The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-22

immense wall and moat, built by the
Spanish many years ago, to afford pro-
lection from the natives. This fortifi-
cation was at one time very strong, and
has seen much fighting: the walled city
was once taken by the English, and at
another time by the Chinese. In the
base of the wall are immense dungeons,
where prisoners were formerly kept;
but as a rule. they were not kept very
long. they We're backed UP against
the wall, in squads of sixty or seventy
and shot, as provisions were scarce, and
the Spaniaids We're besides, very cruel
At night, the draw bridges. We're drawn
up. There are half a dozen gates to
these electric cars now run. others have
been torn down by the Americans. The
wall must be sixty or eighty feet thick
at the base, and it is a dark, damp, cur
ious experience to ride or walk through
the gates.
The newer portion of Manila is on the
other side of the river, and here you
find many large and comparatively
modern buildings. I believe 7 have al
ready stated that Manila has 100000
people; is about as large as San Fran
CISCO and has fifty miles of street rail-
way. The electric system was completed
and put in operation during the present
year; during the old Spanish days, the
town had horse cars, but the present
WaterWOrks system (nOW being greatly
AIillA0NEuJ was III existence Aat-Ats anu
the town had electric lights before
American occupation. The town was
practically as it is today when the
Americans arrived, except that it was
run down. very dirty, and in bad sani-
tary condition Choler>. epidemics were
frequent, and hundreds died daily. All
of the public buildings now occupied by
the Americans We're occupied by the
Spanish for similar purposes; the Gus
tom house, the governors palace, the
treasury building. etc.
j almost had a notion that Manila was
a town of matched huts- Such huts are
abundant, in the suburbs, but / found
in the city modern and busy streets. enor-
nous buildings. handsome stores, me-
chanical electric lights, etc. one night
at the Luneta, the great resort on the
shore of the bay, ] saw certainly thou
sand private carriages. many OF then
stunning while listening to concert
given by the Constabulary band of eighty
men. These concerts are given every eV-
ening, except Monday In one section of
the town the rich residents live with
their houses fronting on a wide street,
and in the rear, looking out on the Pdsig
river. Bear ia mind i'm considering these
statements that in the suburbs are miles
of matched huts, built five or six feet
from the ground. ON bamboo poles. In
these native huts the people live very
simply and iueNpensively. Little stores
and shops are operated in many of the
huts. the only large buildings in the ma
tive sections are Catholic churches. There
are possibly nifty enormous Catholic
churches in Manila and as many more
small ones Originally there were one
hundred and tWenty-SiN church festivals
eeIebrated IN fine Philiupines ana 50 MANY
are celebrated now that Americans Rre
constantly complaining. as their servants
are always getting off to attend them.
One night in returning from a drive
was blOckaded for an hour by church
procession There We're thirty or forty
floats in the procession. and five brass
bands. besides thousands of men. women
and children marching. The floats con-
sisted of images taken from the churches
AN hon doris
I of men. All the images We're life size
standing on gold or silver platforms. and
abra I suppose the images We're of noted
saints. All the people marching i'm the
i procession were uniformed in church
fashion. and there were thousands Of
them During my four days in Manila
have seen two fiestas in churches and two
professions: one of the professions was
elaborate affair
The Catholic authorities of course. do
+ said that the church could settle the Phil
ippine problem in month. if # saw fit
as the church has almost absolute control
i over 30 per cent Of the natives outside
of the insignificant MOhammef3an pro-
4 Ninces. Most Of the Catholic priests are
/ now natives, EDUCATED by the Spanish.
I and they naturally hate the Americans
] as cordially as they hate the protestant
/ church. do not critcise them for this:
/ 7 would do the same thing under similar
( circumstances. and so would Won The
I Catholics have good deal to do with the
I iOrity Of the members of the ruling Phil
\ ippine commission are Catholics. as are u
T majority eff the supreme court judges. The
7 Philippine commission has control of the
I islands and the supreme court is the
I court Of last resort. The congress of the
/ United states may interfere in great
emergencies. but this IS rarely done
I shall write a good deal about the PHIL
4 ipDines but it viii not always be accu-
rate. The best informed men here do not
{ agree The other day a school teacher
41sfH 10 mo ant
! than Americans. Within FIVE minutes an
+ other teacher in the same school denied