Iron County register., 1899-04-06
Humiliation and Sorrow.

Humiliation and Sorrow.
The hearts of all true Americans are
bowed in humiliation aud sorrow over
the reports that are coming to us from
the Philippines. Heroic, noble young
men who responded to the call of their
country to liberate struggling people
from the cruel, barbaric yoke OF Spain
are now being sacrificed on fields OF
carnage on the opposite side of the
earth, numbering and being murdered
by those who were their allies only a
few short months ago.
The average American citizen scarce
ly knew of the existence of the Philip
pine Islands one year ago. We first
learned of them as being victims of
Spanish greed and cruelty. Our first
experience with them was as the allies
OF our government in a war against
Spain. Only few short months ago
all Americans sympathized with them
in their heroic struggle of centuries
for independence. Admiral Dewey
told US they were a deserving people,
more capable OF self-government than
the Cubans.
When we landed in their country
they received us as friends and APP
| plauded us as liberators. After our
joint armies had captured Manila and
Spain had sued for peace, our allies
were told that they must not enter the
city. They remained on the outside
waiting for the cheerful tidings that
| they were to be free. Instead, they
we're told to surrender and don the
yoke OF a new master. They refused.
This is the sum total OF their offense.
We have a censored cable at Manila,
not for the purpose OF keeping news
from the Filipinos, but of keeping the
truth from our own people. Letters
and private advices received from
Manila go to show a most revolving
and deplorable state of affairs. The
people of Mauila, who are property
owning citizens, are said to be nearly
unanimous in their opinion that the
than the rule of any Spanish COM
mander who has governed the country.
1t is alleged on very good authority
that the life and property of all decent
natives of Manila are more insecure
than at any time in the history OF that
unfortunate country. 1t is belied by
many, in which belief we concur, that
the sole cause of the bloodshed which
has shocked the world under Ameri-
can rule, is the injustice OF the militia
ry government established and main
tanned by General Otis. II is believed
by those well informed that the name
OF Otis will be execrated by the people
in the far east whom we attempted to
set free because of his tyranny and
cruelty.
1t is time the administration took
occasion to do justice and not rely upon
the slaughter of innocent victims in
the Philippines for the establishment
of good government. II the people OF
the archipelago do not hate the Ameri-
can people it will not be because the
military rule of Otis has not been hate
full. 1t is true that the Spanish COM
manders took possession of nearly all
the property of the natives in Manila,
but it was not expected that they
would retain it. General Otis, In his
report to the War Department, argues
that the United States is trustee for
Spain, and must hold everything that
Spain illegally seized, and IL we may
Judge from what is going on ia that
unfortunate country General Otis must
also consider that we are trustee for
Spanish cruelties, and must not only
perpetuate, but intensity them.
Notwithstanding the disposition OF
all Americans to side with their coun-
try whether right or wrong, public
opinion is rapidly crystallizing against
our policy in the Philippines.
President Mckinley seems to have
no fixed principles and is rapidly ac-
quiring a reputation as prince OF OPP
portunisls. Therefore, we look for
him, when he discovers the irresistible
trend of opinion to abandoue the work
of slaughter. swallow his present poll
cy and beat retreat by offering self
government to the Philippines with
an American protectorate. Watch for
it.--Natioaai Watchma..