Racial , Commercial , Political and Social Con
ditions of the Inhabitants of
Those Islands.
The Philippine croup were discover
ed by an expedition under Magellan in
3521 , the Islands , on the occasion of a
Dialer expedition under Vlllaboa , were
named Philippine in honor of the then
Prince of the ' Asturias , afterwardJ
Philip II. Manila wcs founded in 1571 ,
und Klnce that date ha been held by
I ho Spaniards , except for a brief in
terval betv/cen 17G2 and 1761 , whan it
was occupied by the British.
Kltuntlmi. Topography.
The islands cf the Philippine archipelago
pelage arc described by Sir John Bow-
ring as "innumerable. " Other author-
flics variously estimate them at from
.400 to 1,200 in number. The eleven
most Important , embracing some 03 par
cent cf the total area ( computed at
114,350 square miles ) , and the great
mass of the population are Luzon. Min
danao , Nogros , Panay , Mindoro , Cebu ,
Samar , Ley to , Palawan. Bojol and Mas-
bate. Lying between Borneo and Formosa
mesa , the archipelago extends sciae oOO
leagues from north to south , and 1SD
fron cast to west , and covers 14 % de
grees of latitude and 9 degrees of loa-
gltudo. Luzon and Mindanao together
exceed all the other islands combine : ! .
Manila , the capital , situated on the
wet coast of Luzon is in latitude 14
degrees 36 minutes north and longitude
120 degrees 57 minutes east. Its posi
tion , "as a central point between Ja
pan , China , Annnni. the English and
Dutch ports of the Malayan archipelago
and Australia , " is , observes Jagor. "ex
tremely favorable to the development
of a world-wide trade. " Some 7,003
miles distant from San Francisco , it
IK but C50 miles from Hongkong , while
from the northern extremity of Luzon
to the south cap2 ct Formosa is little
more than 200 miles.
The Town of IManllu.
The site of Manila was selected ch'oC-
ly on account of Us fine harbor or bay ,
circular in form , and "capable of holdIng -
Ing all the navies'of the world.- Into
this debouches the river Pasig , which ,
with a breadth of about 350 feet , flows
through the city , dividing it into Ma
nila proper or old Manila , and new
Manila or Binoado. The former , oc
cupying the laft or southern bank of
the river , is the fortress or citadel. It
contains , besides the principal fortifi
cations , the palace and the cathedral ,
and is surrounded by old walls , bastioned -
tioned and moated , and dating back
In part to the sixteenth century. These
walls have been cracked by earth
quakes , and could easily be breached
by modern artillery. Jagor describes
the old town as "a hot , dried-tfp place ,
full of monasteries , convents , barracks
and government buildings. " "It still
preserves , " says a later writer , "all the
austere appearance of a city of the
reign cf Philip II. " Upon the walls ,
Sibwever. and beneath them , have'been
arranged pleasant promenades , where
the aristocracy stroll and drive and
ride in the cool of the evening. The
diF.trict cf BInondo , on the right bank
of the river , is the place of business ,
the real commercial capital ; and here
tire the shops and warehousss and the
movement of modern life. Here , also ,
and in the pleasant suburban villages
or pueblos behind the city , live the
foreigners and the wealthier class. Be
hind the city stretches a flat region
rich in tropical vegetation , through
which flows for some twenty miles the
river Pasig which forms the outlet of
a. gix-at fresh-water lake called the La-
ana ; the country around being known
as the Laguna province. Beyond this
region the land rises towards the ir
regular mountain chain or sierra which
runs parallel with the east coast , and ,
which , abounding in grand and pictur
esque scenery , is the home of the wild
er native tribes. From this ranga as
cends Mayou , an active volcano of con
ical form , about eight thousand feet in
elevation , a conspicuous landmark from
the sea. This height , with that cf Ba-
najao (6.500 ( feel ) , and San Cristobal
(7,375 feet ) , are but little exceeded by
Halcon in Mindoro (3.8C8 ( feet ) . Next
in population to Manila ia the town of
Cavitc. at the southern point cf the
bay , eight miles distant , where were
the Si-anish naval and quarantine sta
tion and arsenal , and the defences so
cleverly turned by Admiral Dewey in
the dawn of that eventful first cf May.
Other ports in the Philippines which
liave been opened to general trade are
Snal hi Luzon , Iloilo in the island cf
Panay , and Zamboanga in Minda
nao. Sual has probably the best
harbor , but Iloilo is the more im
portant point , its province being the
most advanced after that of Manila.
The pina fabrics made here are the
most esteemed. Capis , or Capiz , also
In Panay , is another considerable town.
Tacloban , the chief town of the island
of Leyte , has an excellent harbor and
Is the emporium of trade between Man
ila and the islands of Leyte and Sa
mar. Another trade station is Cebu ,
Ihe principal town of the island of Se-
bu. From Manila to Iloilo it is CO
hours by steam and 18 hours further to
Cebu. Other points in provinces or dis
tricts of Albay. Bulacan. North and
South Cansarincs , Batangas , Pagsan-
jan and in the Cagayan Valley ( rich in
tobacco ) might readily bo developed
Into important centers by a growing
commerce.
The Government The Church.
The head of the government of the
Philippines ia a Governor or Captain
General , a dignitary with half a page of ii
titles , appointed from Madrid , tha
incumbent frequently changed with the
changes of ministry. These changes
have been most prejudical to the in
terests cf the islands ; some of the Gov
ernors have fccen provisional only , and
the uncertainty cf their tenure has very
materially impaired their efficiency.
Each province has a Iccsar governor of
Its own ; each pehlo a gobernadorclllo ,
or captain , a species of alcalde who is
commonly a mestizo or native Indian.
riho Governor General commands the
army , but the fleet remains subject to
the Ministry cf Marine at Madrid , and
is under the orders of the commandant
cf the station. The church is governed
by a Metropolitan Archbishop at Man
ila , with bishops for the most populous
provinces. The Iccal ecclesiastical au
thority is mostly in the hands of the
religious corporations of Augustine ,
Dominican and Franciscan monks and
friars , whose members are legion.
Some cf the fraternities and of the indi
vidual mcna : have become most opu
lent ; their landed possessions immense ,
their revenues enormous , the monas
teries and convents almost palatial ,
their equipages even costly and elab
orate. That they have been the chief
civilizers of the Indians , that they have
repeatedly intervened with good offices
between the natives and their civil oppressors
pressers , in undeniable. At the same
time the records cf the church in the
Philippines abound with evidences of
hostile and protracted controversies
with the authorities of the state , and
of bitter contentions between the or
ders themselves.
The Cllmato.
There are two seasons at Manila ,
the wet and the dry , or the seasons of
the southwest and northeast monsoons.
Broadly speaking , the wet , or rainy
season , ushered in by the southwest
monsoon , in from June to November ;
the dry season , when the northeast
monsoon prevails , is from November
to June.
In the wet season the country is in
undated , ths roads become impassable ,
and bridges disappear. The annual
rainfall at Manila is variously report
ed at from 75 to 91 inches. The hot
test months are April and May ; the
droughts are then long continued , and
accidents from fires are to be guarded
against ; it is then that the mosquitoes
October 30 , 1875 , killed 230 persons and
destroyed 3,800 houses. One of 1SS2 la
also memorable ; and that of Septem
ber 29 , 1890 , demolished tha seawall
that prelected the inner harbor. The
hurricanes at these times often sweep
away crops and destroy plantations.
The roadstead , with a violent south
west wind iti unsafe , and sailing vessels
take refuge in the port of Cavita.
Earthquakes.
Of the earthquakes Sir John Bowring
writes that "the destructive ravages
and changes produced by them are no
where more remarkable than ia the
Philippines. * * * They have pro
duced great changes in the geography
of the islands. * * * They have ov
erturned mountains , filled up valleys ,
desolated extensive plains , and opened
passages from the sea into the interior
and from the lakes into the sea. He
mentions as especially "calamitous"
tne earthquakes cf 1796. 1S24 and 1S23.
In the more recent instance of June ,
18u : $ . the old town cf Manila \vas ren
dered a mass of ruins" and many pr-
scns were buried alive. Four hundred
are reported to have been killed and
two thousand injured , and the loss of
property is estimated at eight million
dollars. This earthquake was also very
destructive at Cavils. The many vol
canoes , Home of which have been named
showing as they do , aigns cf constant
activity in the throwing up of clouds
cf smoke with frequent flanie , are a
perpetual menace. Subject to such vi
cissitudes and portents , the climate of
Manila is , icr the tropics , a not un
healthy one. It may be noted en the
east coasts of the islands the order of
the seasons , as above given , is le-
versed.
Frotliu-ts.
The Philippines possess a very fertile
soil , though their capacities have been
but imperfectly developed. In many
localities the soil must be quite or
nearly virgin. Where cultivated the
products are sugar , hemp , tobacco , rice ,
coffee , cacao , gums , arrowroot , indigo ,
cotton , hides , pepper , cochineal , gutta
percha , sesame betel root , arecanut , cocoanut -
coanut , cocoanut oil.pinacloth , tortoise ,
shell , birds' nests and trepang ; also
bamboos and rattans , with logwood ,
ebony and other hardwood timber. Ths
material known as ' "Manila hemp" is
not produced from the plant of hemp
with which we are familiar ( Cannabls
sativa ) , but from the fiber of a species
of banana ( Musa textilis ) . The rice of
the islands Is the staple food cf the na
tives. The cultivation cf sugar is jeo
pardized by the terrible plague of lo
custs , to which this crop is subject ;
these insects arrive in "swarnu cf mil
lions. " The manufacture of cigars ,
etc. , was for a long period the monopoly
ely cf the government , and extensive
cigar factories were established in
Manila and Cavite , but the monopoly
induced a universal contraband traffic ,
and was discontinued in 1882. The en
tire trade cf the islands with other
countries in the year 1894 ( the last
extraction has not bean extensively
prosecuted. Mines exist of lead , cop
per. Iron and sulphur. The island cf
Cebu contains considerable beds of
coal , which , though not of the first
quality , 13 preferable to that of Austra
lia.
t _ a _ , .
Population.
The population of all the Islands Is
probably between seven and eight mil
lions , but the estimates are necessarily
somewhat conjectural in view of the
difficulty in computing the inhabitants
of the remoter localities. Of this to
tal net over 10,000 are Spaniards. In i
few days hence the American papula
ticn will number 25,000 men. The pop
illation cf Manila In 1896 is stated by
Wakefield at 220,000 , including 16,000
"pure Celestials , " 48,000 "Chinese mes
tizos" ( offspring of a Chinese father
and an Indian mother ) , 4,300 "pure
Spaniards and about the same number
of Spanish mestizos of whom he says
"net more than 250 settlers are of
European origin apart frcni Spaniards
and the remaining 147,000 or there
abouts , aie all natives of the Philip
pines. " Cf Cavite ( Old and New Ca
vite ) the population is said to be up
wards of 60,000 ; of Iloilo some 30,000 ;
cf Cebu , 40,000. Of the constituents of
the population in general , tha Chinese
and Chinese mestizos are the most val
uable. The Chinese , rrany of whom
have acquired wealth , are the retail
snopkeepers , and the greater part of
the local trade is in their hands. Their
arrival in the islands in said to have
anticipated even the coming of Ma
gellan. The mestizos "furnish the edu
cated and professional class , " hold most
of the minor offices and with Indians
compose the army. The Indian of
Manila is an indolent creature , given
up to gambling and cock fighting. The
Spaniards ( aught him gambling as we
taught our Indians the taste of whisky.
Of the forms of gambling , cockfighting
ing is the mcst popular Is , indeed ,
almost universal throughout the is
lands. The Philippine Indian , it is
said , is as much attached to his gallo
"as is a Bedouin Arab to his horse. "
An early Spanish writer characterizes
the Indians as "perpetual idlers , who
go from ccckpit to cockpit , those uni
versities of every rice. " Investing in
lottery tickets sold on the streets is
also much favored , and the government
adds materially to its revenues by tak
ing advantage of these practices in
exacting license fees for the mainten
ance of places of gaming.
The Insurrection of 1800.
The characteristics and present at
titude cf the Indians of the Philippines
are illustrated by the insurrection
which was initiated in August , 1896.
and has since continued. There had
been previous similar risings , notably
one in 1872 , but none where the insur
gents were so numerous or formidable.
The moving causes of this outbreak are
to be found in the oppressive taxes , ex
cises , license fees , and other burdens
r
CIUDAD DE MANIC A Y I
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MAP OF PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. so
( Drawn by a Spanish Artist Now at Manila in the Service of the United States. ) in
ml white ante are most troublesome ,
'he coolest months are December and
'ebruary. when the freshness Is grate-
ul at night. The average temperature
f the year ia about SO degrees. The
erlods of the changes of the mon-
eons , in 'May ' to June , and in Sep-
ember to October , are marked by the
eavlest blows and thunderstorms ,
lyclones , typhoons and hurricanes
hen visit the coast. A typhoon on
eptember 27 , 18C5 , drove some twenty
essela ashore , and did great damage
i the city. A typhoon or hurricane on
fully reported ) was valued at the fol
lowing totals : Exports , ? 33,149,984 ;
imports , $28.529,777. The revenues of
the Spanish government from the is
lands in 1S95 were estimated at some
thirteen and a half millions ; the ex
penditures at but little less. Besides ,
the products above specified , the yield
is abundant of fruits , grown spontan
eously such as the orange , banana ,
mango , pineapple , roseapple , mango-
steen , guava. tamarind and chico. Of
minerals , gold has been found in small
quantities in divers localities , but its
di
imposed by the government and en sii
forced by extortionate officials , among ed 1
which , besides the grievous and unrea ca
sonable pecuniary mulcts , was the cor
vee cf forty days' labor for public pur
poses which every man was compelled
annually to furnish. The srievance of tr <
the taxes was aggravated by the usu un
rious loans to which the natives were thi
compelled to submit to raise money , thim ,
and especially by the confiscations of ful 1
property which were resorted to where int
the dues claimed were not satisfied. th <
The authority to confiscate placed a of
great power In tlis hands cf unscrupu
lous officials , who used it corruptly
against the more prosperous for the
purpose of extorting money. Thesa
grievances became so general that a
secret Revolutionary Society or League
was formed , which by August , 1896 ,
rose to the proportions of an army of
50,000 men , Cavito being the cantor of
the revolt. The original rebels were
joined by deserters from the army ,
vagabonds and escaped criminals. In
the course of their conflicts with the
forces of the government , which was
instructed from Madrid to show no
mercy , a spirit of atrocious Inhumanity
was developed on both sides , and a sav
age destruction of life ensued. The
killing of prisoners captured or sur
rendered , smothering of captives in
dungeons , burning alive , mutilation
and dsemboweling were practiced by
both , without any regard to the usages
of civilised warfare. The Spaniards , to
extort confessions , resorted to the
thumbscrew and revived the tortures cf
the Inquisition. Their proceedings
were claimed to be justified by the plea
cf retaliation , but no law or exigency
could justify retaliation pushed to a
point so malignant and brutal. And
its fatal impolicy is shown by the fact
that the insurrection has not been sup
pressed , but is suspended only.
GOOD DONE BY WESLEY.
Ho Guvo Jloth Ilia Hc-irt anil Ilia
Money to Ilia tVorlr.
Wesley , during his life , gave to the
poor ? 200,000 , although always on a
meager salary , says the Boston Trans
cript. Wesley started in England an
organisation similar to the associated
charities of today , and also inaugu
rated an enterprise for leaning poor
people small sums cf money , whereby
they could be tided ever business dif
ficulties , and there is on record a case
where he leaned a cobbler $20 to en
large his business , and he lived to see
the ccLbler doing a business of 5150,000
a year. He believed the scheme a good
one for helping net only financially ,
but in helping manhood. A picture of
Wesley might be made as a student
leaving Lincoln college with a basket
of provisions in cne hand and a Bible
in the other. Wes-ey was the first to
start medical dispensaries ia England
and. in a letter to Wilberfcrce , implor
ed him to do all he could to stop slav
ery in the British empire , while , on the
other hand , Whltfleld was a slavehold
er , just before his death , bequeathed
his slaves to Lady Huntlcgtoa.
1 : ihIn ? "loncy.
"In war liine , " said a man of mature
years , "there aie always unusual
chances that are taken advantage cf by
men of foresight to make money. This
reminds ms of what Josh Billings said.
that 'if oar foresight was as good as
our hindsight we'd all be rich , ' or
ivords to that effect. At the outbreak
3f the civil war ia this country there
were long-headed men who stored
iway manufactured cotton gooJs.
bleached " and unbleached cottons ,
sheetings , and so on. As the war went
an , what with the curtailment of pro-
iuctioa acd the blockade of Southern
ports , the price cf cotton soared sky-
svard and manufactured cotton goods
increased ia value correspondingly.
Most men peddled cut their holdings
is the price rose , but seme held on and
jot for their goods six cr eight or ten
: imes what they had paid for them ,
rhere has bean no such money as that
naile in this war yet , and I don't sup
pose there's likely to te , but It would
36 easy to pick cut things that have
isen in value and that a man might
asily have made a fortune on if hs'd
lumwn what was gcin ? to happen.
5uppcs3 he'd have bought all the buat-
ns there was. for instance , cr taken a
'all cut cf sulphur , cr put away a few
mndred cases of Spanish olives. He'd
iavs found money ia all these things
ind in various ether * . But then a man
an find money in tine cf peace , too , if
10 kno7.s how to look. "
Every person who coughs should not .
larm himself with the idea that ha is
n a bad way. Experience has con-
inced us cf a fact that there are two
istinct kinds of coughs cne procssd-
ig frein an affection of the lungs ar.l
ir-tubes. a in a cold , the other pro- |
>
eeding from effervescence in the stom-
ch. The lungs cough is a symptom
hich all know to require attention , b
2st ssrloiu consequences enbv. ? . Tha ii
tomach cough is a much more slmy'e n
latter , and may easily bs get quit o * . e
t is caused hy tha fcod and drink
rhlch are put into ths stcaiaoh e or-
escln ? . and produrin an irritation.
knowledge cf this fact ought to leaJ
ersons so affected to ponder a little
n the na'.ure cf their ailment and the
jne of their digestive powers. A
Nipo ! uiiii * Table planner * .
It is said that the table manners of
apcleon Bonaparte were very bad , sot
nd that ha was so fast an e < iter that
a hau" invariably finished his dinner .
rji.
2fon > those who dined with him had
3t half through. In fact , those who i
id the honor of dining with the em-
jror were went to remain after h's Ka ;
ajesly's departure Upon one oooa- S
ferAl
on Eugene de Boauharnais. the step-
in of Napoleon , rose from the table
Al
imeillately after the emperor. "But
you haven't had time to finish your
nner. " said Xapolocn. "Parilcn 1110 ,
re. " said he prince. ' 'I ha\e profit-
by experience ; I dined Lefore . '
me. "
An Interesting .Ii p-uiro Cu tom.
At the birth of a Japanese baly a
se id planted , which must remain
itcr.ched until the marriage day of
0 child. When the nuptial hour ar-
-63. the trse is cut down , and a skill-
cabinetmaker transforms the wood
to furniture , which is considered hy
a young couple as the most biauUftil
all ornaments of the house.
B
'
Weak Stomach
Sensitive to every litllo indiscretion in
eating , even to exposure to draughts and
to ovcr-pcrspiration thia condition %
pleasantly , positively and permanently * ,
overcome by the magic tonic touch of \
Hood's Saraaparilla , which literally
"makes weak atomacha strong. " It alno
creates an appetite makea you feel real
hungry , nnd drives away alt symptoma of
dyspepsia. Be euro to get
Hood's Sarsaparilfa
.America's Greatest Medicine. All druggists.
Hood's Pills cure all Liver 111 ? . 23 cents.
Teacher ( examining juvenile CUS3
in gec raphy ) What can you tell ua
about the Arctic ocean ? Little Hen
ry Nawthin' . This ain't no lecture
platform. Chicago Daily News.
COSMO BUTTERMILK TOILET SOAP
makea tbo skin .soft , white and healthy.
Sold everywhere.
He It amounts to positive ganins
to be stupid on some occasions. Sha
But don't you think it can be carried
too far ? Life.
Don't Tobacco Spit ana smoxe Your Life Away.
To quit tobacco easily and forever , bo mag
netic full of life , nt rve , acd vigor. takcNc-To-
Bar the wonder-w rker. that makes weak mea
strong. Alldrugsi-ts.oOcorSl. Cure guaran
teed. Booklet and sample free. Adclres3
Sterling Keinedy Co. . Chicago or New iork.
Men who know the same things are
not long the best company for each
other.
Have You n Sou , Krother ,
En band or Lover ill the Army or Navy ?
Muil him to-day a 23c packazo of Allen's
Foot-Ense. H powder for the feet. All who
march , walk or stand need it. It cures
aohiug , tired , soro. swollen , sweating feet ,
and makes hot. tight or uow shoos easy.
Feet can't Blister. et Sere or Callous
where Allen's Foot-Ease Is used. ID.IX'O i
testimonials. All druggists und shoa
stores s-ell it , 25e. Sample sent FREE.
Address Allsii S. Olmsted , Lo Roy , N. T.
foal is dearer in South Africa than /
in any other part of the world ; it is
cheapest in China.
Bentley & Olmsted , wholesale boot
and shoe dealers of Des Moines , re
cently received a request from ths
United States army officials at Chicago
for 50,000 pairs of shoes. The same firm
recently furnished 5.COO pairs of shoes
to the army , and they were so satis
factory that the request was made for
a bid on the larger order , which is in
all probability the largest order ever
bid on by an Iowa firm.
A cynic doesn't want other people
to be haopy. because they know
he is a failure.
To Core io.iscin3.Uou Irorevar.
Take Cat-carets Candy Cathartic. lOc or 25u.
If C. C. C. fall to cure , druggists refund mosey.
If a man's too poor to lead hla
friends money he will retain them
longer.
If men had rhe gift of second sigh'
there would be fewer cases of lova at
first sight.
THE EXCELLENCE 0 ? SYSUP OF FHB
is due not only to the originality and
simplicity of the combination , but also
to the care and skill with which it is
manufactured by scientific processes
known to the CALIFORNIA Fib Srnur
Co. only , and we wish to impress upon
ill the importance of purchasing the
true and original remedy. As tha
genuine Syrup of Figs is manufactured
by the CALIFORNIA FIG Svr.ur Co.
? nly , a knowledge of \ t is ; * * t Ul
I33\t \ cne in arciilng' ' the worthiei *
.nutations laanufaetured
brother par
ies. The high standing of the CALI
FORNIA FIG tJVKfp Co. with the mcdi-
: al profession , and the satisfaction
vliich the genuine Syrup of Figs has
riven to millions cf families , makes
he name of the Company a guaranty
f the excellence of its remedy. It is
ar in advance cf all other laxatives ,
is it acts on the kidneys , liver and
iov.-els without irritating
or wcaken-
ag them , and k , does not gripe nor
auseaie. In order to get its beneficial
Sects , pleasa remember the name of
lie Company
CALIFORNIA FIG SYRU ? CO.
SAX FRASCISCO. Cjf.
on viLi.r. KT. N FIT TOCR. x. T.
DTOMATIC GRIP HECK YOKE
AN ACCIDENT AND LIFE PRESERVER.
3reatPstXec'j Yoke ever In"
ntetl. conblaiaic utreacth1
ra'jillty anil safety. ii4a. .
nely palmed. Win not allow
icae'odroplf tracer become
ise. No r\te.
I'KICES.
iln unntcteleit . $ t.co
ckel Loop * anJ Ai rn
lead * . jrj )
ckoiranters . i
i-Jcel Tips an I Centers _ 1.7.1
ntsrx. without Yoke . tvs
rmVncoa Grip HlDjj. . C"
.Iberal Terms to Agents. AiMresi.
JTOMATIC GRIP NECK YOKE GO.
Street , Indianapolis , Intl.
CURE YOURSELF ?
r mr
'cCBZaX I U
air a tar unnatural
iaCammations.
or uloerntiaoa
or mnuoaj
r