The record-union., 1898-05-03

/ the Spaniards would have hastened to
report it.
But that in two such engagements, in
which the American fleet engaged both
/ ship and land batteries. it suffered con-
siderably must be expected AS the
news reports now stand, we have GER
tainly achieved an important victory in
the Philippines, which must be follow
ed up by occupation Of Manila and CO.
operation with the Philippine insur-
gents, or else brave Dewey will have no
base for operations, and will be cut off
from resupplying his ships with neces-
sites
! At late hour last night the news
was that Commodore Dewey, after hav-
! ing entered the harbor of Manila and
defeated the Spanish. practically de-
stroying their fleet, had demanded the
| surrender Of the city and it's defenses
| and supplies, and pending a response
to that demand, was reducing the fort
ress at the entrance to Manila Bay.
This is sufficient to warrant the convic-
| ton that this gallant American officer
has achieved one of the most daring
and heroic successes in the history of
any navy, and has won for American
arms unfading glory
| Probably before these lines go to
print the occupation of Manila will have
been effected, at least such landing
achieved as will give our naval forces
opportunity to unite with the insur-
sault If this is done the reduction of
Manila and the occupation OF the larger
of the islands, Luzon--a territory OF
nearly 41,000 square miles-will be ac-
complshed, and Spanish domination in
the Philippines will be at an end.
1t is scarcely probable, in that event
that the small American force will be
able to control the insurgents, who are
a very different class from the Cuban
rebels, are largely of Malay origin, are
divided in religion, but all entertain
the bitterest hatred of the Spaniard
They greatly preponderate in numbers,
pied foes and great massacres will fol-
low. This seems to be inevitable. If
such an outcome is averted it will be
almost miraculous.
The long and awful bill of Indictment
| against Spain by the Philippine insur-
gents reads like a chapter out of the
history Of the most barbarous and cruel
period of the worlds records. That the
natives and the imported population
| from the China coast will avenge them
/ selves upon the Spanish is not only
possible, but altogether probable, and
it is not to be expected that the few
hundred marines and blue jackets from
! DeWey's small fleet can restrain them
and at the same time care for the fleet
and hold Manila harbor
We have in any event the certainty
that the power of Spain will be COM
/ pletely broken in the Philippines. The
American nation will have the glory of
having not only freed Cuba from Span
ish cruelty and misrule, but will enjoy
the distinction of having given to ISL
anders of the Orient freedom from the
! oppressive domination of a conquerer
and hard master Even though an
archy for time usurps order in the
| Philippines, and the native tribes and
fdisaffected Mestizos let havoc loose, it
must all be accepted as of the newt
able and charged to the account of
Spain. For that nation has given these
people greatest cause for revolt by rea-
son of oppressive head taxes, horrible
cruelties practiced upon prisoners, un-
bearable exactions upon industry, trade
and commerce, and because of a
! naughty, eXtortionate, merciless and
! tyrannical rule over a conquered peo-
pie. One has but to turn to the cold
and expressionless pages of history fol-
| lowed down to the close of the year
1897, to be convinced that the revolu-
ton in the Philippines has had more
! justification in fact, than inspired our
forefathers to strike for liberty in our
own land