Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-05
BY PEDRO DE LA LLAMA.

On September 20, 1923. high Amer
lean oficial of the Philippine govern
ment and a confidant of the late Gen.
Leonard Wood wrote me letter in
which. among other things. he said:
"" Take tip from me: Save all
you can from your income, and when
you get o stake go to the States and
inform the American public regarding
conditions in the islands. BY so doing
you may accomplish something worth
while. Talk this over with your good
friends in Manila. You know. as well
as I, that harmony means compromise,
which means defeat Of remedial action,
and there are some situations which
demand drastic executive action II any
remedy be obtained.
You are, as am, reused to indig-
nation and to the defense of people
unable to protect themselves against
ruthless exploitation. ruthless robberies
and practices thinly yelled under sane
timonious and deceptive policies of at
traction as employed in the region of
Mindanao and Sulu.'
Progress Under q. S. Rule.
So. after talking matters over with
my friends in Manila, I decided to
write a novel exposing conditions in the
Philippines for the information of the
average American reader and also to
establish connections with American
newspapers in the United States. to the
end that the facts have with me may
be made accessible to the American
public.
The Philippine problem is one of the
most interesting and complicated now
confronting the American Government
and people. Through an accident OF
history. the islands came under the
aegis of the American flag. and during
the 80 years of Uncle Sans occupa-
ton of the country the Filipinos have
and intellectual progress hitherto I'M
dreamed Of
Spanish Influence Persists.
To be able to understand the out
standing traits of the natives, their
present-day moral and mental tend
encies. it is essential that we give here
a cursory view of their historical back
ground. Habits of thought persisting
through generations, which are per-
fectly justified by Filipinos, would be
repugnant and almost incredible to the
average American il he did not under
stand a little of the past history Of the
Filipinos.
If there is any country on earth
where the Latin and the Anglo-Saxon
civilizations meet. if they do not actu-
ally blend that country is the Philip
pines. For more than three centuries
! the Spaniards have eXerted such DOM
| mating influence upon the thoughts Of
the people of the Philippines that traces
Of former social and intellectual ten.
denotes are still noticeable, despite thu
rapid invasion there of American ideas
In the religion of the Filipinos, as vel
! In ho{ n
thought, the influence Of the old mother
country is wildly felt.
Material Needs Neglected.
In a number of ways, this influence
has been beneficient. Spain brought tc
my country the blessings of Chris
! tianity and opened up the Filipino
mind to new vistas of spiritual adven'
| ture and ethical romance. She trained
| the Filipino in the things of the spirit
almost completely neglecting the ma
| terial side Of the world, which has sc
much to do with our everyday deal
! ing with the rest of our fellowmen.
! The Spanish conquistadores, while
| leaving behind them some refining anc
regenerating influences, nevertheless
| cultivated in the natives the qualitie:
of Incidence, of parasitic dependence or
| others, of lack of self-reliance and ini.
tiative and aggressiveness which are in
, dispensable at the present time to any
one hoping to survive in the midst Of
the complicated scheme of modern rela-
| tons.
1.-TWO Kinds of SPAIN"
In our estimate of Spanish influence
n the Philippines, we should not over
| lock the fact that there are two kinds
of Spain-the noble and the mean
just as there are two kinds Of America