The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-02-02
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY ?. 1859


One thing connected with tho case OF
the Philippines seems clear. We will
never OCCUPY and hold those islands with
out making war upon their inhabitants
and forcing them By powder and ban TO
submit 20 our rule. That IS a most start
ling statement but the man must be pur-
blind who cannot see that 90 IS n fact.
n We had followed up the ousung OF
re spanlards with decisive measure
and a demand az an points that the Fill
ipinos submit 20 our authority and dis
band every pretense at separate govern
mental organization for themselves We
should now be IN undlsputed occupation
of the Islands with no organized author
ity TO oppose our will. We are not argu-
ing that this should have been done. we
are only pointing out that IL was the
way and the only way in which We could
have compelled an undlsputed subm.s-
sion 70 our VIII The Eastern mind Vt IDS
instantly to force relentlessly exercised,
but Il never yields to anything else. Lei
q perceive evidence Of hesitation or
doubt and that resolves # upon resist
ance.
We pursued another policy and now we
see a state Of affairs there which can bee
subdued by force alone. and how much
force Will 10 required for IT'S subjugation
the Almighty alone can foretei.
That might well cause us 10 pause and
count tho cost before we embark upon
The project. But may not citizen Of
the United States he excused for re-
focting very seriously upon the subject
before he yields his assent TO a policy OF
that sort? Does II not seem strange in
deed that the United Staes Of America
The model republic that the worlds his
tory has shown. should publicly proclaim
that It Intends TO deny TO an allen people
that right 10 rule themselves which those
same United States have been proclaim
ing for one hundred years is the sine qua
non to all intelligent and free govern
meut. and that 81 proposes 10 invade
those people with its armed forces and
compel them TO live under a government
provided for them by the United States
instead Of under q government selected
by themselves II is a day Of startling
things. but this really seems TO us the
most startling and the most anomalous
Of all that we have heard OF yet We
forbear 20 press this view at this time
beyond its bare statement as We mag
have a good deal more 10 say Of 1t from
time 10 time.
We prefer 80 branch Of now. 90 say
that the more We learn Of the facts Of
the case. the more the conviction grows
upon US that if we annex the Philippines
10 rule them as colony we shall take
upon our hands ono OF the most difncult
and dangerous enterprises that any people
ever yet undertook.
A letter in the Washington Post Of
Tuesday last from a gentleman who has
been some time in Manila. and whom the
Post vouches FOR as one Of the best
known and most reliable citizens Of
washington, casts food Of light upon
this case. The writer Is plainly a judi
clous man Of calm judgment and careful
methods lie tells just what he has seen
and what he knows OF the facts. and
they are enough 90 make the most en-
ihusiastic imperialist pause before me
takes his leap IN the dark. Without ex-
ception. he says, our soldiers there want
10 abandon tho islands and come home,
and when Il IS considered that outside
Of Manila tho country is a wilderness.
Without roads and pcopled by animals
mtc superior 20 prairie dogs and wolves.
The aversion o. our soldiers 10 a pcrma-
ncnt sojourn there IS plainly not an
unnatural sentiment
We confess TO looking upon this Phil
ioplne business as one Of the most serious
ono this country has ever been confront
"a with. ..L--s-a
SENSATIONAL MARRIAGES.