The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-15
SLAVERY ~ THE PHILIPPINES.
Unrecognized Omcialiy. Hut Perfectly
Well known to Exist.

To THE EpIroR or TIE SUS-Sir: II Is
safe to presume that the present interest IN
the Philippine Islands among Americans IN
the United States Is eaualled only by tho
universal ienoran oe In regard to many OF the
problems existing In our Eastern possessions
Why should not the people OF the United
States be properly informed regarding a
subject which should be close to the hearts OF
all true Americans,
For over three centuries this custom has
obtained throughout these islands A poor
Filipino finds himself IN debt and without
the means to meet his creditors He forth
with borrows from a rich neighbor the re-
quired amount often not more than thirty
pesos-two pesos are equal TO about 70 cents
OF our money-pays his debts, and becomes
from What moment. together with his entire
family q slave to the man who had lent him
the money. to remain his slave until this
money il paid back. This poor native and
his family work for the rich native, and In
return receive clothes and food OF tho cheap
est quality. bus. OF course, never any money
They also get house 70 live In. hut for this
house the man Ia supposed 70 pay rent. As
he has no money and has placed himself and
family where not one OF them can earn any
this rent cannot be paid and is added year
by year to the original sum borrowed The
man dies without ever paying the debt and
dies a slave, leaving his family In like bond
age. II any one else paws the sum 10 ,, ,ne
There is much wealth in, the Philippines
and II is customary for weil-toodo aiipihoG
visited the other day the house Of the nchest
woman in the Philippines outside Of Manila,
her millions MILF Twas able to observe for my
self the number of her slaves,
A certain army officer. living 10 the same
CHIEF OF the Philippine Army after Asuinsldo
desired TO ind competent native poy 20
work for him, Gen MulvaI offered i.t to ,et
that il the ofncer would pay the amount owed
to the General by the boys father the r BOY
would 6el esr .9 s this knowing
full well that II he bought the boy and gave
him his freedom as soon a. Re was o oIder on
his power was told this little story, which
smrly by the oce Ed. rs hi.
question OF slavery as IL exists here. The
low class natives are wofully lazy brain Mes
and GENERALLY worthless , sna an. nis food for
comparatively little labor. as long as ihsS
live. This is q very comfortable way 70 ,SoH
at IL. but the fact remains that the conditioh
OF thess people is slavery pure and simple.
and slavery on American territory ih hs
fact is unenduIable and should awaken the
Originally the Spanish friars were re,
spOnsible Tor This condition OF aHaiIs, " a.
any rate, responsible for its continuance
These friars all owned slaves, and II any
powerful Filipino had undertaken TO INFORM
the Spanish which. ike our
Government, could not act on what " was
In ignorance OF. which therefore II chose 70
be blind tot would have awaited nothing
And these Fiininos would besides have made
untold trouble for themselves for the iylaTs
TO shield their own position. would nave
proved 20 the home government that me
report was false. and would have oppressed
the Filipinos more cruelty than before
The virtual Government and cruel OPP
preston OF the Spanish friars Is still another
problem. and one which has been little studied
or understood. They are no longer IN power.
but properly to understand the. Philippine
char cter. and political and moral conditions
existing here for years, u is necessary fully 10
compreherd the complex nature OF the 90
ninion held for centuries by the spanish
friars in these islands. They have left their
mark OF all classes, and We cannot deal H.
tell gently with our new subjects without
giving this matter con sciertous study.
That slavery he's existed in these Islands
so long after Spain abolished slavery In her
West India possessions rs which was In 1870
Is due simply TO the absolute ascendency OF
the frisrs. an ascendency almost incon-
ceivable in its supreme power for evil. un-
authorized. and yet uncontrolled by the
Spanish Government That this same slav very
IL allowed to exist under American sover-
eighty Is menace and reprosch to nmeri-
can civilization. =. pES b, q
CALAMBA, II. i, Feb. T.