Newport weekly independent., 1902-11-28
A MANILA NEWSPAPER.
Some Interesting Fea lures of Daily Publication That CircuIates in
 the Philippines.

| The sight of a Manila paper, with its editorials and locals, gives one a | more realistic idea of that far-of1
 archipelago than the brief telegrams | which from time to time reach us ot
 Killings, instruction or cholera, says | the Louisville Courier-Journal Ii
 makes one have a better insight into
 the local life and atmosphere of the
 country to realize that there is | press there, and that it has the same | family features of that in this coun.
 try. By the last Pacific mail we re. | celved several numbers of the Daily
 Manila American, some of eight ana
 others of 12 pages. While the paper and typography are not up to the
 style of the city daily, the editorial | local matter and advertisements are
 arranged in similar way. The read.
 ing matter is full of interest, bear.
 ing upon local topics, which are free. ly discussed. The American is thor. | oughly American, but seems to have
 an opponent as antagonistic in senti. ment, the LlbertaS, which champions the Filipino interests. The removal
 of the friars seems to be the subject
 of special antagonism. Libertas thinks
 their expulsion great outrage, while
 the American defends the Washing. ton programme. The former asks if
 ever a friar was seen drunk, as Amer, leans are constantly, on the streets or Manila, and the latter denounces
 It as insulting everything American it is not unlike Dickens account of
 the controversy between the Eatons.
 well Gazette and it's youngest rival. The news from the island of Min. danao, lately so disturbing, is repre-.
 sented as peaceable, and sultans anC dattos are coming into camp daily to pay visits of peace and compliment to the commanding officer. It is ever reported that newspaper is about tc
 be published in Samar. of bloody memory. The cholera statistics show that over 113,000 deaths have occurred in the group of islands since it's ap
 pearance, percentage of 76 of the cases reported. It is announced that the board of health and municipal board intend to clean out the slums of Manila, where the cholera is worst and remove to points beyond the city 04,O00 of it's inhabitants. The cost is estimated at half a million dol. lars, and the proposed work includes the widening and strengthening of the streets. The native doctors oppose this, as generally every sanitary measure prescribed for the better health of the city. In fact, one can see the outcrop in many ways of the antagonism between the American and home-rule parties.
 The local news, though not volum- inous, is characteristic. The arrivals at the Hotel Oriente show that quite all are Americans or English-speak- ing. The cards of eight lawyers and two doctors appear among the advertisements, and the Manila Jock ey club announces it's approaching opening meeting. Two Japanese, one American and two British steamship lines announce the times for depart ure of their regular packets, and with it all one can see the evidences of life and commercial activity in the far away city.
 It is nearly 400 years since the Philippines, first called St. Lazarus is- lands, were discovered by Magellan. Spain came into possession of them 50 years later, and held them. with brief intermission, until the late war. This interval occurred in 1762, when Manila was captured by the Eng fish but restored two years later upon the payment of $5.00O,O0O. The histosy of Spain's occupancy for more than three centuries can be summed up as comprising contests with rebellious tribes, attacks by pi- rates and reprisals on the part of Spaniards, varied by volcanic erup- tions, earthquakes and tornadoes to break the monotony of their general pillage of the natives. It remains to be seen whether the United States will have better fortune than their predecessors and the natives cause to regret or rejoice over their change