The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1903-05-15
sLAvERY IN THE pHILIPpINEs.
II Is Unrecoenixed OmeiaIIy, Hut Per-
fectly WeII-Known 20 Exist
IN the IsIands.


lands among Americans in the United
States is equaled only by the univer-
sal ignorance in regard TO many Of
the problems existing in our eastern
possessions, writes a Calamba, p. l.,
correspondent Of the New York Sun.
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 Amer
leans?
For over three centuries this Gus
tom has obtained throughout these
islands: A poor Filipino finds him
self in debt and without the means
to meet his creditors. He forthwith
borrows from rich neighbor the re-
quired amount, often not more than
thirty pesos-two pesos are equal to
about so cents Of our money--pays
his debts, and becomes from that mo-
ment, together with his entire family,
a slave to the man who had lent him
the money, to remain his slave until
this money is paid back. This poor
native and his family work for the
rich native, and in return receive
clothes and food of the cheapest
quality, but, Of course, never any
money. They also get house to live
in, but for this house the man is
supposed to 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 like n slave, leaving his fam
lily iii like bondage. If anyone else
pays the sum to the original owner
Of these slaves, he in turn becomes
their master.
There is much wealth in the Philip
pines and it is customary for well-to-
do Filipinos to own anywhere from
fifty to 500 slaves. I visited the other
day the house Of the richest woman
in the Philippines outside of Manila
She lives in town called Lipa and "a
worth her millions. was able to
observe for myself the number Of her
slaves.
A certain army officer, living in the
same town as Gen. Mulvar- original
Iy general-in-chief of the Philippine
army after Aguinaldo-desired to
find a competent native boy to work
for him. Gen. ATulvar offered to lei
him have one of his slave boys, sug-
gesting that if the officer would pay
the amount owed to the general by
the boys father, the boy would be-
long to the officer This officer would
not enter into this agreement, know
ing full well that if he bought the
boy and gave him his freedom. as
soon as he was ordered to the United
States Gen. Mulvar would. on some
pretext or other. get the boy back
into his power. was told this lit
tie story, which is simply illustrative,
by the officer himself.
OF course, there is another sideto this
question of slavery as it exists here
The low class natives are woefuily lazy,
brainless and generally worthless,
andthis system secures tothem homes,
clothes and food, for comparatively
little labor, as long as they live. This
is a very comfortable way to look atit,
but the fact remains that the condi-
tion of these people is slavery pure
and simple, and slavery on American
territory. This fact is uncomfortable
and should awaken the people Of the
United States to some sort Of action.
Originally the Spanish friars we're
responsible for this condition Of af-
fairs. or at any rate, responsible for
its continuance. These friars all
owned slaves, and if any powerful Fill
Spanish government-whic like our
government, could not act on what it
was in ignorance Of, which therefore
It chose to be blind tot would have
availed nothing. And these Filipinos
would besides have made untold
trouble for themselves, for the friars.
to shield their own position, would
have proved to the home government
that the report was false, and would
have oppressed the Filipinos more cru
ely than before.
The virtual governmentand 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 prop
erly to understand the Philippine char
acter and political and moral condi-
tions existing here for years, it is nee
essary fully to comprehend the com
plex nature Of the dominion held for
centuries by the Spanish friars in these
islands. They have left their mark on
all classes. and we cannot deal intelli-
gently with our new subjects without
giving this matter conscientious study.
That slavery has existed in these is
lands so long after Spain abolished
slavery in her West India possessions
which was in lss0-is due simply to
the absolute ascendeney Of the friars.
an ascendency almost inconeeivable in
its supreme power for evil, unauthor-
lied, and yet uncontrolled by the Span
ish government. That this same slavery
IS allowed to exist under American