The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1915-02-11

mercantile spirit And through all the inhumane
treatment of the Spaniards the seed of learning
planted by Legaspi still thrived; and some of the
natives continued to pick up such learning as their
conditions would permit After the opening of
the Suez canal brought the Philippines relatively
nearer to Europe, way was thrown open for
promising young FillipiHos to obtain finished
education; and many of the natives grasped this
opportunity to show the world that they we're ca
pable, even though they had been in slavery for
more than century.
In 1896 the natives decided to revolt, but ow-
ing to their financial condition were unable to pur-
chase arms. Among the leaders of this insurrec-
ton we're men of finished education; such as Dr.
Jose Rial, Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Aguin-
aldo. On August 25, 1896, the instruction
broke out and all the Spaniards was called to act
in the defensive until October, when their rein
forcements began to arrive from Spain. Lack of
arms and ammunition was all that kept the Fill
pnos from throwing off the yoke of slavery that
Spain had placed on them. After organized re-
sistance had been shattered, Governor General
Rivera of the islands got Aguinaldo and some of
the other leaders of the instruction to leave the
islands.
Such was the condition of the Philippines
when Commodore Dewey took them in 1898. The
natives were ripe for anything that would free
them from Spain. Aguinado followed Commo-
dore Dewey from China to Manila and was most
instrumental in obtaining the cooperation of the
natives in taking the islands. When the Ameri-
cans landed in Manila, they found the city over
run with filth and disease. The streets during the
rainy season were like small rivers, and conditions
reminded one of the fifteenth century.
The Americans had their work laid out for
them from the start; and in three months after the
taking of Manila you. could have seen such changes
in the city that would have made you wonder how
it all accomplished in so short time. The
United States opened schools for the natives
built schOOlhOuses and sent teachers from the
states to teach the natives. The natives are given
an opportunity to learn trades They are paid for
all work done for the government They are hav-
ing their islands developed The way has been
thrown open to them to rise to any height they
may choose. Uncle Sam is their banker and pro-
tector, and there is no stumbling block thrown in
their way to hinder them to eventually having
their independence, if they can show they are
capable of governing and protecting themselves.
In the seventeen years the United States has
had possession or the ISLANDS, uncle Sam has
stalled in the city of Manila, electric railways
electric lights, ice plants, schools churches,
libraries and hospitals. In addition to these the
government has connected all the principal islands
with telegraph The railroad mileage was in
creased from 12O miles to more than 500 More
than ten million dollars has been expended in
building harbors and wharves, and many other
improvements too numerous to mention in this
paper.
Since the United States came into possession of
the Philippines, the natives have had greater op-
portunities offered them than any dependency of
any other country in the world. Will they avail
themselves of the opportunity to become an indie
pendent people with Uncle Sans protection?
Or will they continue their instructions! Surely
they should appreciate what this country is doing
for them. after the kind of treatment Spain gave
them, and from four years stay in the island, in
my opinion, it will be quite few years before the
natives are capable of self governments; but in
time they may, with Uncle Sans teaching and
training, be capable of not only sef-governng.
but protecting the islands.
Europe
Thus spake the GOD of Gods unto the world that
he had made: