Omaha daily bee., 1898-11-02
WHAT WE MUST PREPARE FOR.


sion of the entire Philippine archipelago.
That is the demand of this government
and Spain must concede it, because
powerless to do otherwise. Some re-
sistance, with view to unloading as
much as possible Of the Philippine debt
ment, but 1t will finally yield to the
American terms. European influence
may induce 1t to prolong negotiations,
but this influence cannot provide Spain
with the resources to renew the war.
1t being a foregone conclusion, then,
that the whole Philippine group is to
pass under the control and sovereignty
of the United States, there are some
things which this country must prepare
for. In the first place it must prepare
to deal with the people of the Philip
pines who have been struggling for in
dependence and are still hopeful of Sc
curing it. How the Filipinos will re-
gard the assumption of sovereignty over
the islands by the United States should
be speedily known. 1t is possible that
they will accept it unquestioningly, but
the probability is that they will want to
know what their status is to be under
the new conditions. 1t is by no means
improbable that these people. occupying
much of the territory of their country
wrested by themselves from Spanish con
therein supported by a large and we'll
equipped army, will dispute the right OF
Spain to cede this territory. They may
insist that 1t has passed out of the con-
troll and sovereignty Of Spain and be-
came in fact Independent. In that event
1t is easy TO understand that they might
give the United States no little trouble
to establish its authority over so much
of the islands as the Filipinos actually
or practically control. 1t requires an
unusual degree of optimism to believe
that Aguinaldo and his adhercnts. who
| are having taste of the independence
| they have been struggling for, will qui-
city surrender this and submit to n new
! rule as to the character of which they
have little conception.
islands with large army, as well as to
| keep there a strong naval force. Even
| If the Filpinos should prove to be less
troublesome than is reasonably to be
! apprehended. there are other races in
the islands which must be brought uu.
der our authority. Some of these Spain
has never been able to wholly subdue
or subject to Il more than nominal
| obedience. Perhaps with our more hui
name and enlightened methods we shall
be able to do much better than Spain
but that it will be work of time and
expense there can be no doubt. We
cannot depend entirely upon missionary
work to bring these people, already en-
| joying all the freedom of which they
have any conception, to complete obedi
ence to our rule. Some force will bt
recessary and its exercise will place III
in the Inconsistent position of coercing
into submission to our authority people
who have no voice In determining thell
political rights and destiny.
We must prepare to encounter In
trigues and conspiracies against oul
rule. which will be easily fomented by
European influence and by religious
fanaticism. We must prepare also, L
meet numerous complications, some OF
which cannot Iow be foreseen. will
other countries, growing out OF oul
economic policy in the new possessions
and our broadened commercial rela
tions. A wise statesmanship may min