The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-18
SPAIN TAKES A REVENGE
Negotiations to Recognize the
Philippine Republic.
SITUATION is STILL ACUTE
Insurgents Are Smuggling Arms Into
the City of Manila-The Natives
Are Intrenching Them
selves at Iloilo.

New York, Jan. IA dispatch to
the Herald from Paris says: News
has been received here that the Span
ish government has begun negotia-
tions with Aguinaldo, through the
agency Of certain Filipinos in Madrid,
for the release of the Spanish prison.
ers. Having begun to treat directly
with the insurgents, Spain is likely to
go a step further and accord them the
recognition hitherto refused by any
government. The idea is to call upon
President Mckinley to redeem his
promise and obtain the release of the
prisoners. The difficulties confronting
the American government are all un-
derstood in Madrid and as soon as
official cognizance of them is obtained
the government will consider itself
free to treat with the Filipino govern
ment II necessary as power to power,
in order to secure the liberty of its
subjects. That Spain should take such
revenge upon us would surprise no.
body.
A dispatch to the Herald from Hong
Kong. says: The Heralds Manila cor
respondent reports a strict censorship
upon dispatches. The latest advices
dated Jan. 10 state that the situation
din the Philippines is still acute. Aguin-
aldo is holding his forces in check
with difficulty and natives have been
arrested for smuggling arms into the
walled city. On one occasion coffin
was found full of arms and on another
six Mauser rifles and a stock of am
munition was discovered hidden in a
load Of straw. The natives residing
in the city predicted an attack on
Manila Sunday, the 18th, but the for
eigners maintain that there will be no
attack if the Americans do not pre-
cipitate one.
The position of the Americans is very
unpleasant. Their Spanish prisoners
are unfriendly and the hostile natives
are numerous and well armed both
inside and outside of Manila. In IL
oilo the situation remains the same,
except that the natives are intrench-
ing themselves. They have blocked
the river by sinking barges laden with
stones. The native troops outside of
Manila are most insolent and it is hard
work to restrain the Americans. The
Filipino soldiery come out to their
lines, close up to the American outposts,
load their rifles, deliberately point them
at the American soldiers and then de-
risively walk back to their own lines.
Under such conditions there might be
a fight at any moment.
A dispatch to the Herald from Hong
Kong says: Rev. Clay McCauley, pro-
fessor of theology at Toxic, who re-
Gently arrived from the Philippines,
says that as the result of his study of
the situation a Manila he thinks there
are only three ways open for the Unit
ed States to solve the Philippine ques-
tion. The first is by annexation by
force or purchase. To use force means
the most disastrous foreign war in
American history, entailing great loss
- e. a 80
over 1t would be violation of nation
al honor. Purchase means the recog-
milton Of the insurgents as allies of
the United States during the war; re-
wardlng the Filipino leaders with Of
fees, employment Of the insurgents in
military and civil offices and also CIV
ing them back pay as allies for some
months. Such purchase would Sc
cure a compromising gain of doubtful
tenure. The Americans in Manila are
generally opposed to annexation in any
FORM
The second solution is complete
transfer of sovereignty from Spain to
a Filipino republic and the retention
by the United States for her own use
of Manila bay and port just as Hong
Kong is kept by Great Britain. This
solution means the exposure Of the
defenseless Philippines to greed of the
powers, with a consequent acute crisis
This way is neither honorable nor
wise
The third possible solution is auton-
nmy under an American protectorate.
This means an Independent Filipino
republic controlling the administration
of internal affairs, the United States
taking charge of the supreme judic-
larry and foreign relations such as
the powers of making war or treaties
while having control of the customs.
This solution, Mr.. McCauley thinks,
might bring about tutelage which
would result for the future absolute
independence Of the island or volun-
tary annexation to the United States
The third way only, he says, means
peace and prosperity to the United
States and to the Philippines
In any case immediate action Is i'm
perative. A leading member of the
Filipino directorate at Hong Kong de-
clared readily and emphatically that |
the Filipinos would refuse absolutely |
to hand over the customs. There would |
be no objection to paying the cost of |
maintaining naval squadron in the |
Philippine waters. In the same way as
the British colonies contribute toward |
the imperial defense.