The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1898-12-21
IMPERIALIsM OPPOSED IN THE
WHITE ROUSE.
President Not In Favor of Making
the Philippines Permanent Am
erican Territory.

the philippines Permanent Am
erican Territory.
New York, Dec.--The Herald's
Washington correspondent sends the
following:
Complete independence of the
Philippines.
Normal control over the islands
by the United States in manner
identical with that relation which
Great Brit ain bears towards Austria
liza.
The sale OF the Philippines.
These are possibilities about
which the President talks most in
his conversations with public men.
The idea of the islands becoming
permanently an integral part OF the
United States is not favored by the
President. His close personal
friends tell me that the words Sim
perialism," Expansion" aud "colon-
ization" have become very objection
able to The President, aud he sim
cerely hopes for some solution of
the great problem which will not
commit the Republican party to a
policy which can in any way be
dubbed imperialism"
AT the Cabinet meeting to. day
careful consideration was given to
the character of the military govern
ment for the Philippines. AS the re-
suit proclamation to the natives
Of the islands is being prepared, and
will be issued in few days after the
treaty of peace is signed. This pro-
clamation will assure them OF the
purpose of the United States to pro-
vide them with large measure Of
home rule, in accordance with Am
erican institutions.
The idea Of sale is not generally
popular with Senators with whom l
have talked, though there are some
advocates of this plan. Those who
are opposed to the annexation OF the
islands are as rule in favor Of
giving the Filipinos their complete
independence if possible, and, il this
be found impracticable, to have
only minimum control over the
islands, such as that exercised by
Great Britain over Australia.
In considering the character Of
the government to be given the
Philippines the authorities have
been aided by cablegrams from
General Otis and Rear. Admiral
Dewey. Both officers announced
that they were prepared to meet the
situation, but General Otis thought
he should be reinforced by addi-
tional troops, and Rear-Admiral
Dewey recommended that more
light draught gunboats be attached
10 MS command.
General Otis said he was prepared
| to demand and secure the release of
the friars held as prisoners by Agui-
naldo. He also indicated that Agui.
naldo was losing strength with the
people of the islands, and, probably,
with his own forces.
General Otis takes very optimis-
tic view OF the situation, and be-
lieves that no great trouble will be-
experienced in obtaining a disband
ment of the insurgent forces and the
establishment of peace and order in
accordance with American princi.
pies.
Rear-Admiral Dewey's dispatch
was on the same lines as that of
General Otis.
On account of the difficulty in
promptly sending gunboats to Ma
Mia, the Navy Department is con.
sldering the advisability of ordering
the gunboat Bennington to proceed
from Honolulu to the Asiatic
station.
| The gunboat Helena is now at
Gibraltar on her way to Manila, and
will be useful for service among the
islands, The cruiser Buffalo to-day