The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1899-07-20
FRIENDLY, BUT IMPARTIAL.
An English Newspaper at Hong Kong Tells
the Plain Truth About Mr.. Mckinley's
War.


There can be no possible room for
doubt that the Americans will ulti.
mately gain the day In the Philip.
pines, but the present attitude OF
the Filipinos leads one to believe
that it will only be gained by war
of determination. And the question
naturally arises IS to whether the
establishment of American rule
throughout the islands is worth such
an expensive war and also whether
the ends to be gained weuld justify
the means.
TIE United States, we are told,
are now busily bringing the bless.
ings OF a free and republican govern
ment to the Filipinos. At least that
is supposed to be the reason for
subduing the Philippines. But the
Filipinos apparently do not want to
be liberated any more than they
have bsen, and are quite ready and
willing to look after themselves and
to dispense with the aid of the
United States except as a protecting
power.
IF all that the Americans aim at 10
the establishment of an independent
government under the protection of
the United States, it does not appear
to us that it is worth while to waste
such large amount of money and
such hundreds of lives in fighting
the people whom they are apparently
so anxious to befriend.
1t would be far cheaper, and we
believe far more satisfactory to a
large proportion of the people of
the United States, were honorable
terms arranged with the Filipinos,
and this war, which can certainly
bring no glory to the American ma
ton, brought to satisfactory close.
As we have frequently pointed
out, the whole blame for the present
situation in the Philippines is attrib.
utable to the total lack of policy
displayed by the Americans from the
first. They did not know their own
ninds and allowed the Filipinos to
see this plainly. What wonder then
that the Filipinos should mistrust |
them now?
First Aguinaldo was to be treated
as the trusted ally of the Americans,
and he was so treated. Then arrived |
American troops, and the Filipinos
were ignored. Next the Filipinos
were not offered any opportunity of
their views on the future
Of their country prior to the ratifca.
ton of the peace treaty with Spain
and of all that followed we are only
too we'll aware.
The Americans have all along
made the mistake of looking upon
the FilipInos as savages and treating
them as such, and now it is too late
to mend matters.
At the commencement of the
5panish-American war the Americans
nad the trust and respect OF the
and very small modicum
Of consideration and diplomacy
would have enabled them to have
retained those friendly feelings and
10 have been to day in peaceful
occupation of the country.
1t must not be thought we are an
to the American cause; 1t
8 not the case; but we must say,and
say plainly, that We are sorry to see
hat instead of the Filipinos being
Introduced to the benefits of peace
md a just and civilized form of
government, they are now likely to
be cursed by war of determination,
md all on account OF the bungling
Ind Encouragement of certain
officials of the United States
Had matters but been left in the [
hands of Admiral Dewey we do not {
or a moment believe that thing
would have come to such a pass. His
upright sailors nature would have
guided him Alright. But when mat
.ers are dealt with by consuls and
who are far from the
scene of action aud have no knowl. /,
sdge of the country or people to be ,
lealt with, then disaster is only too
frequently the result. as affairs in
he Philippines have shown. !,