The record-union., 1898-05-19
A MODIFIED POLICY.

There is no concealment on the part
OF the President that he has modified
the Cuban war policy somewhat The
withdrawal of the greater vessels from
in front of Havana to go out to meet
the Spanish fleet left there a body of
ships that could not resist the passage
of a strong force, but it has now been
reinforced by two boats of the monitor
type. It has been announced that ships
of neutrals of a certain class will be
permitted to pass in and out of Ha-
vana, provided no contraband of war
is carried.
It has been confessed now very frank
ly by the dismemberment of the STRAIT
egg Board at Washington that the plan
of fighting out the war from cushioned
seats at the Capitol will not do; that
the wise method is to outline the gen
eral policy, inform all commanders con-
corning it, and then for the President.
as Chief. to take charge
and, trusting as fully as he may to
army and navy heads, plan and execute,
go on with vigorous prosecution of the
war
We have not been ready, it is true;
the long time taken to mobilize our
small army and outfit it for a campaign
| in Cuba proves it; nevertheless it is
now not concealed that we would have
been better off if we had attempted to
land troops on Cuban soil much earlier,
and before Blanco and his Generals had
time to construct works and distribute
their troops so well as to meet US at
every point where landings could be
made
1t is evident that there is to be no
more delay, and that as far as it is
possible to do so the errors of the last
few weeks are to be repaired, certainly
not repeated. The "on to Havana" cry
was just as iIl-advised as was the at
tempted peaceful blockade. They were
the two extremes between which the
President now proposes to steer. He
rightly holds that if Havana can be
taken without destroying it by bonn
bardment it is by all means advisable
to do so. We are not warning against
on-combatants, and there are 10000
such in the city. Nor will there be any
aid given to the humane purpose we
have in view by burning and wrecking
the capital of the colony. Such destruc-
ton will make it all the harder for
Cuba, when freed, to regain her feet
and stand firmly.
1t seems evident, therefore, that while
Havana may be bombarded, it is the
desire to avoid it and to approach it
from the land side-at least to secure
landings of American troops in Cuba, to
cooperate with the insurgents and
work from the interior coastwise, ex-
cept at such points where, under cover
of naval guns, we can land and occupy
a coast town or city at once.
Permanent possession of the Philip
pine group by the United States is not
to be thought Of We have no need
for the islands, over 400 in number, in
habited by about 100000 people, for
most part savage, and to be controlled
only by superior force. NegritOs, saw
age descendants Of the primitive people
of that group, Malays, Chinese and
breeds, they make up a mixture
which will contribute only to cost on
our part. What force of arms. what
sum of money annually it would take
to hold these millions in subsection,
with a faint hope of bringing them up
to the level of civilization as we know
it, can only be conjectured now, but
the expenditure would be enormous.
What we may hold what we may de-
mand as indemnity, is the harbor of
Manila. We need just such a spot of
refuge and supply for our navy and our
hold under treaty guarantees with a
small force, and with decided ad-
vantage to our commerce and our ma
val Importance. As to how we are to
dispose of the remainder Of the terri
/ tory, is another question. Let US con-
slider, however, that because Spain stole
it from it's aboriginal possessors, can
not give US warrant for keeping it from
them when the opportunity presents for
restoration of the islands to their own.
But wrested from Spain, we should not
consent to her domination being again
established over that territory. Let her
punishment in this regard be perpetual
If it is said that as these aboriginal
people of the Philippines are incompe-
/ tent, not capable of elf-government, it
| is the part of wisdom to promote civ
| liking processes among them, and that
therefore if we simply abandon our
prize, some other strong nation will
come in and take it, the answer is
| that it may be wise to part with ouI
/ plumber to some nation which can
! from a nearby stand, control the ISL
ands; but if so. it should be under
! guarantees securing the liberties OF
the people. their betterment and uplift-
ing, just as far as such things are
possible.
The Madrid Liberal demands Of the
Cortes that it insist upon light being