The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-08
THAT MIDNIGHT CONFERENtE.

THAT miDNlGHI CONFERENCE.
It is stated that the occasion of the mid
night cabinet meeting noted In our dis
patches day or two ago was a cable re-
quest from Prof Schuman, president of
the Philippine commission. for permission
to offer the Filipinos more liberal terms.
What the reply Of the President was is
not known, but the supposition is that
he has at last come to the conclusion that
the commission has hindered rather than
helped the army in putting an end TO the
instruction, and that it would be simply
waste OF time to offer the Filipinos
terms more liberal than those already Of
fered.
Il Is becoming apparent to him as it
has been apparent to the officers Of our
army in the Philippines. that there will be
no peace in the islands until the Fill
pinos are conquered. The leaders OF the
Filipinos win talk peace whenever they
have chance to do So but they have no
intention to make peace until they have
to. The hopeful frame OF mind in which
the Philippine commission has been ever
since ii arrived at Manila shows il doesn't
understand the Filipino character. And
the chances are it will never understand
it sufficiently to enable 1t TO render the
government any service. The thing for
the President to do. therefore, as far as
the commission is concerned, is to recall
it. With the commission out of the way
the army will have entire freedom to
pursue the only policy which promises
success, namely, to carry on the war
vigorously until the Filipinos think they
have got enough of 1t. When they are
willing TO surrender Internationally there
will be permanent peace, and not before.
It is probable, also, that the President
is beginning to understand that it is a
mistake to give Gen. Otis only just enough
men to drive the enemy from point to
point but not enough 10 hold the country
which comes into his possession. The
understanding seems to be that Gen. Otis
is to have $4,000 men. and that he has
expressed the opinion that he can get
along with that number. II is probable
that he can do with an army OF that
size just what he has been doing since
the beginning Of the war last February
but it is very doubtful IL he can bring
the war to an end at an early day. The
opinion of officers who have recently re-
turned from the Philippines is that it
will take from 5000 to 10000 men to
conquer a peace that will be lasting
Are the opinions of these officers worth
considering? They ought to be. since they
are based on what they saw and on the
observations of other officers who are
prominent in the Philippine campaign. The
President is undoubtedly thinking seri-
ously of the cost of the war and of what
the country will think of 1t when the facts
are presented in Congress. II is stated
that it is now costing more than $1,000. 900
a month.
But 1t would be wiser for the President
to spend 100000 a month and have the
war finished quickly than to spend $780,,
600 and have it 90 continue for year or
two. A short and vigorous campaign
would cost fewer lives and much less
money than a long drawn out one, be-
cause the climate will kill more of our
soldiers than the bullets of the enemy.
The President undoubtedly expects that
the war will be a popular one, and that
il will help him to get a second term,
but he will be disappointed If the war is
not ended before the presidential nomi-
nations are made.