this city and the
commission, at which about $50 covers
lot r.
auets In every detail that 1 have ever at
tended, and l was really surprised to see
so many intelligent Fiipinos gathered to-
gether in one place. Speeches were made
by General Macarthur, Judge Taft, At
torney General Torres and Felipe Bucn-
canine, formerly secretary for foreign at
fairs OF Aguinaldo's government. The latter
made the best speech of the evening, and
breathed loyalty to the United States in
every word. On the 22d the federal party
had exercises in commemoration of Wash
ington's birthday on the Luneta, and l do
not believe there was a place in the United
states where more enthusiastic or more
largely attended celebration occurred. The
American flag was everywhere, and the
speeches made by the Filipinos were loyal
patriotic and sincere.
The Insurrectfon Over.
I'VE who witness such scenes as the two
I have referred to and who. travelling
through the interior, meet the people face
to face and talk to them heart to heart,
cannot understand how it is possible for
the press Of the United States and some
misguided legislators under the dome on
Capitol Hill to talk such nonsense as
they do.
LAS the commission started several months
ago. the insurrection in these islands is
over. Rowing bands Of marauders may
from time to time commit depredations:
but the great bulk Of the people are tired
Of war and are Joining with the Amert-
cans In the efforts to bring about peace
and the organization Of civil government
under the sovereignty Of the United States.
There are today in the federal party nearly
all Of the men who were members of the
Malolos congress, and thousands Of others,
all OF whom are standing together upon a
PLATFORM the hrst plank Of which is the
recognition of American sovereignty in this
archipelago.
Respect for Judge Taft.
The commission, I believe, can lay the
flattering JUNCTION to its soul that this re-
suit Is entirely due to It's labors here. Judge
Taft Is loved by these people. Even those
who are somewhat intransigent respect and
admire him, and were the Filipinos today
to enjoy the right OF franchise l have not
the slightest doubt that he would be elected
to the highest executive position. 1t ought
thusiastic meeting of the Filipinos on the
Luneta on February % was the first time
in the history Of these islands that they
were ever allowed to meet In such large
numbers and express their opinions upon
any subject, and that this meeting took
place within 200 feet of the field stained
with the blood of countless martyrs and
wherein Rial breathed his. last sigh and
gave up his life for his people.
"In the town Of Bulacan, former capital
Of the province Of the same name, the
assembled representatives Of the various
pueblos in the province manifested a de-
n ch1 the cantta1 no 6rst
time in their history they voted by ballot,
choosing by majority vote the ex-revolu-
tionary capital at Malolos, instead Of the
time honored Bulacan. A Spanish newspa-
per man who was with the commission on
its trip referred to this act. and stated that
1t was one Of the details which showed
to the Filipinos the sincerity Of purpose of
the American people; that there was no
other nation on the face of the earth that
would have thought for a moment Of per-
hitting a vote to be taken which might
result in the naming of the ex-revolutionary
capital as the provincial seat Of a new
provincial government"