The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume 52, 1841-1898: Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century
History
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume 52, 1841-1898: Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century
Demarcation line of Alexander VI; Missions -- Philippines; Philippines -- Discovery and exploration; Philippines -- History -- Sources
The Spanish language ought not to be taught them, but they ought
to learn to read and write in their own. It is impossible to avoid
the introduction of papers and books into the provinces which it is
unadvisable for them to read, and experience demonstrates that those
who know our language, are almost always the restless ones of the
villages and those who murmur at, censure, and act contrary to the
curas and alcaldes.
[It is folly to teach the natives how to make artillery and
firearms. Factories for the manufacture of these are now being
finished in the islands. It would be better to send everything of
this nature from Spain. Another imprudence is the manufacture of
powder. Besides its inferiority to Spanish powder, and the danger of
allowing the natives to learn to make it, it costs more than that sent
from Spain. Although after the delivery of twelve thousand quintals,
the factory and its effects are to become national property, the
works which are now not worth more than ten thousand pesos, will
be worthless.]
[Mas recommends the use of steam vessels for inter-island
communication, for the rapid moving of troops, and the better
protection of Spanish interests. They can also be used against the
Moros [20] with better effect than the small squadron of sailing
vessels now employed, and will be more economical. Coal and wood
abound in the islands and can be used as fuel.]
The publication of a newspaper shall be permitted under the supervision
of the government. In them shall be inserted descriptions of the
best methods of making sugar, indigo, etc., dyeing thread, tempering
iron, and in fact everything that may conduce to the instruction of
agriculture and manufacture; the edicts and orders of the government;
and political news, both peninsular and foreign, edited in the manner
that is found advisable. [All the village ayuntamientos shall be
compelled to subscribe to such a paper, and the cura shall be asked
to translate into the native vernacular all useful articles. Foreign
papers are admitted without any charge, and prove, instead of a
benefit, an injury, for they are all democratic in tone, and foment
disorder and discontent.] The non-existence of newspapers in Filipinas
causes a very bad result among foreigners, who consider them and with
reason, the foremost mark of civilization, and at the same time, the
government is deprived of the advantage of guiding public opinion. [21]
A system of police must be established, especially in the capital. Not
many years ago, there was a commission of public vigilance, which
was abolished, I believe, during the government of General Camba. The
neglect of the captains-general in this regard at present is scarce
credible.
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