The record-union., 1899-04-10
THE WAR IN THE PHILIPPINES

The New York Times" cannot be
classed among expansionist journals,
nor has it been a champion of the Ad-
ministration. It's usual attitude is that
of opposition. But the Times" now
admits. with regard to the Philippines,
that the measures we have been COM
PEELED to take cannot be criticised, how
ever much we may deplore the neces-
sity that compelled them. 1t then pro-
ceeds to say that we know enough Of
the Ffhpinos now to understand the
perversity of their nature:
We know their ambition, their vanity,
their unreasonableness and their lack
OF the qualities upon which civil gov
ernment depends for its justice and sta
b1lity. Upon minds constituted upon
this Oriental model it may we'll have
been impossible to make any impress
sion by friendly assurances. It is not
easy to win the confidence of the over
cunning, and guile is a notable Filipino
traat. Moreover. the military force these
men have organized and equipped
proves to have been very much stronger
and more formidable than anybody had
imagined This gave them a reason
able basis for confidence in their own
powers, and was of course the basis
OF what seemed at the time their i'm
pudent demands. They counted on their
army to make good their threat to drive
our troops out of Manila.
But under the p-'otocol, and later un-
DER the treaty we assumed responsible
ity for the government of the Philip
pines, and We are, therefore, bound to
preserve order in Manila Any hesi-
fancy or timidity on our part the
Times" admits would have made the
place afcity Of riot and slaughter. 1t
is added:
We should have millions to pay in
uaHlages II We permitted an uprising in
the city and an attack upon life and
property. 1t Is not enough to pay dam
ages after the event. Our primary OBJ
ngauon Is to preserve order. to protect
life and property That duty General
Gus IS engaged in performing He is
tnere by lawful right, he is entitled to
protect himself against the annoyances
and the danger of forays by the armed
Filipinos, even If the destruction of
their forces is essential to a. full assur
ance Of safety from molestation. Cen
era Otis doubtless keeps it in mind.
however. that he is not fighting these
men as he fought the Spaniards or as
we should fight any other enemy be-
tween whose country and our own a
state OF war existed. Peace is the only
1ning we are fighting for. It is obvious
therefore that we do not need to stand
upon ceremony or let punctillo hinder
settlement with Aguinaldo.
Our New York contemporary then
points out that our procedure has been
such that We have been ready at any
moment to meet Aguinaldo half way:
1hau his present course is madness. and
IL Is our task to bring him around to
sanity. If he persists upon being de-
sEroyed, on every ground Of reason #
Is well that the work be effectually done
and with speed. 1t is not, the Times
hoids, a glorious war, and We're our
purposes other than they are, and our
motives less disinterested, there would
naturally be an outcry of dissatisfaction
Tor mere earth hunger would not Justify
such doings.
1t is the conviction that we are per-
forming in the best way open to US
duty that has fallen to our lot that
makes the unpleasant business at all
endurable