The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-10
P1Or no CAPrURE GEN. GRANT.
Revealed for the First Time by tho General
Himself az Graduates' Dinner.

There was a symposium last night on
things in the Philippines pas, present and
to come at a dinner of the Graduates Club
at III Fifth avenue, and al nearly all the
members brought their sweethearts and
wives, the discussion was thoroughly genteel
although sometimes qnite lively. Some
Of the speakers we're Gen. Frederick ID.
Grant, Rear Admiral Coghlan, Congress
man Herbert Parsons and James B, Rey-
nolds, who recently returned from our Far
East possessions.
Mr.. REYNOLDS, who was toastmaster, said
that the Filipinos had learned more English
in eight years of American possession than
they had learned in three centuries under
Spanish rule. There were 400 900 children
in the public schools, and though they spoke
seven different languages, or dialects, they
now used Fin glish exclusively to communicate
with ~oneanother. The German and English
colonial systems were superior, perhaps
so far as the officials were concerned. nut
the American principle was better, because
it depended chiefly on the education OF the
people. The Americans at home wondered
why the Filipinos had not more freedom ,
and the English looking on wondered why
they had 80 much.
Gen. Grant related what he said was an
incident never before published OF his ex.
p~erience in the Philippines. After, he had
supposed that everything was fairly quiet
in the province of which he had charge
he intercepted a mail carrier who was taking
letters from the governor Of one part OF the
province to his friends. The letters were
copied and sent on their way, the mail
carrier was bribed to come again under
penalty of getting into greater trouble,
and later the General opened more letters.
They revealed a plot to capture him
and his staff and ambush his soldiers. he
was to be invited to the house OF the Gov
he secretly took with him about thirty
scouts. 1t was the plan of the Governor
to surprise the General and his staff. When
the Filipinos came around to do their work
they were surprised by the scouts, who
gave them so sound a drubbing hat all
thanked the hostess cordially and took
away the hod. After that the conspirators
we're faithful allies.
Gen. GranS said there was much con-
fusion in the minds of the American people
in regard TO the usefulness of civil anr
military law. He had IA 500 people unded
military rule hereabouts, and he thought
they received as much justice, If not more,
than they would under civil government.
The military law was made by Congress
and WAS in some cases Just the sort of law
that was needed. IT was a mistake for the
people to rise NJ throw off military law
prematurely.
Rear Admiral Coghlan referred to n re-
mark of Gen. Grant about the army help
ing the navy to get out of the Philippines
and said that when he read of the scrimmage
of the other day out there he recalled that
the navy was also represented.
As an officer of the Government he said
he, could make no comment on the American
policy in the Philippines, but he would say
that the Government of ARuinaldo, who
was now our friend had been more despotic
thanthat of the Spaniards that had preceded
him. Then the Admiral related the story
of the battle of Manila Bay, complimenting
the Spaniards for their bravery, but criti-
cisingIthem for their unpreparedness.