Watauga Democrat

A Letter From The Philippine Islands.

Editor Democrat:

As I have seen quite a little comment recently in regard to the Philippine Islands, especially the Mindanao and Jolo Provinces, I wish to give a description of it as viewed by an enlisted man and one who has been thro' all the trouble in Jolo since the thing first started up to the present time.

We find in nine cases out of every ten the American soldiers are painted in war colors, and the natives are the plaintiffs, bound hand and foot, not able to do anything but comply to the least wish of the American.

Of course the Islands are governed by Americans, and to some extent, American laws are enforced, but not fully. From the fact that the customs of the natives are not adapted to American laws, and in fact they can't understand them. It is just like leading a horse to water when he is not thirsty. The result is that you have a job to make him drink.

You may teach a native of the Southern Philippines the laws of America until you are dead and gray headed and in no stage of the game will he comprehend, for it is not his custom.

The customs of the Moros are to be savage and live by strategy in stealing from, or robbing his neighbor among the working class, or making his subjects slaves in the higher class.

So you see, to civilize this kind of people will occupy at least one-half or three quarters of a century, and to do it, it must be done step by step. The first step is the most cautious of all and it is that that we are undergoing in Jolo. As I understand it it is as this: To teach them that stealing and slave owning are vices and not tolerated by the Americans and that working is the surer and easier method of securing a living. To obtain this end a decree was published for the former and employment in different modes for the latter.

The result was they did not understand why they should work when they could steal from some honest worker or why they should give freedom to their slaves that cost nothing whatever but realized their livelihood from and consequently they formed the idea that the United States was too little to fool with their business and went to fighting. Now, you see Moros lined up for work when it is offered them and here at Jolo the Q. M. employs from 100 to 200 Moros. The Engineers about the same. The haughty leaders are about extinct but slavery is carried on to some extent.

The statement has been made that the Americans went out in cold blood and killed our "poor little brown brothers?" Now when the U. S. stations soldiers at a place and says keep peace, for every one knows, it is for that purpose that we maintain an army and the people located under this jurisdiction slip around in the dark and cut your head off, or else when you are out for a reconnaissance open fire from behind trees, trenches, etc. that the American soldier is going to retaliate for it is American principles. Not only American but International. Who will disagree? That is exactly what has been done on the Island of Mindanao for 5 years and Jolo for the last 10 months and just because the American interests have been protected some nearsighted fellow gets up and says let those people go they are competent of taking care of themselves. Yes let them go and you will have cannibals in less than ten years.

It might be well for the U. S. to get rid of the Islands but for the people to govern themselves is an absurd idea.

And as far as the opinion of the red handed soldier is concerned, let me be pleased to inform you that in no case have the Americans been the aggressors. There has never a Moro been killed or harmed in any way unless he waged war against the Americans, at least since I have been here.

So if any one tells of the natives being so wrongfully used just tell them to come over and pass a night in the jungles of Jolo, or Mindanao and they will never be able to tell the tale unless surrounded by those "Red handed Soldiers."

Very Respectfully,
Chas. Ragan.

Jolo, Jolo P.I. July 29, 1904.