The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-08-10

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Secretary Root ON Philippine Policy.
Coincident with the statement made
by Secretary of War Root. at Platts-
burg. New York. published in yester-
days morning papers. to the effect that
the suppression Of the Instruction in
the Philippines will be prosecuted with
vIgor from now on, and that fifty thou
sand men will be on the ground to
make decisive campaign at the end OF
the rainy season. in October. was brief
dispatch from Manila, announcing a
significant and notable victory by Cen
eral MacArthur's force near San Fer
nando, where 1000 American troops
badly defeated Filipino force of 5000.
one Of the main features Of the en-
gagement was that the loss on the
American side was but twenty all told,
in killed and wounded, while the enc
my's loss was very large. the exact
number not being stated. The point is
that the administration is not specu-
latlng In It's expression OF confidence in
the ability to bring the trouble in the
archipelago to an end at the earliest
possible date, as soon as the reinforce
ments are sent.
Secretary Root is not boastful man.
and when asked If the war in the Phil
ippines would be prosecuted vigorously
from now on. his reply. which came
-as quick as a FASH" may be taken as
decisive. He meant 1t. and at once
gave the lie to the report that he and
the President did not agre upon the
policy to be pursued, when he said:
'.The war In the Philippines from now
on will be prosecuted with all possible
energy. There will be $1,000 men
men there, ready for active service.
at the close OF the rainy season, and
more Will be sent there II necessary"
The statement was made that 1t would
be impossible for any one to be more
emphatic and determined than Secre-
larry Root is in his avowed policy OF
ending the trouble. He seldom talks
for publication. and the fact that he
had just come from a two-days' confer
ence with President Mckinley adds in
terest to his words"
It is satisfactory to the country that
Secretary Root, within a little more
than a week after his assumption OF
the office OF secretary Of war, has pro-
ven his competency. Already the OPP
position press. which has ben so free
to refer to him as n lawyer secretary.
has ceased its criticisms, and is giving
him proper credit. There has been
a recall Of the memory Of the fact that
our greatest war secretary in history,
Edwin NJ. Stanton. in the most eventful
and destructive war. was not a military
expert, but was lawyer"
Incident to these announcements,
comes further evidence that Aguinaldo.
the Filipino dictator. has again grown
desperate, in the issuance Of another
appeal to the great powers for rec
ognition Of the Independence Of the
FnIplnos. Aside from the sympathy
the chief may receive from the So
called "Anti-Imperialist League" in
Boston, over whose destinies Edward
Atkinson presIdes. the document will
receive little attention. FOR 1t Is the
same old argument. and the powers Of
Europe are not going to interfere with
the United States and its treaty rights,
growing out OF u war in which they had
no interest. and did not participate.
Their friendly terms with this nation
will not be severed by needing any ap-
peal from an unorganlzed people. re-
belilng against a proper authority.
An authorized statement from Wash
ington is to the effect that no foreign
power has ever entertained the re-
hottest idea OF giving recognition to
Aguinaldo and his associates; that. on
the contrary, there has been the most
friendly feeling maintained between
this government and foreign powers
throughout the Philippine conflict.
The Intelllgencer edltorially yesterday
called attention to the fact that. as
far back in 1873. during the Virginius
AFFAIR. when It was thought We might
20 to war with Spain for the massacre
Of some Of our sailors, Admiral Dewey,
then the commander Of warship in
the Asiatlc sqndron. petitioned to
Washington that he be sent TO capture
Manila: that he saw the value then
the possession OF the Philippines would
be to this country. and that when he
opened the way last year 10 what has
now happened. he gratIned his ambl-
ton OF a quarter Of a century. There
fore. when the Filipino appeal refers
to Dcwey's former confidence In Ag-
uInaido, before the latter betrayed him,
in order to gain sympathy from foreign
countrles, they do the admiral an In
justice.