The record-union., 1899-10-02
A VOICE FROM LUzON.
Strong Words From Manila
Newspaper.
(From Freedom" Manila.)

(From Freedom" Manila.)
The Herald of June 9th publishes
clap trap editorial Under the caption,
Who Is Responsible2. Like all anti
expansionist arguments that have
reached this end of the world, it is
absolutely unworthy the serious con-
sideration of any American citizen
Here are some of its chief points:
The Washington correspondent of the
New York World estimates that S63.-
0O0,OOO and the lives of 664 men are
the price thus far paid for our status
in the Philippines. In addition to this
there are $500 soldiers suffering from
wounds and many times that number
OF invadils. The cost of maintaining
our army in the Philippines is set down
at S2SO,0OO a day now, with the pros
pect of 100000 a day when the force
shall be increased. It is set forth that
the United States now controls less ter
ritory than Spain did when the SOW
ereignty was transferred p The ex-
pense of subduing the Islands, including,
the S20,000,000 paid to Spain, is estf-
mated in round numbers at $500. .OOO.-
OOO. Not only is the United States des-
tined to be without moral justification
and without glory in this Philippine af-
falr, but it is also going to get the
worst of a ruinously bad bargain.
Supposing that the above figures are
correct, what then? Would the Her
aid or any sane American favor the
withdrawal of the American forces
from these islands? 1t is possible that
there are people SO blind as to be un-
able to foresee the consequences of
such an action on the part of the
United States? In Gods name is there
any man living under the folds of Old
Glory who would, if he could, withdraw
the soldiers from these islands and
acknowledge to the world that we had
bitten off more than we could chew.
and that it was impossible for us to put
down this insurrection? If there is
such man he must be the editor of
the New York Herald"
Any person, with even the most ordi-
nary horse sense ought to know
by this time that the United States
Government cannot recall the army and
leave the insurgents in possession. That
1t is impossible to give these islands
back to Spain and still maintain a
particle of self-respect or a particle
of respect of the other powers of the
world. All this rant about forcing civ
ilization on the Filipino is sheer rot.
The facts of the case are simply these:
Spain was in possession of the Phil
ippine Islands. She had been for some
hundreds Of years and in the course
OF a just war these islands were
wrested from her and in the Paris
treaty of peace they were decided over
to the United States Government Our
authority is just as incontestible in the
Philippines to-day as it is in Louisiana
or California or any State in the Union.
The talk about giving the islands over
to the natives is sheer twaddle. We
might as we'll talk of turning the Unit
ed States over to the American Indians.
1t cannot be done. There are.too many
European interests on the island of
Luzon even to think of such thing.
and should it be attempted we would
at once be confronted with some of
the gravest international troubles that
we have ever had. No power would sit
still and watch such a farce Again
if we care to turn the islands over to
the natives, to what tribe would the
Herald" suggest turning them over?
a week They never would have peace
in Luzon or any of the other islands
in this archipelago. The various tribes
here have always been at war and they
always will be until the United States
in it's almightiness makes it's influence
felt Every person who reads history
as it is made knows that the present
trouble was started by the Filipinos fir
ing on the outposts of Uncle Sam
After that first shot was fired it was
too late to talk of reconciliation There
was nothing left to be- done but abso-
lutte subjugations There was no use
in the least in sending peace commits
sions for the time had not yet arrived,
and will not arrive until the forces of
Old Glory have made these little brown
people perfectly acquainted with the
grave mistakes they have made. Pa