Daily inter mountain., 1899-01-18
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY IS, 1899.
SITUATION AT THE PHILIPPINES.

Late dispatches from the Philippines
Indicate that the situation there is not of
the most agreeable character to the peo-
pie. While the peace treaty with Spain
relegates the whole subject matter of the
care and government of the islands to
this country in consideration of the pay
ment of $40. 900, 900 to the Spanish govern
ment the Filipinos seem to regard them
selves as the party to which overtures
should be made. They appear impressed
with the idea that they are the masters
of the situation, and that the American
soldiers remain there only by their suffer-
ance. There is something altogether in
explcable and wrong about this No
argument is needed to make it clear.
among the Filipinos He is so exalted in
his own estimation that he permits the
Spanish government to open negotiations
with himself, through the medium of GER
tain F'ilipinos, for the release of the Span
ish prisoners held at the islands by this
ed proceeding upon the part of the am
bilious Aguinaldo, but it may not, and
probably will not stop at that. 1t is said
Spain may accord the Filipinos a recogni-
ton refused by this or any other govern
ment. This contingency puts the whole
situation in an embarrassing shape.
At this distance it would seem that the
only way for this government to solve the
situation as it now presents itself, is to
turn it's ships and soldiers at Manila loose
and let them force Aguinaldo, his Filipino
following and their Spanish ntermedlers
into silence and submission. show of
force would relieve the American soldiers
from their unpleasant situation and re-
duce the unfrendly Spanish prisoners to
a fearful, if not amiable mood. That
would be the straight the shoulder
American way of settling the whole busi-
ness. None of the mischief makers can
or will mistake the meaning of the boom
of a cannon or the rattle of firearms.
McCauley, professor of theology in
Japan, who says he has been studying the
situation at Manila, and finds three ways
open to the United States to solve the
Philippine question. The first is by an
nexation by force or purchase. The Sec
Spain to a Filipino republic. The third
is autonomy under an American protec-
torate. One looking over the professors s
"three ways" will come to the conclusion
that Spain still holds the Philippines, that
Dewey's victory at Manila bore no fruits
and that the possession of the Philippines
by the Americans is big bluff which
may be called down by Aguinaldo and the
Filipinos at most any time.
Even with the peace treaty with Spain
ratified by the senate of this country and
the first steps taken to organize a stable
government over the Philippines there is
much to be done to set the official ma
chinery of the distant islands in smooth
running order. Be fore this con be done
however the Filipinos must learn thai
Spain no longer controls the destinies OF
their country; that they, themselves, are
the citizens of country new to them anG
that the United States will, to a large ex.
tent, direct and control the affairs of the
Philippines. When they have learned
these facts and adjusted themselves tt
the changed conditions, the Filipinos will
become as orderly and law abiding as the
once wild savages now peacefully oc
cupying the Indian territory In our owl
midst.