Militarism in the Philippines:

2

On the 2nd of October, %98, at Marseilles, on board the SS. |
Arcadia; the correspondent of the " New York Herald" put in the
mouth of General Merritt the following statement:
"It is a'pure falsehood the story spread by the Spanish and
Pro-Spanish press to the effect that the Philippine population is
hard to govern. The Filipinos are not difficult to govern. In spite-of i
mis-government they are still quite tractable.. -
THEY HAVE BEEN GROSSLY MIS-REPRESENTED.
The men are obedient and affectionate; the women deeply interested
in their domestic duties. "
I did not meet Aguinaldo, but I have been told that he was
troublesome and arrogant before my arrival: however,
HE GAVE ME NO TROUBLE."
On the following Monday the same newspaper announced that
General Merritt arrived that day in Paris from Manila, and
attributed to him these further remarks
"The Filipinos impress mne very favorably; I think a great
injustice has been done to the native population. I have found
the Filipinos thoroughly susceptible to good treatment, and I am
certain that they would always prove grateful in return for fair
dealing.
THEY ARE MUCH SUPERIOR
in general points of character to the natives of kindred people in
any other part of the World.
THEY ARE MORE CAPABLE OF SELF-GOVERNMENT THAN I THINK
THE CUBANS ARE.
They are certainly a very tractable people; they are very kind in
their disposition, and, as I have said, appreciative of good treatment. The Filipinos, as a race, have a good deal of Malay blood
in them, some Chinese, and, possibly, some Japanese: they are
quick to learn, are great imitators, and in this respect exhibit many
of the characteristics of the Chinese: they are capable of improvement. They are really much attached to their own native priests:
they are considered to be good Catholics. They have lawyers and
doctors, and men of kindred professions, who stand well in the
community, and