The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-13

The question what to do with the Philip
pines is likely to prove the most difficult to
handle and wisely answer of any that will
grow out of the war. Thanks to the wisdom
of the President in making it a subject of
consideration by the peace commission it
does not have TO be decided Immediately.
but it is none the less an urgent question.
1t is somewhat complicated at the threshold
by the fact that the extent of our authority
over the islands is in doubt 1t was thought
by many that the destruction Of the Spanish
fleet by Admiral Dewey on May gave the
United States practical possession and con-
troll of the islands. That was soon found to
be a mistake. 1t has taken nearly three
months to send 10000 troops there under
General Merritt, and still we have not pos
session of the islands. If the war were to
continue it might require considerable fight
ing to get possession of them, and If hostii-
ties cease Immediately as they are likely to,
we are. so far as now known. still outside
of Manila. 1t is understood that President
McKinley's terms of peace include the sur
render of Manila and its occupation by the
United States as a coaling station, leaving
the disposition of the remainder of the
islands to be settled by the peace commits
sion. 1t may be a question how far the
United States can enforce a claim to con-
troll the disposition of territory which it has
not yet conquered. The protocol binds Spain
to evacuate Cuba and cede Porto Rico to
the United States, but in regard to the
Philippines she does not incur any oblga-
ton whatever beyond agreeing to surrender
Manila and negotiate as to the remainder.
That the United States do not claim to
control the disposition of the islands at
present is shown by the fact that in the
statement of our peace terms, given to the
press on Aug. 2 by authority of the Presi-
dent, it was said: 1.-The United States will
occupy and hold the city, bay and harbor
of Manila pending the conclusion of treaty
of peace, which shall determine the con-
troll, disposition and government of the
Philippines" Under this agreement the
United States may set up any claim it
pleases to the islands outside of the city,
bay and harbor of Manila. and Spain may
fairly resist such claim on the ground that
the authority of the United States must be
restricted to the limits of its conquest and
the terms of the protocol. In other words,
the question will have to be settled by the
commission.
So far as the naval and commercial in
terests of the United States are concerned
they will be completely subserved by the
acquisition of the city, bay and harbor of
Manila, and it is a grave question whether
we should try to acquire more. There are
very weighty objections to the annexation
of the islands. If they were devoid of pop
ulation they might be desirable, but their
100000 or 100000 of Asiatic, Polynesian
inhabitants. mongrel warning tribes, who
can never be qualified for sef-government
or American citizenship, give the idea of
annexation a very somber if not repellent
aspect. And still the question recurs what
to do with them. 1t is easier to tell what
not to do with them. OF all possible lines
of action the two things which the United
States cannot afford to do are. first. to turn
the islands over again to Spanish misrule,
and. second. to abandon them to the insur-
gents. This still leaves the main question
open, and it will be very difficult one for
the American peace commissioners to settle.