Speech #570120115

Governor TAFT. I believe there have been disturbances of that the simple transactions of buying and selling give them better sort. opportunities for the exercise of fraud and their inveterate tenCHINESE THE ENEMY OF FILIPINO LABOR. dencies toward adulteration. They live huddled up in little [Excerpts from translation of a letter from Mariano Frias. of Cavite. to Mr. pigsties. they are not remarkable for cleanliness. culture. or Felipe Buencamino.] morality. and under the Spanish rule frequent attempts were Tell the truth. and nothing but the truth. and show that the made to prevent their immigration by the imposition of heavy country. without deserving it. has several bitter enemiesthe taxes. contributions. and burdens in favor of the state. but these friars. the Chinese. and even the Spaniards. These are those who were borne without complaint. Past history shows that the desire that the Filipinos should be divided. for. should they agree. Chinese. who were well received on account of their reputation goodbye to the good dinners and bargains. for industriousness and submissiveness. have risen up against the Chinese immigration is highly prejudicial to the country. and government. In the revolution of 1896 they played a double although the lack of labor is now evident. that is not because of game. and in the recent insurrection their behavior was no better. the natives. but the lack of encouragement. equity. and especially For them these islands are but a mine whence they extract a certain amount of despotism and lack of confidence with which money with which to enrich their own country. and if they the Philippine employees are usually treated. The failure of the wished to possess themselves of the archipelago all they would gang of laborers organized and sent by you to Abra or Benguet have to do would be to stretch forth their hands and take it. finds an explanation in this. - MORO LABOR IN MINDANAO (P. 181).