The National tribune., 1902-07-24

an army within three weeks, and that if
the Government had wanted them, mil
lion could have been had in the same time
He still could not understand why we had
volunteered to leave our own country and
come 5000 miles across the sea to fight, if
we did not have to do so, and we did the
best we could to make him understand
that nearly every young man in the United
States was eager to go to war, and would
do so; that he would not join the army in
time of peace, but if there were prospcc,
of fighting he would give up good position
and good salary to become even a private
soldier.
In our own regiment we told him we
had men who had surrendered positions
giving them a salary of $50 month gold
which meant $500 to him; others, who
were lawyers and doctors, editors of news.
papers, engineers, students in universities
mechanics, and men of ali trades and pro.
fessions, who had volunteered to go to wal
for love of their country and love of fight
said it was different in Spain; that no one
joined the army there unless compelled to-
and would not fight unless forced; that
the people generally looked upon it as the
business of the army 10 fight, and took nc
interest in the war, and then he added that
he could plainly see that it was impossible
for Spain to fight the United States, OF
The Americans We're wonderful people. he
said, and no one could foretell what they
might become in future years. 1t was
after this he expressed desire to join our
army as a Surgeon.
IN MANILA SOCIETY.
Our social intercourse was chiefly with
the educated and wealthy class of Fill
pinos, all, or nearly all, of them being OF
thn Al.
eager to do US honor, cooling off gradually
as it became more and more evident the
United States was not going to turn the
islands over to the Aguinaldo Government
until, at last, when hostilities commenced
there was but little intercourse except with
Ii sew who retained the attitude of friend
illness towards the Americans for motives
Of their own. The hope and expectation
of the MestiZos was that they might gov.
ern the masses of their countrymen as a
wealthy and intelligent aristocracy, ar
oligarchical Government of the educated
few over the ignorant many, based upon
military force. They would be nabobs and
would live on the fat of the land by keep
ing their feet upon the necks of the masses
and absorbing the wealth of the islands.
Such was the dream of the MestizOs
who organized and fomented the insurrec
ton, and, be it said, such was the only
Government possible among the natives
| themselves. The difference between a
Government based upon military force by
| the Americans and one of like base by the
Mestizos, such as Aguinaldo had organ
lied, was simply that the Americans have
before them :he welfare and uplifting OF
tizos did not. This was why the Mestizos
were SO cordial to US at first and so cool
later.
1t was but a few weeks after we had
become established in the city that again
met the family Of Mestizos l had become
acquainted with at Pasig while on 8
| reconnaissance in July. Arevalo, our guide
nection with Aguinaldo, ostensibly, al
least though l always assumed that ht
was simply taking advantage of his op
portunity as a friend of officers and hi.
ability to speak English to gather fol-
Aguinaldo's information all the knowledge
he could of our intentions and doings. HI
opened dentistry office in the city, and
was an occasional visitor at his office an(
| his elegant home.
Another family where / became we'll &C
quainted, in common with a number OF
other officers, was that of q rich MestiZt
named Rosario, who had three grown
daughters, two Of them splendid musicians
One was an excellent pianist, while tn,
other possessed an unusually fine soprant
voice, one of great sweetness and consider
able strength. Her voice had been cult
waited and she sang most exacting music
There was frequent visitor to the house
in the person of a Swiss who had been
tenor singer in opera, and who was g
thorough musician, one who sang his scor,
with much feeling and expression.
! remember one night there was quite q
little party Of US, and these two san,
duets from Cayaleria Rusticana and Romea
and Juliet, while the other daughter
played the accompaniments on the piano
superb instrument. The girls voice wa,
charming and her singing excellent, Witt