Evening star., 1898-12-19
GENERAL MERRITT COMING
Governor General of the Philippines Expected
Here Tomorrow.
II is Said He VIII Not Return to
Manila. but Will Command
at New York.

Major General Merritt. who has returned
to this country from Paris and the Philip
pines, is expected to visit this city tomor-
row for the purpose of consulting with the
President and the Secretary of War re-
garding the state Of affairs in the far east.
1t is said at the War Department that as
Gen. Merritt has never been formally re-
lieved of his duties as governor general of
the Philippines, he is still technically in
command there, Notwithstanding the actual
command has devolved on Major General
Otis since Gen. Merritt's departure for
Paris, the latter part of August.
Since then General Merritt visited the
United States and conferred with the Of
ficers of the administration with respect to
his mission to Paris in connection with the
question of the disposition of the Philip
pine Islands pending consideration by the
peace commission.
One of the questions to be settled during
Gen Merrtts visit to this city this week
relates to his future duties. In view of the
fact that he has but one year longer to
serve on the active list of the army, it is
considered somewhat improbable that he
will be ordered to return to Manila and
resume his duties as governor general of
the Philippines.
satisfied with the administration of Gen.
Otis in the Philippines, and is disposed to
continue him in command there. In that
event Gen Merritt will undoubtedly be re-
stored to the command of the Department
of the East, with headquarters at New
York, which he relinquished at the begin
ming of hostilities, and that Gen. Shaftcr,
now in command of that department, will
be transferred to the Department of Cali
fornia. which command he held when
placed in command Of the 5th Army Corps,
which participated in the campaign of San
uaso.
Views on Philippines.
Gen. Merritt's views on the subject of
the Philippines are well known. In the
course of a statement he made upon his
arrival in New York Saturday, he said:
Il am firm believer in the retention of
the Philippine Islands by the United States.
In undertaking their government 1 don't
think that we face any very serious mill
tary or civil problem. The Fiipinos re-
spect our authority, and. 1 believe, will
welcome ii as a permanent thing if they
are convinced that it is being exercised for
their good
IF they were inclined to resent it, why,
still believe the problem would be easy to
solve. AS near as | can make out, the
strength of their army is from 12,Oo0 to
l4,OoD. OF these, lots are mere boys. With
d force Of from 10000 to 30UO men, 80 per
cent of them Americans, the rest native
and Spanish troops that can be brought to
our nag, We can go ahead and do what we
please.
The Filipinos are not capable of govern
Ing themselves. There are many intelli-
gent men among them, but to give them in
dependence would be to put the islands
out as a prize for Europe to scramble for.
Spain can never rule the islands again. We
must keep them under our flag, and | don't
think We'll have the slightest difficulty in
governing them. The Spanish residents
will certainly welcome us. No one is so
heartily sick of Spanish rule as the Spanish
residents.
They believe that their property inter-
ests will be better protected under our
flag than under the Spanish flag. 1t looks
to me like very plain sailing in the Phil
ippines for the United States. The anneXa-
ton of the Philippines will advance our
China trade acknowledgements strong
argument in favor of their retention-and
will afford many chances for the profitable
investment of American capital
Asked about the sentiment abroad over
the American acquisitions in the Pacific,
General Merritt said:
The feeling in France among the people
is hostile to the United States. The French
people have no hesitation in denouncing us
roundiy for our course in the war. But in
every British possession, as in every Amer
lean city. the cry goes up: Don't give up
the Philippines The English-speaking peo-
pie all over the world are with u.s.