The San Francisco call., 1898-12-17
COULD HOLD
 OUT AGAINST
 THE EARTH Dewey Ready for Any
 Trouble. CONFIDENCE IN HIS FLEET FEARS NO FORGE THAT MIGHT
 ATTACK HIM. Rear Admiral in Favor of Liberal Measures in the Direction of Autonomy for the
 Philippines.
CONFIDENCE IN HIS FLEET
FEARS NO FORGE THAT MIGHT
 ATTACK HIM.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

MANILA Dec. 16.-Rear Admiral Dewey, when a correspondent called upon him to-day, courteously, pleas antly but absolutely declined to dis cuss the political situation in the Philippine Islands, on the ground that his sphere was purely naval Regard ing the possibility of international com plications, however, the admiral said:
 Prior to the arrival of the monitors felt uneasy, but now l am ready to hold this position against the whole earth
 The admiral seldom goes ashore. and he insisted that his interviewer was in a better position to acquire informa- ton than himself. He then proceeded to cross examine the correspondent about everything on land. He was glad to learn that the insurgents were re- leasing the sick Spanish soldiers they held prisoners, notwithstanding Aguin aldo's grandiloquent refusal to do so. This proves +'at the insurgents are very conciliatory, in spite of their de- liant talk.
 Admiral Dewey always believed that the insurgents were friendly, and & pecially since the warships of our fleet have visited the different ports r those islands, and since some of our officers have made tours inland, carefully in vestigating popular sentiment and judi ciously preaching the gospel of peaceful settlement everywhere with highly sat isfactory results. A few influential Fili- pinos, in an ambitious attempt at self advancement, are ciamoring for inde- pendence, though unable to realize it's true meaning. They are utterly igno- rant Of the difference between the name and the reality.
 The agitators here invariably admit that they would be unable to stand without American protection. But Tn spite of this, they continue their mean ingless outcry for independence and may possibly create trouble. The ad- miral, however, believes this to be inn probable at the present juncture, though every tritling incident counts. However, every day that passes with out a conflict means so much gain, be- cause the friendly feeling is steadily in- creasing, the incipient roughness is dis appearing and the agitators are weak ening.
 The newspapers of Manila are doing particularly valuable work in the simul taneous publication of conciliatory ar
 
 This course is looked upon as being cer- tain to eliminate the friction which has existed here.
 The admiral is greatly interested in the movement among the American volunteers to obtain their discharges here and engage in pioneering enter prises. He believes there is practically an unlimited field for planters, farmers and miners here. To the suggestion that if the natives prove to be obStrep- erous perhaps they might be handed over to the Germans or other ungentle land grabbers, the admiral said he be- lieved the Germans now had entirely abandoned their designs on the Philip pine Islands, though, formerly, he said, the German attitude here had caused him anxiety.
 According to recent information re- ceived here the Filipino insurgents are epdeavoring to maintain brave show for the purpose of securing the best terms possible from the Americans. It is the opinion of our admiral that it would be advisable for the United States to pay insurgent troops their arrears of wages. The whole amount would be a comparatively trifling sum and the payment of the troops would have a valuable effect and may save incalculable trouble.
 Admiral Dewey was strongly con- vinced that the Filipino insurgents de- serve acknowledgment He is a be- liever in the practicability of liberal measures in the direction of local au-