The record-union., 1899-07-26
Weather Forecast.
A SENATOR'S REJOINDER.

and dishonor," for these rest their
claims upon sentimental grounds. the
.ugliness Of which obtrudes from every
thing they say. but to those who, con-
WINGED Of our duty and responsibility.
are fearful that the Government has
not appreciated the gravity and size
Of the undertaking in the Philippines.
The Senator calls attention to the
history of the war: the limitations OF
authority from Congress, and the good
faith to which the nation is pledged
with Spain; and these limitations have
much embarrassed the Administration.
Why was not a sufficient force sent i'll
early to crush the insurrection, and
why is there apparent secrecy sur
rounding the facts relative to the
conditions in the Philippines? Is not
the Government being deceived as to
the facts, the real conditions, and will
the force now being mobilized be suft1-
cient for the end in view? These are
the questions the critics PROFOUND, to
which the Senator gives answer, and
they all imply fearfulness and lack Of
confidence.
To these questions the answer is
made, and it is submitted that the
Senator's statements are sound and
fortified by reason and the truth: First,
the means of information the President
has at command are not limited to
General Otis work. There are the
and at other points who report regu-
larly. There are the members of the
commission sent out specially to re-
port the facts and suggestions of an
President is in daily cable communi
cation with Manila, and through this
avenue, as we'll as by mail adviees, he
is kept in constant touch with the sit
status.
The possibility of his being misled,
therefore, is so exceedingly remote as
to be unworthy of serious considera
that there are still other avenues open
to the President and used by him. The
Secret Service is one, the reports Of
many returning officers and soldiers
another, the operations of the Red
Cross another, the observations Of
clear-seeing men who have travelled
over the ground another and so on.
This information in brief is much as
the Record Union" the other day
footed up, namely, that for fifty miles
north of Manila, twenty miles south,
and east into La Guna province, we
hold the country securely; that the in
surgents are scattered beyond these
bounds in bands of from fifty to 500,
their only large force being one of
1000 men in Northern Pampanga,
while the southern Filipino army Of
1000 is badly demoralized by recent
defeats
In many cities we have set the
wheels Of civil government moving
with uneQuivocal success, and with ma
tives at the helm. The natives in
large numbers welcome US and no
longer fee at the approach Of our arm
les: land cultivation is going on stead
lily, and all the country within the
bounds controlled by the American
forces there is rapidly filing up the
localities. proving that the people are
returning to their vocations, being un-
deceived concerning American char.
acter. The President is advised by the
very best of authority, and from
sources Of entire reliability, that the
only remaining hope of the insurgent
leaders is the expectation that in our
own country there will be reversal Of
the national policy, and rebuke to and
turning down of the Administration.
and that another political party will
come into power, which will withdraw
our troops and give over the effort to
set up and maintain American author
ity, and that will recognize the Aguin.
aldoites. This idea, says the Senator.
Is being assiduously cultivated among
the followers of the rebel chieftain, and
serves the purpose of keeping his pres
ent forces together.
We had not a great army in the
Philippines when Manila fell, for the
very best of reasons: we could not
place it there. Good faith with Spain
and Congressional laws restrained the
Administration. We were still con-
cerned with the Spanish in the West
Indies. We had not contemplated the
sudden collapse of the >War in Cuba
in fact, the French ambassador ap-
peared with the proposition for sur
render by the Spanish and for peace
before the army was as yet fully
equipped for war.
We had then sent to the Philippines
some 10000 men. though Admiral
Dewey was of the opinion that 5000
would be sufficient, and General Miles
himself thought 10000 would be suf-
ficient force, for at that time the only
work expected of our forces was to
meet and overcome the Spanish in
Manila. The peace protocol came sud-
denly, unexpectedly; indeed, with
startling suddehness. the Senator