The times., 1898-12-31
Our Philippine Trouble.

The assertion that Secretary Alger is to
blame for the situation in the Philippines,
which is the cause of anxiety to the Presi-
dent, seems to be reasonable. Even if it
is true that he has made it rule to con-
suit the President about army matters
of an important character, much must be
left to his own discretion, which is far
from wise.
We are waiting at this moment for news
from the expedition to the Island of
Panay. 1t is a question of the utmost
gravity whether we shall hear of the sur
render of Iloilo TO the Americans by the
insurgents or of a fierce battle between
the two. The latter would not only be a
cause of grief to the country, but it would
give great encouragement to the enemies
of expansion How does it come that Iloilo
is in insurgent hands and that We may
have to fight part OF the people it is our
mission to protect? Apparently through
Spanish treachery and Secretary Alger's
Incidence or lack of good judgment. For
many weeks it was known that large
force of Filipinos had surrounded the
place and were making frequent desper-
ate assaults on the Spanish garrison. AS
soon as the treaty of peace was signed it
was naturally expected that an American
force would be sent to Iloilo to relieve the
beleaguered Spaniards. If this had been
done, the Americans would have received
the surrender Secretary Alger, still as
suming that lit is the policy TO wait" as
he told the surgeon general, made no or
der Not until We received, through Span
ish sources. the news of the last destruc-
tive assault did he instruct General Otis
TO nd troops to take possession. 1t was
too late by thirty-nine hours. Finding the
Americans dilatory, Sagasta conceived the
idea of putting both enemies of Spain in
an embarrassing position, and the languid
methods Of the War Department enabled
him to carry out his scheme of giving up
the post TO the Filipinos.
Having dispatched General Miller's COM
| mand to the Island OF Panay for the dis
| tinct purpose of taking the town. it would
impair our prestige if he should fail. 1t
| would encourage resistance to our Admin
istration throughout the Philippines. Per-
| duce the Filipinos to abandon the place,
| but under the instructions Secretary Alger
has given, it is doubtful il the American
| commander will make more than a per-
| functory and perhaps offensive attempt to
persuade them He is more likely to make
| a stern demand and to begin aggressive
measures when it is refused, il it is re-
| c;,oo tba Cpaufardc ara uoua tbara
| is no immediate reason why we should
! want Iloilo, except that our purpose to
| take it was made plain and not to do it
would incur the suspicion that we fear the
| insurgents. Perhaps it is as well to have
| the question settled right now whether
| our rule is to be resisted; but it cannot
be denied that the difficulty might have
been avoided and the Fiiipinos allowed
further time to consider it. Anybody can
see that they will be reluctant to surren-
der place they have captured and that
| they would hardly have assaulted the
| Americans if the latter had received the
| surrender
| 1t is evident, therefore, that the indo-
lence or ineificiency of the Secretary of
| Las OioaSht tiiC iuOsl ocllOus
| danger this country has been threatened
| with in the Philippines, in giving to the
| Spaniards ample time to receive authority
| from Madrid for an act of treachery that
wise war official would have anticipated.
The necessity of a capable man at the
head of the War Department must have
been seen by the President long ago. 1t