New-York tribune., 1899-07-19
THE TROUBLE AT MANILA.

The President has had much reason for con-
Thdence In General Otis The personal testi-
mony of many men amply qualified to judge,
who have returned from Manila, has been much
IN his favor. Some Of them, like General Har-
rtson Gray Otis have been under his COM
mand long enough to speak with full knowl-
edge not only of him, but Of the conditions
with which he has to deal. 1t is something to
ibe soberly considered that not one of these
now out Of the service and no longer liable
10 refrain from criticism for personal reasons
has given any information sustaining the es-
sential complaint of newspaper correspondents
at Manila. Their only essential complaint is
that the conduct of the service is not what 1t
should be and that the General is not equal
to bis task. Their judgment as to what in
formation should be sent by cable is obviously
not of weight compared with that Of the Gen.
seral commanding who has been expected to
give to the country all information compatible
with public interests. If the correspondents
have differed with him on that matter, and
now in consequence make publications tending
to break him down which are not found TO be
supported by other evidence of the highest
character, their situation in the Philippines be-
comes extremely difficult, If not impossible.
But there is another side of the question
which the President cannot fail 10 consider
He needs, and the country needs In command
at Manila a man who will hold the public con-
fidence. 1t is not meant that he should man.
age to satisfy all correspondents, whether of
reputable and patriotic journals or any Others.
But the confidence Of the people Of this coun-
try Is necessary If the Government is to be
effectively sustained. If the good faith of re-
ports from the Philippines is distrusted, or the
conduct OF the service there, that will affect
both the quality and the number of enlistments
the results Of elections in many States the con-
victions which members of Congress will take
with them to Washington, and thus the sup
plies Of money and troops, and the provision
for the conduct Of affairs In all new posses
slons. 1t is for the President to decide whether
General Otis can now command the public con-
fidence.
The accusations of correspondents have some
influence. 1t Is natural that their obvious diff
Guilty with the military authority regarding
what, could safely be telegraphed will lessen
the force of tEer complaint. But public opin-
ion is made up by all sorts Of individuals, Of
whom some will be ready TO believe the CORE
spondents of news associations or journals
upon which they have been accustomed to rely,
and others will be prone to believe anything
10 the disadvantage Of the Administration. and
others still will remember that forecasts In the
dispatches Of General Otis from Manila have
often failed to be justified by the results The
plain question is whether the public confidence
can be effectively secured with his retention
in command, and upon the Presidents answer
to that question much will depend, For he has
certainly learned by this time that the public |
In the War Department is not un-
limited.
General Otis and the force under his COM
mand have done splendid work In the Philip |
pines. Nobody knows what part Of the credit !