The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1906-01-05

Wednesday afternoon, January 3, at
club rooms, as prearranged with the Co
terie, Hon. n. f. Simpson gave an inter
esting talk on the philippines. AS known
by many of our readers, Captain Simp-
son had wide experience in the volun-
teer service. He recruited company
from Van Buren, and Cass counties and
entered the service 10 command of this
company in the 18th Michigan Volunteer
Infantry. After the muster out of this
regiment, Captain Simpson was reap
pointed and assigned to the U. S. Volun-
teers, organized for service 10 the Philip
pines, and later appointed regiment
quartermaster Captain Simpsons prac-
tical methods brought further recogni-
ton from higher army authority, and
without solicitation he was appointed
chief quartermaster Sd district depart
ment South Luzon on Gen. Bells staff.
His military experience as chief quarter.
master was quite extended he being re-
sponsble for the supplying of troops 10
a large district during an active cam
paign.
The captains account Of his eXperien-
ces enroute his stop at Honolulu, the
organization of transportation, the em-
ployment of Filipino labor in the build
ing of bridges aud construction Of quar-
tiers, the native peasant aud aristOcratc
Filipino, together with his crude at.
tempts at self government, were graphi-
cally described. We regret we have not
space to reproduce these descriptions in
full a we realize it would be of interest
to our readers. However we quote in
part:
During the entire voyage the vessels,
Senator and Ben Mohr, sailed within
hailiug distance, and, | believe, 1t was
the second Sunday out from Honolulu,
the Ben Mohr sailed alongside the Sena-
tor and there, in mid ocean was scene
which to me, was more affecting than
anything | witnessed while in military
service.
ut was retreat; the soldiers were gath
cred upon the decks of the two vessels,
and there, three thousand miles from
American soil, lone regiment of U. s.
soldiers hudded together upon the decks
of two small transports surrounded 10y
the vast expanse of the Pacific. The
military band played the Star Spaugled
Il. 8 81,
familiar hymn hoated out upon the wa
tiers, the stars and stripes were steadily
lowered, every soldier standing uncov-
cred and attention, in mid ocean, thou
sands of miles from his native shore,
paying a solemn tribute to his country
and the flag 1t was America in mid
ocean. Had you witnessed that little
ceremony you would have felt as / felt,
YOU would have known without further
assurances that every man present
would, under every circumstance, fight
for his country and the flag.
"The arstocracy are astesos, half
blood Spanish and Filipino, who have
accumulated wealth and have had the
advantages of an education. The Filipi-
no of this class is intelligent, neat in
dress, perfect in manners, a good pen
man. has clerical ability, and, from an
educational standpoint, is capable OF self
government. But the aristocracy is di-
vided into factions. The faction that is
out of power is jealous of the faction 10
power, and as result, incites native
following sufficiently strong to march
down from the mountains armed with
guns and bolos; they shoot few, cut of
few heads, burn the town, drive out
the oppressor and take the reins of gov
eminent. This see. saving has existed
for years in localities not controlled by
the Spaniards. and would continue
without interference of stable govern
ment.