The record-union., 1898-08-04
THE PHILIPPINE PUZZLE.

of the waters where the Spanish have
maintained settlements in Luzon the
natives are gentle and peaceable as
whole The further one goes into the
interior, the more pugnacious they be-
come, until within thirty miles Of Man
liza there are tribes Of dwarfS who are
savage, wear no clothing, retreat into
jungles, and are indisposed to come un-
der civihzing processes.
Still more interior and in the high
lands there are powerful and numer-
Gus tribesmen of whom not even the
Spanish have much knowledge. There
are many tribes whom the Spanish have
never seen, save now and then an IN
dividual member, and these they have
never attempted to influence in any
way, standing in fear of them, indeed.
Scores of these wild tribes will dis
pears in the island. The insurgent
class is not drawn from these, but
mainly from the Mestizos, the half
breeds and the better conditioned
classes born on the islands, and whom
Spain has intolerably oppressed and
outrageously taxed, and whom she has
has given over to the monks of many
orders, whose riches and license led
them into excesses in controlling the
people, until they have become yer-
liable tyrants.
Thus have we the singular situation
of a people educated by the monks
and priests, having their social posi-
tions because of the intelligence ac-
quired through the church schools. and
processing the religion of these teach
ers, turning against them and threat
ening their determination. Even the
Spanish Ministry has confessed but re-
Gently that it had been powerless to
control the monks, and proposed that
if the United States would withdraw
from the Philippines it would again
attempt to curb this tyrannous rule.
In face Of such a situation the United
States finds a most difficult task be-
fore it in attempting to hold the ISL
ands, and hence the evident desire of
the Administration to go no further
than the acquisition of coaling and
naval stations, and securing guaran-
tees for the pacifcation of the Islands,
a most difficult thing, by the way, to
assure
The insurgents are reported by the
latest advices to be exceedingly numer-
Gus and to be daily increasing in num-
bers, while money, provisions and gen.
eral supplies are sent to them by the
people in vast quantities. Alarmed for
their safety, the priests and monks
have appealed to the American forces
for protection, fearing that if the in
surgents are not restrained they will
fall upon and massacre them This
appeal the Pope has seconded, and with
evident concern for the safety of his
ministers and teachers.
Thus we have presented the most
novel situation that was ever the out
pines not TO aid the insurgent cause,
nor secure insurgent assistance, ex-
cept SO far as was justifiable in making
war upon the Spaniard. We did not
go into Manila Bay because Of the
wrongs Of the Filippinos. Their ap-
peal had never come up to us, and
We did not deem them at the outbreak
of the war within the sphere Of our
influence. Their contention affected
very slightly our commerce, and the
rights Of American citizens had not
been infringed there.
We took the bay Of Manila and de-
stroyed the Spanish fleet, as a war
measure only, as a means of forcing
Spain to do justice to Cuba, and to
secure ourselves in indemnity against
the cost Of the war. 1t would be
strange and unexampled situation If
it should turn out that the United
States and the Spanish troops should
engage in a common cause in restrain
ing the insurgents from wreaking ven
geance. Yet it is not an impossible
situation.
We cannot stand idly by in - stu
alton which we have in part created,
and witness the ruthless butchery of
non-combatants. To do so would visit
upon US reproaches for which we could
never forgive ourselves. Yet II is an
questionably true that but for the en-
try of Dewey into Manila Bay the in
surgents would not have achieved the
successes they have gained, at least
not for long time Indeed, on the
1st day of May the insurgent cause had
well nigh collapsed, though that it was
to be revived was conceded by all: and
by very many of the closest observers
and students of Philippine affairs it is
believed that eventually, even had there
been no war between Spain and the
United States, the insurgents would
have prevailed and have compelled
Spain to guarantee them certain re-
forms. whereas their demand now is
for independence and the expulsion of
the Spanish, root and branch.
It is by no means a pleasant situa-
ton for us, and its future is prob
lematical. From present appearances
Ii would seem that we must maintain
strong force in Manila Bay. and
probably in some lesser ports, and on
lands near by, until the country Is