The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1911-09-14
PHILIPPINE QUESTION.
NOT YET SOLVED
DR.. Ames Writes His Brother
Of Soldier Life From Wilds
Of Mindanao.
Natives Know No Law Save
From Their Code, the
Laws Of Abraham.

Laws Of Abraham.
The following letter was received by
]. D. Ames from his brother, DR..
E. w. Ames, surgeon in the U. S.
army in the Philippines, with rank of
captain:
Dear Brother Julian:
Since my return to Philippine Islands
I have lacked the leisure time until
now to write to friends in North Dakota.
I came down here on an inspection
trip few days ago and as campaign
is on often some wild renegades stopped
off to accompany the troops. We are
on the coast of Davao Gulf. within ten
miles Of the extreme south end of Min
danao, within sight of Sarangani point
and islands. Your atlas will show if
you want to look it up. It is a rock
bound coast. all right where the ocean
waves dash high, and the woods against
the stormy sky, etc. The mountains
go ostraight up and the only well marked
trails are dry creek beds.
It is about the most ultra pioneer
proposition that Uncle Sam has. The
wild men are armed with bows and
arrows and the trails are spiked with
sharpened bamboo spikes and traps are
numerous which throw bamboo pointed
spears at the pedestrian if he inadver-
tently springs them. Our troops were
recruited from the trees recently, SO
they know the game of the wild. We
campaigned over the territory about
forty miles north OF here five years
ago this month. have bow and
bunch Of arrows which one of the mis-
guided ones was using the other morn
ing in menacing manner. He is now
a good spirit, no doubt as a Krag bullet
from one of our moro soldiers finished
him. It is too bad to have to kill these
people and had the job been finished
right five years ago, and the wild men as
sembled in to communities and governed
as they should be, the solution of the
problem might have now been well ad-
vanced and these children of nature all
assembled in the nursery of civilization
and the man-hunting stage be over.
The Boston contingent haven't yet
learned that the greatest historical fall
lacy Of our nation is the declaration
that '.all men are created free and
equal"; SO, the national policies may
be instituted that might settle prompt
ly and for all time the training of our
wards, false philanthropy steps in
and the process stops until the mis-
guided fools commit another tragedy
on the outposts Of civilization. The
poor devils are again pursued. q few
shot down, and when our dear laws
have been farcically upheld the Incl
dent is declared closed. In a few
weeks or months the incident is re-
peated and so the process Of extermi-
nation goes on. These bow and arrow
chaps have no conception of laws ex-
cept their tribal codes, which have
many good features for their state Of
civilization, but don't suit the Anglo
Saxon idea Of the present time. They
are followers Of Abraham still, and
human sacrifice is the stunt for various
ills. They estimate a grievance in
human lives, yet their sense Of Justice
is keen and there is a lot Of potential
good in them. But what folly to apply
our conception Of liberty to these people
and let them 60 scot free. to commit
what we consider crimes, under their
code which to them is justice.
"A locust scourge which has destroyed
their crops is q visitation Of an angry
god who must be appeased. Their
council may deciie that their salvation
can only be obtained by numbering a
trader. The loot from the traders
store appeases their hunger and their
prayer is answered. What not to ap-
ply our code to these people, regarding
them as free to go their way and re-
strain them only when they violate our
laws. That policy has exterminated y
brave race in North America and now
it is getting these poor ignorant devils.
It seems to me the rational thing to
do is to recognize as fact that the
Anglo-Saxon, with his civilization is
here to stay and dominate. It isn't an
Ideally Of civilization and it has been
developed and is being administered
BY lot Of fools, but it is prob
ably the best there is, and it is COM
modify that is on the market and its
application is being pushed by the
pioneer type Of our manhood. That
much accepted. these people having be
come our wards. let us regard them as
poor ignorant children to be governed
and taught to respect human life and
render them capable Of appreciating
our laws before applying our laws to
them. Let Us gather them into COM
mrunities and govern them justly and
humanely;; teach them TO respect the
rights of others and the legitimate and
lawful defense Of their own rights; and
when they shall have % far advanced aa