AMERICA'S NEW COLONIES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8407, 5 January 1899, Page 3

AMERICA'S NEW COLONIES.

MASSACRK IN THE PHILIPPINES. (Electric Telegraph— Copyright— United Proas Asaoei&tiou.) Manila, Jan. i. All the Spaniards nt Balabae have been massacred, with the exception of the women. The Americans are striving to avert :t conflict lit 110 110 pending the Senate's ratification of the peace treaty. The American forces in the Philippines arc to remain here. Washington, Jan. 4. General Gomez, the Cuban leader, vainly demanded to participate equally with Americans in reference to the Spanish surrenders. The Cubans arc steadily disbanding their forces. (Received January 5, 9.25 a.m.) Madrid, J;">. 5. The Spanish Prefect at the Philippines asserts that the rebels are using monks as beasts of burden. They place rings in their noses, and they are led about the streets by cords. He also asserts that a thousand prisoners have died owing to maltreatment.

A gentleman who arrived at Sydney by the Japanese mail steamer Kasuga Maru recently visited Manila, and in conversation a few days ago with a Herald reporter gave some interesting views concerning the changed position of affairs. Amongst othpr thing 3he said : " If Spain loses the Philippines, as she seems to have done, then the Spaniards will go. With but few exceptions theSpaniardsin the archipelagoarc officials, military, naval, and civil. The great mass is naturally the soldiery, which is now without employment, and is willing and anxious to return home. Spain's conunerci.il interest, harassed and almost destroyed through the late revolutions and war, is bound up in a handful of men in a few coast towns. It is not likely that they will wish to remain and face unequal competition after having enjoyed monopolies that were protecled by all sorts of restrictions against foreigners. The business of local Spaniards amounts to comparatively very little. In the short time already passed competition upon an equal basis has placed new interests ahead of the old ones. American capital has begun to flow into the country, and under American rule foreign investment will rapidly follow. It is quite clear that uuless Spanish business and energy lose all their old-time characteristics the new blood will simply freeze them out. [And with the exodus of the Spaniards the use for the Spanish priests will be greatly minimised. Native priests are proving very satisfactory all through Aquinaldo's territory. They are of the people, nnderRtand them, and have enjoyed the advantages of study under Spanish masters. English-speaking people want Englishspeaking ministers. The United States," he added, " is the home of religious toleration ; will it be possible for the clergy now in the islands to adapt themselves to the changed conditions, from a state of absolute Roman Catholicism to one of the greatest toleration ? I think not. With the passing of the Spanish rule the value of the Spanish priest seems to me to be iv company."