The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-16

The military governor of the province. al
though a Tagalog and iusurgent. had
characterized the condition existing as
complete anarchy and had repeatedly sent
in secret to Manila, asking for aid TO re-
store order. and promising TO surrender
with his troops If We would only dispatch
small force 10 his aid"
The speaker denounced as false state
ments that the Americans had no friends
among the Filipnos, and declared We had
many good true friends among the leading
Filipinos. He proceeded: Il hear IL said,
If only a small fraction of the Philippine
population is against US, and If the great
majority of the people are ready TO accept
American sovereignty, why is IL that We
are compelled 20 send great army to the
islands? / answer, first, because we are
waging the most humane war In history.
If it were simply a matter Of killing, We
should not need so large an army. Two
regiments of troops could go where they
chose in the island of Luzon to-day and
kill to their hearts content without serious
risk. It is because We are attempting to
protect the peaceable inhabitants from the
depredations of the lawless that We require
so large force.
THE WAY OUT.
Finally, a word as to the way out. Is ii
conceivable that we should withdraw our
troops abandoning our friends to the GER
tain vengeance of our enemies and the peo-
pie at large TO civil war and utter anarchy?
There can be put one answer to this ques-
tion. Our troops must stay until armed re-
sstance has ceased and public confidence
has been fully restored. The day will come,
sooner or later, when native soldiers, under
American officers or under officers of their
own, will do large share of the work that
remains to be DONE IN the matter of
autonomy we already have made a safe
beginning and the experiments in municipal
and provisional governments which are even
now in progress will eventually furnish
safe basis for congressional action.
I'm closing, let me say that there does not
live an 'anti-imperialist' who has more sim
cere regard for the people Of the Philippine
islands or a keener interest in their present
and future welfare than myself. 1 have
great faith in them. / believe that under
our guidance they will make rapid progress
in civilization and will soon be able to take
an important share in the burden of their
country, but 1 know that if the full weight
Of that burden were thrown on them to-day
they would inevitably sink under 1t.
4nOSc WHO dheCl 10 DtiitNt tIdt we dIt
creating bloody disorder by our presence in
the Philippine islands; that the natives
would continue to hate US even If We gave
them good government; that they would be
better off under a very bad government en-
tirely their own than under a very good one
administered in part by others, and that the
only logical and honorable course open to
us is to withdraw our forces and leave the
peaceable and law-abiding natives of the
Philippine islands at the mercy of Aguinaldo
and his army, may be sincere in their con-
victions, but by freely giving voice to them
they are encouraging the ambitious Taga-
leg leader to prolong a hopeless struggle
The prolongation of the struggle is costing
us millions Of dollars and, what is far
worse. good, red American blood. Let his
tory fix the responsibility for 1t.
Those of us who believe that the flag
should stay In the East and that under it's
shadow we should patiently teach to our
new wards the lessons they must learn ere
they can take their place in the great fam
lily of nations as a free and united people
should stand shoulder to shoulder There is
work for us to do. Let those scoff who will.
The future Of ten millions of human beings
and the honor of a great Nation are i'm our
keeping and the eyes Of the world are upon
us. Let us not prove unfaithful to our
trust"