The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-07-15
PLANNED GENERAL MASSACRE.
Filipinos Would Have Killed Every
American Soldier In Manila.

Cincinnati o., July 14--BiShop j. NJ.
Thoburn of the Methodist Episcopal
church, who spent forty years as q
missionary, mostly in India, is here
with his family. some of whom are in
ill-health.- The bishop spent some time
in Manila in March last, and was an in
teiligent observer of events. He says
there is no doubt that the outbreak be-
tween the Americans and Filipinos was
intended by Filipino leaders to include
: a general massacre in the city of Ma
Mia
He cited in proof of this the testi-
mony of two Filipino servants who
were summoned to service in the army
by Aguinaldo, and who dared not dis
obey, but who warned their American
employers to keep within doors that
night, as orders had been given to kill
all Americans found on the streets.
Another evidence was the finding Of
5000 knives stored in Catholic church.
Only the splendid discipline of the
American troops prevented the massa-
ere.
The whole history of the present
Philippine situation, the bishop de-
clared, showed such a natural and log
ical and even inevitable course of
events that the United States is bound
to assert its authority there. Anarchy
and assassination, he declares, would
fellow the withdrawal of the United
the Luzon island. Ali the other islands
are peaceful. The bishop thinks the
proper policy of the United States is
to enlist the men of the islands who
are the natural enemies of the inhab-
itants of LuZon, TO fight Aguinaldo's
army. Differed by Americans, they
would quickly dispose of the few men
that Aguinaldo can muster.
Viewing the situation in the far east
from the standpoint of a missionary of
forty years in that part of the world,
the bishop was impressed with the fact
that it was the duty of the United
States, forced upon it by the circum-
stances of the Spanish war, to hold
the Philippines and to preserve order
and extend civilized government in
that vast region.
MOREOVER, in the interest of moral
ity and Christianity, he hoped for the
dissolution of the Chinese empire,
which he characterized as the most
helpless government on earth. In that
event Russia would have a portion,
giving it an available Pacific port. The
British have in view the valley OF the
-Tse-Kiang as their portion the
United States should have that portion
opposite the Philippine Islands. should
a division OF China occur ii would bring
untold blessings to the people OF that's
empire and would advance the civil
ization of the whole world.
The bishop declines to discuss the
subject from the standpoint of Ameri-
can politics, but he says he cannot i'm
aeine why the United States should
shrink from giving up her exclusive
policy and hesitate to take her place
among the nations when the duty IS
thrust upon her. If China /
falls to pieces. as nearly all well in
formed people believe she will, it would |
be nnwise. if not morally wrong, to |
concede that the European nations /
have a right to settle the destiny of !
that great empire without any refer
epce to America The United States
must inevitably become the dominat- !
ing naval power of the Pacific ocean, |
and if such future is in store Tor her, |
she certainly ought to hold an import /
ami section of the coast line of eastern /
Asia.