Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-08-04

the Philippine Islands seema to DO tho
most puszling OF all the problems
growing out of our war with Spain.
How it 10 finally to be disposed Of is
not now apparent
Probably most of the trouble arises
from the grabbing disposition manifest
10 this country ever since the outrage.
Gus aud costly Hawaiian annexation
scheme was contaminated by the Con-
gress Of the United States. II HAWAII,
why not Porto Rico and the Philip
pinea! is the argument advanced.
But the situation with respect to the
two countries is different. For while
our troops are meeting with practically
no oppoHition in Porto Rico, aud public
sentiment there seems to he overwhelm-
ingly in favor of the island becoming
part and parcel of tho United States,
the ruling sentiment in tbs Philippine
1slands is just the opposite. There
the insurgents. who had successfully
waged q revolution for years before
this country raised hand against
Spain, and who we're apparently on the
verge of wrestling the islanus from
Spain's control when "A dmirai Dewey's
fleet appeared 10 Manila bay, insist
that the country shall be theirs. They
do not want to submit to the authority
of the United States any more than to
the authority of Spain, from which
they have so successfully rebelei.
And who shall say that they are not
rightP Shall they now he treated as
rebels against the authority of this
country, and punished accordingly?
When Admiral Dewey on that bright
initial day of last May. took his feet
into Manila bay and gained naval
victory that thrilled the entire world,
he did SO in accordance with instruc-
tions from his government to either
capture or destroy the Spanish foet
that bad taken refuge in that harbor.
lie carried out his instructions thor
oughly, and also silenced the shore
batteries that attempted to aid the
Spanish warships. Incidentally, this
great work largely aided the insur-
gents, but can it bu said to have
formed iustiiiable pretext for this
country to attempt to set aside the
claims OF the latter and taking rosses
sion of the Islands that they have beer
fighting for for yearsY
Our authorities have been informed
by Central Merritt that it will require
150, 600 troops to conquer the Philip
pine insurgents, aud thus take ant
hold the islands. Are they worth tt
this country the sacrifice of life aut
the money cost that a campaign O
such magnitude would involve? Man
ifvstly not. Is the conquest and subse
guenr acquisition of these islands, ANT
tho overflow Of all the rights that thei
people have long been struggling 70
necessary to maintain the war declaru
tion of our Congress that Spain mus
withdraw her authority from tine islam
of Cuba? Surely, it cannot be- main
tanned that this is 80.
No easier settlement OF the probler
presents itself than to leave the Philif
pines to the people Of the islands, I
work out their political salvation a
best they may. With Porto Rico it i
different, as the people there are ans
ioua for annexation, and the islam
seems to he desirable and attractiy
possession, with the additional adyan
aye that it 10 Gloss to our shores. Il,
the forcible capture of the Philippint
would cost this country far more tina
their possession could ever be worth
us, to say nothing of the compile,
lions that might result from thus tai
ing entire control of country who
people seems earnestly dssirous
being left to establish government
their own.