Semi=weekly graphic., 1898-07-30
THE FUTURE OF
 THE PHILIPPINES.
It Is Relieved General Merritt Has Arr rived and win Tako Charge as s.a
 Military Governor.

Washington, July 20.---General Mer- ritt has reached Manila according to the most conservative calculation the war department authorities and the am nouncement is momentarily expected by cable from Hong Kong that he has as- sumed the military goyernorship of the Philippines as directed by the president. He left San Franeisco on the fast steamer Newport four weeks ago, two days after the departure of the third military expedition, which he expected to pass on the way to Honolulu, and af- ter reeoaling at that port he was to con- tinue as rapidly as practicable to his ul- innate destination.
 The two expeditions which preceded him, that of General Anderson, leaving San Francisco on May 80, and that of General Greene, which sailed IS days. later. reached Manila after runs, 36 and s2 days respectively, including the time they spent in Hawaiian waters.
 The Newport however, was not handi- capped by the necessity of setting her pace to that of slower transports, but was to hurry with all possible chance and confidence was displayed that she would make the voyage iHfrom 2l to 2s. days. The Newport should therefore have anchored near Cavite by Sunday or Monday last and the governor select ed by the president should already be in complete control.
 It iseunderstood among the authori- ties at Washington that Admiral Dewey will not postpone his command for ca pitulation of Manila after General Mer- ritt's arrival for longer period than that official desires, and from the conf- dent tone of the admiral's $ dispatches no anxiety is felt regarding the prompt compliance of the Spaniards with what ever demand he may make. It is the impression that General August, the Spanish governor general, has already found means of conveying assurances to Admiral Dewey of his readiness to sur render the moment the American forces are prepared to receive the city.
 The authority given to General Mer- ritt in his instructions from the presi- dent precludes the possibility of any recognition of the pratensions of dicta. torship proclaimed by the insurgent chief, Aguinaldo, and it is not likely that this aggressive young man or his forces will receive any greater consider atien from General Merritt when Manila snrrenders than those of Garcia had from General Shafter at Santiago
 It was made the duty of the eom- mander of the army of occupation, whose control Is supreme under tine pres ident "to announce and proclaim in the most public manner that the Americans have come not to make war upon the inhabitants nor upon any party or fac tion among them, but to protect their homes, in their employments and ill their personal and religious rights, and 1t is stipulated under all circumstances that such local systems as are continued in operation shall remain under the su- provision of the American commander in.chief
 It is recognized that the insurgents could never again be compelled to re- speet Spanish rule, and this fact would probably prove an insuperable obstacle to the inclusion in a treaty of peace of the very terms which will probably be most strenuously insisted upon by Spain looking to the restitution of her Asiatic possessions. It is therefore thought to be beyond question that the complete separation of the Philippines from Spanish sovereignty will be one of the inevitable consequences of the war.