The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-26
FACING TIE sITuATION.


We might as well make up our minds
that we have a very serious situation In
the Philippines TO face. When the treaty
with Spain was signed in Paris the i'm
preston prevailed in this country that
the Filipinos, recognizing our benevolent
intentions, would welcome our rule until
such time as they were prepared to as
sumo the management of their own at
fairs. That impression was a mistaken
one. The Filipinos are not going to per-
NIT US to manage their political affairs,
and If We do so we must establish our
authority by force. That is so evident
that there Is no room for question
And it looks as If the war which we are
waging against the Filiplnos would be a
long one. 1t would be a short one If it
were. possible to meet all of the forces of
the Fiiipinos in open battle, but they IN
derstand the situation too well to come
out into the open and risk their cause in
one or two great engagements. They in
tend to conduct their war against US just
as they conducted their war against Spain.
They hope by their guerrilla methods to
finally tire us out and drive us from the
country.
We have already quite large army and
a very considerable navy in the Philip
pines and there is a call for more troops
and more vessels of war. There need be
no surprise If these calls should be re-
peated. The sickly season is rapidly ap-
preaching. and when it comes the hospi-
tails will be filled with our troops They
will not be able to conduct a vigorous
campaign in the jungles and swamps to
which the insurgents will retire when
they are vigorously pursued.
The administration has decided upon
vigorous campaign, with the hope of end
ing opposition TO our rule before the sick
ly season begins. That is undoubtedly the
proper course to pursue but it is doubtful
If the result hoped for will be attained. The
insurgents are in position to carry on
a long war, and that Is the kind we are
likely to have. What 1t will cost, no one
can predict with any degree of certainty.
One thing can be depended upon, and
that is that the Philippines will cost US
worth to US. We have agreed to pay Spain
S20.O00O00 to retire from them, and we
have also agreed to pay the cost of send
ing the Spanish troops In the Islands to
their homes. It Is pretty safe to say that
the Philippines have already cost us $40.
100000, not counting the lives that have
been sacrificed there. And yet our control
In the islands Is practically confined to
Manila
We are disposed to accept the statement
of the President, made in his Home Mar
ket speech at Boston, that he has no pol
icy in respect to the Philippines, and that
he stands ready to carry out whatever
policy Congress sees fit to adopt. Assum-
ing that such is his position, and that he
speaks for his party, 1t seems to us that
the wiser course to pursue is for Con-
gress to tell the country at once what its
policy In respect to the Philippines is.
II we are In for long and costly war
in these islands-a war which may involve
us In complications with one or more of
the Powers of Europe-it Is important that
the country should be united, and that
the Filippinos, as well as our own peo-
pie, should know just what the issue of
the war is. AS long as there is room for
the charge that Imperialism is aimed at,
and that the war is intended for the bene-
fit of capitalists, the difficulties In the
way of raising men and money for estab-
fishing our authority in the Philippines
will increase. If, as the prospect now Is
the war is to be a long one, the exact pur-
pose of 1t ought to be made clear. Doubt
means confusion and hesitation, and while
they exist vigorous campaign is practi-
cally impossible