The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-06
rARLEYIxG AND FIGHTING.

There is no doubt that Gen. Otis is right
in insisting that the fighting shall go on
while the parleying is in progress. Luna
ana Aguinaldo are not to be trusted. And
| they have become 50 accustomed 10 the
ways Of the spaniard that they do not
trust Us. Therefore The only way to ar
rive at a settlement is TO continue the
war until the insurgents announce their
willingness 10 surrender Internationally.
When the Fnipinos first made advances
for peace their representatives said that
they spoke for Gen. Luna, not Aguinaldo.
When they found that nothing was to be
accomplished by ruse of that kind they
declared they came direct from Aguinaldo.
There is reason for thinking that if their
request for a cessation of hostilities for
three months, to give the Filipino con-
gress time to meet and decide whether or
not the war should be continued, had been
granted, they would have set to work al
once to make extensive preparations for
continuing the war apd the Filipino con-
gress, at the end Of the armistice, would
have demanded nothing less than the de-
parture of our troops from the Philippines.
Nothing, therefore, would have been gain
ed by granting an armistice.
The pretense that Aguinaldo cannot sur
render and put a stop 10 the war without
the consent of the Filipino congress is
nonsense. He began the war without con-
sultng the congress, and he can put an
end 10 Il without its consent. But what
is to hinder the congress from meeting in
Aguinaldo's camp and deciding in favor
Of peace, If peace is 50 greatly desired?
As a matter of fact the Filipino leaders
are not yet quite ready for peace, except
on their own terms. After little more
fighting. however, they will be ready to
accept it on our terms. 1t will then be
possible TO dictate a lasting peace. Let
the Flipinos be convinced of our power
and our determination TO give the Phil
ippines such a government as we think
they ought to have, and we shall have
very little more trouble with them, provid-
ed we deal with them fairly and give them
assurances of f-gOvernment just as soon
rs they are prepared for it,
When we shall have established our au-
thority in the Islands it will then be time to
discuss the question of policy for them
And we believe that the great
majority of the people will favor treating
the Filipinos as literally as it is proposed
to treat the Cubans. 1t would not be just
TO them 10 give them Independence before
they are ready for 1t; neither would It be
just to withhold independence from them
after they are capable of using 1t wisely
The anti-imperialistic league of Boston has
urged the President to promise the Fill
ipinos independence after five years. He
has no authority to do that-that is a mat
ter for congressional action-and. BESIDES
1t might not be a good thing for the Fill
pinos TO let them have a government of
their own at the end of period of five
years. The question as 10 the time when
they shall have self-government must be
determined by the progress they make in
preparing themselves to take charge of
their own political affairs. Just now the
main thing TO be obtained is the uncondi-
tional surrender of the insurgents.