The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-09-12
GIN. OTIS ULT|MATUM.
Insurgents Must Withdraw From
the Suburbs Of Manila.
INSURGENTS ABSURD DEMANDS,

Their Successes SiEce Americans 81
fenced the spaniards Have Led tn
Followers of AguiDaldo to BeIiev
That They Are the Conquerors.
London. Sept. 12-The Manila CORE
spondent of The Times telegraphs a
follows:
The insurgent conquest OF the islam,
of LuSon is rapidly approaching com
pletion. Recent authentic reports an
nounce the capture of successive Span
isll positions, and at present the rebels
control every foot of the island ex
cept Manila. Cayite and Il small pol.
tion of the province of Alhay. They
hold over 5000 Spanish prisoners and
have recently captured several thou.
/ sand rifles some cannon. a large quan-
/ tity Of ammunition and several small
armed steamers The Spaniards held
out valorously. but were fighting
against the inevitable
| 1t Is undeniable that the action OF the
insurgents in pursuing the campaign
| after an armistice was declared has
caused much useless suffering and de.
struction Of property. and has ami
| hllated their every claim to be con-
| sidered in any respects as the allies of
| the Americans. Their motive has been
! twofold. First, an implacable hatred
of the Spanish. with an innate racial
thirst for revenge; and secondly their
ambition to place themselves on record
before the wurid as a successful revolu-
tionary government and as complete
masters of the Luzon provinces and as
many adjacent islands as they may
have time to occupy before the Philip
pines question has been settled by the
Paris commission.
They are now free to withdraw thei:
troops, to make an expedition against
Panay and capture Iloilo. BY cOntin-
uing the campaign now, regardless of
the armistiCe. they put themselves In
the wrong with everybody. just as by
crowding into the suburbs of Manila
and refusing to vacate the same unless
compelled by superior force they have
put themselves in the wrong with the
Americans
Their action is doubtless due partly
to a disorganiZation of their force.
which, by their own confession, con-
ssts of congregation of independent
units, with chiefs, each ambitious of
power and distinction and all strug
Cling for positions which will secure
for them booty or otherwise private
fortune. This disorganization. which
naturally effects the irresponsible in
dividual soldier has been constantly
fomenting the irritation resulting from
the dull occupation in the suburbs Of
Manila. The situation has been inn |
possible from the beginning, and con-
flicts have been avoided only by great |
tact and the extraordinary patience |
of the American troops, who loyalty OBJ
serve their duty of preserving the |
peace of the town.
The policy of permitting the insurg-
ents to occupy the Spanish positions
has been fruitful in many difficulties,
not the least of which is the stimulus
given to the conceit of the natives,
who consider themselves the con-
querors of Manila, although they cap
tured not a single position when the
town was taken.
General Otis has attacked the COM
plicated questions he inherited from
General Merritt, his predecessor with
remarkable energy and decision and Is
rapidly establishing order in every de-
partment where comparative chaos
ruled before.
Aguinaldo has persfstently demand
ed, In terms not too polite. various i'm
possible concessions. for example, an
occupation Of the governor generals
palace and other palaces, written as
surance that the Insurgents will be per-
mitted to occupy permanently their ,
military positions around Manila, and i
protection for the insurgent vessels by |
the American fleet. with many other '
claims. including an innocent demand $
for a share of the booty captured by !
the Americans at Manila. )
After a careful review of the situa- I
tion General Otis arrived at the logical
conclusion that the insurgents have
no right to occupy the suburbs Of Man
lila, and that Aguinaldo's claims have
the support of neither equity nor rea-
son. He has. therefore. categorically Z
refused to consider Aguinaldo's de-
and last Friday sent him an +
In terms plainly comprehen- I
sibe and authoritative, that he must {
his troops from the suburbs r
before the 18th or suffer the conse
quences of refusal. r
The answer will probably be that :
himself is only too willing /
to obey the order. but cannot explain '
to his troops the reasons why they o
cannot remain at Manila This tempor-
lzing excuse, although now stale from 5
lnp rpnpnnIs nlnpl truth u
It Is an undoubted fact that Aeutnaldo :,
has but feeble hand on the organi2a-
lion. His power is fast waning. and Il
the insurgents are threatened with dis IL
into opposing factions un- Il
less some leaders are soon discovered e.
who are able to harmonize the con- "
ficting personal interests. II
1t Is reported that the presidency of :,
the revolutionary government will be 81
offered to Catejano Arelano at a con- Ct
sress at Malolos on Sept. 10 Arrelano Il
s a lawyer of excellent repute-the one ?
nan among the Filipinos who Is uni
persally respected. Hitherto he has
avoided politics, and 1t Is
doubtful wheter he will undertake the "
ask of steering Il rudderless ship. !"
Whatever may happen at the con- =,
,ress, there Is no possible assurance 81
hat the natives are capable of self 5
government. The educated class neith- b.
r desire or hope for complete indepen- al
lence and will welcome any proteLto- u
ate which secures the PEOPLE good 4
government without tinge Of Span n,
sh methods. The masses of the revO- "
utionists. on the other hand. are bit tt
erly opposed to any solution Of the sc
question which does not promise un- ev
independence. ~
In the present exaltaton Of fictitious III
ictory. believing themselves capa-
lie of ruling the whole archipelago o
Without advice or assistance from any =,
ne. they entirely forget that they owe VI
o the Americans the chief enements .-
t Success which they now boast. This
lind conCeit is racial defect.