The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-01
MISSION OF AGUINALDO's DELE
GATES


When the United States determined to
put an end to Spanish rule in Cuba and
establish an enlightened and stable gov
eminent in that island they had no
thought that they would be called upon 60
assist the people of the Philippine Islands
TO gain their independence. And yet that
is just what they ere asked to do. The
Philippine delegates now in Washington
are there 20 ask the President 20 have il
provided in the treaty of peace. which the
Peace Commission is now negotiating in
Paris. that Spanish rule I'm the Philippines
shall f0reNer end when the treaty is rad-
fed. These delegates further ask that
they be given a chance TO try self govern
ment under an American protectorate, If
that is practicable and if not, TO try self
government without any assistance from
any source. They say that the Filipinos,
if their efforts to govern themselves should
be- a failure would ask tl become colonies
OF or to be annexed TO the United States
What have these Philippine delegates 70
offer Us in return for what they ask as TO
do for them? They have nothing to offer
except their trade. so far as they can con-
troll it. And what does that amount to?
Certainly not a great deal. The statistics
of the Philippine commerce, which have
been published recently, show that if We
could control the whole Of the commerce
of the islands the benefits which would
accrue 10 US would nowhere near equal
the cost Of maintaining order in the ISL
ands. The Spaniards admit that the Phil
ippnes cost them every year a great deal
more than they get out OF them, notwith-
standing the fact that they practically
robbed the people, a thing the United
States would not do. If We should do
what these Philippine delegates want US
TO do we should have to keep quite a
large army in the islands and a very con
siderable navy. The amount of the ex-
pense of doing that would be much greater
than the amount we now spend for in
ternal improvements. And there would be
certain to be instructions which would
cost many lives and vast sums of money.
It would be many years before the trade
of the islands would compensate us for
our OUTLAWS and expenditures IT, in fact,
it ever would.
The F'ilipinos promise fairly now, but It
is pretty certain that they could not main
tain an independent government. And IL
they failed an governing themselves they
would not admit the fact They would
not submit 10 the control of the United
States as they now promise. Some of
them probably would be willing to adhere
to their agreement, but enough of them
would not to make it necessary for us to
use force in dealing with them. To an
mex the islands or to hold them as colonies
might, and probably would, necessitate a
costly war
What the President will say to these
Philippine delegates is. of course, mere
conjecture. The chances are that he will
give them no definite answer. He is not
in a position 10 say much to them To
make promises to them would be to fore
stall the action OF the Peace Commission.
1t is pretty safe to predict, therefore,
that they will have to wait the action of
that commission or return home without
having accomplished. the object of their
mission and without being able to make
an encouraging report to the Philippine
leaders.