The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-06
THE BATTLE AND THE TREATY.

The effect of the news from Manila will
be to hasten the ratification of the treaty.
The men who have been hesitating 10 vote
for ratification before the adoption Of a
resolution declaring the policy of the gov
eminent in respect 70 the Philippines, will,
in all probability, feel that the wiser
course is to follow the advice of Col. Bry-
an, namely, ratify the treaty first and
decide the policy of the government in
respect to the islands afterwards.
It is apparent, from the dispatches from
Manila, that the Filipinos deliberately
brought about the conflict between the
American and Filipino armies for the pur-
pose OF preventing the ratification of the
treaty, and creating a sentiment in this
country favorable to a withdrawal of our
forces from the Philippines. The infer
ences from the dispatches is mat if the
treaty had been ratified promptly there
would have been no confict-at least, not
at this time, and not at all unless the Ag
uinaldo government determined, after a
careful review of the situation, TO attempt
TO drive the Americans from the islands.
According to the reports, Aguinaldo came
to the conclusion from the debate that has
been going on in the Senate over the treaty
that If the Fnpinos succeeded in defeat
ing the Americans public opinion in this
country would compel the withdrawal of
our forces from the islands. He does not
understand the situation here His agents
have evidently misled him. There is no
party demanding the immediate withdraw
al of our forces from the Islands. The OPP
ponents of the treaty only ask that it be
declared to be the policy of this country
not to hold the islands in perpetuity. All
parties agree that our forces cannot be
withdrawn at this time, thus leaving the
foreign interests there without protection.
the FHipinos to the horrors of civil war
and the islands to become the spoils of the
nations Of Europe. We could no more
withdraw from the Philippines now than
we could withdraw from Cuba Aguinaldo.
by his course of conduct. has lost the sym
pathy he had in this country. If he had
succeeded in defeating our army no sentl-
ment would have been created in favor of
immediate withdrawal from the islands
vi tiAS Noiitidlys tHSie WOuiu nave DeeH an
immediate demand that reinforcements be
forwarded at once. And that is the eenti-
ment that the attack made on our forces
has created.
II does not seem to us to make much
difference whether we declare our purpose
not to hold the Philippines In perpetuity
before or after the ratification of the
treaty. The chances of the adoption of
such a declaration would be much better
after ratification than before it. because
there are senator's who are going to vote
for ratification who have announced their
willingness to vote for a resolution, after
the treaty has been ratified. declaring 1t
to be the purpose of our government TO
deal with the Philippines just as we pro-
pose TO deal with Cuba.
1t is certain that the American people
will never permit their army and navy to
be driven out of the Philippines. They
will, in all probability, withdraw them
when they think it advisable to do So If
Aguinaldo had been wisely advised he
would never have used force against the
Americans. The course he has adopted
win tend to unite the Americans against
him and his pretensions. BY his foolish
act he has put off the day when the Fill
pinos will have a government of their own.
-s-o-s