Evening star., 1898-12-29
FOMENTING TROUBLE
A Suspicion That the Spaniards Are
Doing That
TO EMBARRASO This GOVERNMENT
The Surrender of lIoilo an IIIustra
ton of This.
A DIFFICULT PROBLEM

The suspicion is entertained here that the
surrender of Iloilo by the Spanish general
to the insurgents just before the arrival
of Col. Potter with the American forces
to take possession may have been de-
signed for the purpose of embarrassing
this government. The Spanish general was
aware that the Americans Were to be there.
and it is regarded as a somewhat remark
able coincidence that the very day of the
sailing of the American expedition General
Rios should evacuate Iloilo and cable to
the Madrid government that he had sur
rendered. The Spanish had been able TO
maintain themselves in their position there
Tor long time, and il might have been
possible for them to hold out few hours
longer, with the knowledge that the Ameri-
can forces would relieve them. The fact
that the insurgents, though the town was
evacuated by the Spanish on the 24th did
not take possession until the 2Gth, seems
to indicate that General Rios was not so
closely pressed as his precipitate evacua-
ton would imply.
Spanish Are Fomentinr Trouble
officials here, of course do not know
what the facts in the case were, and may
never know, but there appears to be very
good grounds for suspicion that the Span
ish are disposed to foment trouble both in
the Philippines and in Cuba. They are
smartrg under the. shame of defeat, and
bitterly resent what they regard as hard
terms forced upon them by this govern
ment. Many of their leading men have
predicted openly that the United States
would repent of its acquisitions, and it is
evident that efforts being made by
some one to bring about acute irritation
between the Americans and the natives,
both in the Philippines and in Cuba. The
rpDOrtS received from hot of dis
order and personal collisions and a state of
agitation are extremely disquieting, and
calculated to excite apprehension that
great difficulty will be experienced in
tablishing order and good government.
Unwarranted Suspicion by Natives.
There is evidence of an unwarranted sus-
picion of the United States by the
tives and it looks if certain element
We're being inspired to acts of hostility,
Ii is realized that if this suspicion and
hostility is developed to a great extent,
the United States government is likely to
BE- placed somewhat in the attitude of hav
ing traded places with Spain, being COM
PEELED to establish order by force. This
is thing to be avoided, of course. and
If fair treatment, good government and
generosity toward the natives can accom-
plish it, tranquility will be restored, but
ii is uncertain what secret agencies may
be at work making trouble. Should the ma
of active hostility under the irspira ton of
tLis secret influence very difficult prob
lem Will be presented. 1t would be prac-
tically impossible at this time to cut of
Supplies from any considerable band Of
belligerent natives if any foreign govern
n:ent had motive for assisting them.
Possible Fiiibustering Expeditions.
The United States would probably have
more occasion to complain of filibustering
expeditions in the Philippines than Spain
had in connection with Cuba during the
early period of the Cuban rebellion. An
opportunity might be presented to the
Spanish to avenge themselves upon the
United States, and it is not uncertain that
expeditions would not be connived at by
others than the Spaniards. While this
situation is now viewed only as a possibili-
ty, the uncertainty about the situation
at 1loilo impresSeS the government al
Washington with the necessity of material
ly strengthening our position in the Phil
ippines and of taking all necessary steps
to preserve perfect good order in Cuba