The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-09-29
Information From Manila.


Says Murat Halstead, who has just
returned from Manila: The country
highly and i'm a sense handsomely and
with excessive zeal as it appreciates
Admiral Dewey, does not apprehend
the fun extent of it's indebtedness to
him--has not heard the whole story
of the slender threads his will made
strong as iron chains-does not know
fully of the ceaseless vigilance with
which for months he has done his
duty, the incessant care with which
he personally has watched every night
and all night, that no harm might come
to his beloved ships. until he is no
longer able to get more than short
maps of sleep, save in the daylight
when he turns in FOR slumber after
dinner, and thus he gets his rest Of
restoration from day to day"
Regarding the attitude of the Ger
man naval officials at Manila he says:
THE conduct of the Germans Jlas been
in strong contrast with that of the
English, who have been friendly and
are in the most amiable relations with
our people. The Germans have never
given the ordinary courtesies of salu-
tatiOn. while the English recognize Ma
Mia bay as an American port. They
put up the Stars and Stripes on the
foremast as they come in. The Ger
mans had four ships of war and gum
boat or two. and were very obtrusiVe
and ostentatious-did not respect the
blockade allowed swarm of their Of
ficers ashore. who We're sympathetic
with Spaniards, and proposed to land
marines to protect foreign property
that is to say, several German brew
cries and other business houses. There
the American admiral drew the line
and said to the flag lieutenant of the
German admiral--the most official way
of saying it: Does your country pro-
pose to start a war here with my coun-
try? If so We can go at it in five min
utes.' The words in quotation marks
are precisely those used. The reply
was a prompt denial in strong terms
Of warlike purposes"
With respect to the opinions Of
Dewey, Merritt and the other Ameri-
can officials at Manila concerning the
future of the Philippines, Mr.. Halstead
reflects them in these words: There
has been revolution in China-a re-
dictionary revolutiOn--and it is an incl
dent of the tendency of China to be ut
terly submissive to Russia II is un-
questionably a challenge to the COM
mercial and political interests of Eng
land on the Pacific ocean side of Amer
lea 1t ought to signalize to us the
Importance of our Philippine possess
siOns and to emphasize our excellent
understanding with England. If Rus
sia becomes supreme in China-and she
is moving with gigantic Strides-she
can organize an army of 5000, 900 men
out of the 40O,0 900, 900 of the Chinese
population, and the czar can bestride
the globe. The Philippines are simply
the greatest find of the age. and our
republican empire is one of peace and
good will to men,"
Asked if there is danger of war be-
tween the United States and the Phil
ippine insurgents, Mr.. Halstead re-
plies: mot if we proceed firmly and
peacefully. If the Americans stay
and it is known absolutely that they
will-that wipes out at stroke all the
grievances OF the Filpinos, all that
was asked FOR by Aguinaldo and his
followers, except giving them all the
power. 1t is the case of Cuba over
again. AS against Americans, the Fill
ipinos could organize only personal
factions. The hold of Aguinaldo is, as
| he told me, so precariOus that he must
| refer constantly to his counselors rhe
| people of the islands would fall by the
| attraction of political gravitation into
| the hands of the United States under
| American administration in the is
| lands, Give the assurance of American
| government, secularize the offices of
| the priests, exclude them from politics,
| send home the Spanish soldiers and
| Spanish priests and there will be spon-
taneously order, peace and good times,
! and the islanders will come to us. Per-
| manent American occupation will keen
! the peace. Ii is the abandonment of
the Philippines that would make war
in the islands and perhaps involve
great nations"
The foregoing expressions which we
extract from a long interview with Mr..
| Halstead published in the Chicago
Record are valuable as coming from an
observant American who has made a
personal study of the Philippine situa-
ton. They undoubtedly presage reten-
ton by this country of the whole Phil
| ippine archipelago.