The record-union., 1898-09-20
THE PHILIPPINE INVOLVEMENT.

The order to dispatch at once five
regiments from San Francisco to Ma
Mia indicates a belief on the part of
the Government that the need for REIN
forcing General Otis is urgent, and
that complications with the insurgents
conflict of arms.
This order comes simultaneously with
the news that the battleships Oregon
and Iowa will a week from to-day sail
from the Atlantic Coast for the Philip
pines. This means a voyage of at least
$4,000 miles for the great ironclads. and
VIII involve certainly seventy-five days,
including necessary stoppages, but
these will be few, as five colliers are to
accompany the ships
These preparations and orders con-
hrm the belief that has been for some
time growing that the Administration
is not only anticipating new trouble in
the islands, but that we are to esta blish
permanent positions there, the only
question being their extent and char
acter. In this connection there is a
statement by an apparently reliable
news agency that Dosal, the Arch
bishop of the Catholic Church in the
philippines, has declared in favor of
the domination of Americans in the ISL
ands. He insists that he has had no con-
troll over the religious orders who are
to blame for tha ap+o oop;ey,,, oe ~ =
tlves; that it would be folly to expect
spain to resume control of the islands.
as she is incapable Of maintaining or
der there, while under American
rule he foresees liberty Of conscience
and person, and the complete breaking
down Of the influence ofthe monkish or
ders, which are already disbanding.
their adherents leaving for Spain by
every ship that sails, until now there
are less than hundred Spanish priests
remaining in the Philippines.
The Archbishop declares that indie
pendence Of the islands would be as
bad as Spanish control, and that the
only hope for peace and prosperity is
~CA1NA VI W SOlIlG west
ern Power like the United States. In
other words, this sage Archbishop has
discovered what he ought to have
known and proclaimed long ago. If he
Is as wise as his words import. why
was it that he did not lift his voice in
time to have prevented the renewal Of
Of the insurrection which he now
fears? How came it that he did his
utmost to hold the Spaniards to useless
resistance?
Behind him he had the power Of the
Pope, and would have had the sub
mission of the Spanish undoubtedly.
who from the hour Of Dewey's victory
were not disinclined to cease resistance.
and would have done so probably. had
the church given them it's countenance.
But the Archbishops action is better
late than never His declaration will
even now go far toward disposing the
supporters of the Spanish Government
in the Philippines to become the aids
of the United States in pacifying the
islands and establishing there a stable
government, one of justice and pro-
gressiveness, of liberty and of mercy.
provided always that the Peace Com
mission, now on the way to its seat Of
consultation, does not weakly attempt
to return the control Of the larger por-
ton of the Philippines to Spain, or to
patch UP protectorate over the gov
ernment the Aguinaldo insurgents wish
TO attempt. an experiment that we. are
convinced would be a failure.
Local self government in the Philip
pines may we'll enough be conceded in
all provinces where there is capacity
for it, but it should be government un-
der grant of the United States, and
recognizing this nation as the supreme
head. and the power Of the United
States as the greatest and the final one.
Neither under Spanish resumption nor
the incapacity, because of the unfitness
of the Aguinaldo order of insurgents,
can peace be secured to the Philip
pines.
General Toral an his arrival IN