Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1914-04-22

lieve or wish, has been forced to take
cognizance of the awakening demand
| for liberty and justice. The Moham-
medan organization, though it's chief
| aim is religious, has had some effect
in disclosing conditions and urging
social and political reform. Moreover,
| in a country where the discussion OF
politics is not merely discouraged but
| by law forbidden, it is hopeful to
find political society, well organized,
with more than $4,000 members, the
Indische or Indian party, the avowed
| purpose of which is equality before
| the law for all inhabitants of the is
lands. This society includes in it's
membership all classes and is doing
an excellent educational work though,
prudent as its leaders are in the main,
it comes frequently into collision with
! the local government. The organ of
the society is the Java Express, edit
ed at Bandoeng by H C. Kakebeeke,
Dutchman by birth, a resident Of
Java, but by naturalization a citizen
| of the United States. The Express is
the best edited newspaper in Java,
and has the largest circulation. Kechil,
Sina, their father and brothers and
the 35,000,000 of the same race are
not without strong advocate.
Aims of Reform Society.
1.-The object of the Indische party"
explained Mr.. Kakebeeke, lis to awak-
en- the patriotism of all Indians for the
soil that nurtures them, to create a
desire for political equality in an
Indian fatherland and thus prepare
the way for independence" 1t was
this hint at possible future independ-
ence that caused the governor-gen-
eral to decline to permit the incor-
poration of the society under the
forms of law. THE Indische party
purposes said Mr.. Kakebeeke, Ito
teach the history of these people to
them in order to awaken the latent
national sentiment. We would abolish
all special privileges that attach to
race or caste. We are opposed to re-
| ligious sectarianism or strife. We seek
the establishment of technical schools
| that the natives may become skilled
| to do their own technical work rather
than be compelled to import men to
do it. We wish free education for all,
morality taught in the schools and no
difference in education because of
race or sex. We favor ore law for
Europeans and natives alike. We de-
sire to enlarge the influence of the
native in the government by giving
him the right to participate in it. We
wish to equalize taxation, to protect
the laborer, to improve economic and
social conditions, and to do all these
things within the law"
Robbery by Tax-coIlestors.
Conditions far worse than those
which the Indische party seeks to rem
edy in Java exist in the other islands
of the archipelago, Borneo, Sumatra,
Celebes and the smaller ones. In
these the native is peon, half-savage
| and half-slave. The exceptions are
not numerous. Take the matter OF
taxation in Borneo, as the one suffi-
cient example of the general rule.
| Let an intelligent, high-minded, pa
triotic Dutchman tell the story. Il
|
| tive population in Borneo," he said.
Away in the interior the different
tribes of the so-called dreadful Da-
jaks were my helpers. Shy at first,
| they soon became friendly when they
found that / was not after their slen-
der belongings but paid fair wages.
One day a government tax collector
| 20 xyOII fov vu0
get something in return, polics pro-
| lection courts, justice. These Bor-
neo natives get nothing in return. The
tax-collector kept at his work until
there was not fellow in the whole
T camp that had dollar left except my
self. He stripped the camp and the
native village bare of everything Of
value His boats carried it all down
the river--as taxes. The Dajaks, who
still are uncivilized and cut off their
enemies heads, when they hear of the
visit of the taX-collector to any tribe,
! Immediately attack those thus visited,
knowing they will have nothing left
with which to make defense. Is it
| strange that the taI-collector is some
| lInSS luO NlCLln Uf lie OuIdSSQ La
| tives? | do not blame him for his
tax-collecting. The stay-at-homes must
have revenue, and he must produce it
for them. 1t is a rotten system of
asarice and greed"
Rebellion MercilessIy Suppressed.
Occasionally even the light-hearted,
hapy-go-lucky JavaEese rebels against
such treatment and there is blood
shed. The Dutch speedily and merci-
lessly suppress the insurrection and
the outside world, SO rigid is the con.
troll of the press, hears little or moth
| ing of it. In the other islands, par
ticularly in Sumatra and Borneo,
where the natives are less gentle
than in Java, there is constant strife
In Timor the natives arose IN wrath
! the other day at the exactions and
| bestialities of an official and well-nigh
toppled the entire government of the
island, half Dutch and half Portu-
guese, into the sea. Though there
are many excellent and unselfish men
/ 49, 4.