Washington sentinel., 1899-06-17

GIImpses Behind the Censorship.
First - Admiral Dewey an
nouneed last January that in no
circumstances would he leave the
Philippines until his work was
ended and peace restored. He
caused to be sent to this country
indigputable proofs that he was in
excellent health.
Secondly--Almost Immediately
upon the arrival Of the civilian
members OF Mr.. McKinley's Phil
ippine Commission-Schurman,
Worcester and Denby--news came
Of disagreements between them
and Major Gen. Otis.
Third-The next news ofimport-
ance was that Dewey had asked to
be recalled. He was recalled on
the ground OF i'll health. To keep
up this idea he declined the hospi-
talIties offered him at Hong Kong,
although the best information is
that he was and is in very good
health--in as good health as when
he went to the Philippines.
Fourth-Now comes the news
that the most important civilian
member Of the commission has
r signed because he cannot con-
sent to Gen. Otis's policy, which
was practically formulated at
Washington and is the Admins
tration's policy. What Gen. Otis's
policy is and why Schurman can
not assent to it no one in this coun-
try but Mr.. Mckinley and his I'M
mediate advisers know.
Fifth -Aguinaldo, according to
censored dispatches of month
ago, was "broken in spirit" was
"eager to surrender" &c. Now,
according to late confirmed des-
patches, ,Aguinaldo has proclaimed
him self dictator and is arresting
ali ,Ao advocate any policy short
Of independence. The insurgents,
who according 20 Gen. Otis's bull
letins during May were daily dis
integrating," daily showing signs
Of increasing weakness" are now,
according to the censored des-
patches, more active than ever and
have returned in force to within a
few miles of Manila.
Sixth-Gen. Otis now sends
word that he wants not 80, 900 but
about As 900 troops. Two months
ago he thought that with the force
he then had, kept b. ralieis up to
its iull number OF about $4,000
men, he could "pacify" the islands.
From many other sources-re-
turned naval officers, sc. it is
learned that the best expert opin-
ion is that Gen. Otis is too san
guine and that from $1,000 to I5o,-
600 soldiers will be needed to con.
qner the Filipinos.
Seventh--All regiments Of the
regular army are to be recruited to
their full complement and volun-
teers are to be called out. For
several days, beginning with that
mysterious midnight conference at
the White House, there has been
the greatest anxiety in the highest
official circles at Washington.
The American people do not
know what is going on in the
Philippines. All cables for this
country are rigidly censored"
Further, newspaper correspond
ents there say that they dare not
send by mail the news they feel
they ought to send, because if they
do their "usefulness" at Manila
will presently cease.
But do not the facts drawn up in
paragraphs above make it per-
iectly, painfully, minously clear
that thereis something rotten"
behind that un.AmerIcan, undem-
ocratic, despotic censorship
Why did Dewey leave the COM
mission and come homer Why is
Schurman leaving and coming
home7 Why are news dispatches
and news letters from the Philip
pines "censored7" Why has Mr..
Mckinley taken as his motto,
"Distrust the people2"