The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-18
END or THE PHILIPPINE WAR.

Whlle the Boston anti-expansionists
in imitation of the democrats of '61-'65
are declaring the war in the Philippines
a failure and success is impossible. the
Manila correspondent of the New York
Evening Post, an anti-expansion paper.
writes home that "the backbone of the
Philippine rebellion is broken" and
there is no expectation of further Sc
rious fighting. That is not saying that
peace reigns in Luzon or that there is
no further use for American soldiers.
Appomattox did not literally end the
civil war. Though Lees surrender
marked the downfall of the confedera-
cy, the union army was not withdrawn
nor was it without active business till
long after that event. According to
the supreme court, the war itself was
not actually ended till a year after
Grants memorable victory. These
facts merit the consideration of the
over-zealous critics of the administra-
ton.
1t is instructive to read this anti-ex.,
pansionists explanation of the continu-
ance of fighting in the Philippines. He
vouches fRc the truth of the assertion,
that the rank and file of Aguinaldo's
army and the masses of the people are
heartily tired of war, and that they
have persisted in their hostility only
through fear of death at the hands of
the leaders-not all the leaders, either.
for some of them have also had more
than enough. In this class the cores
pondent is inclined to place Aguinaldo
himself. and he gives a reason for do
ing so.
There is a secret political brotherhood
called Katapunans, whose methods are
not unlike the Ku-Klux Khan of unhap-
py memory, and curiously enough, it's
trademark and brand is the same-''K.
K. K" Its members are as mercen-
airy as they are INSCRIPTIONS, but by
virtue of secrecy and arbitrary meth
DDS, they have established something
like reign Of terror among the natives
and the word of the Katapunans is
law. Not a man dare hold aloof from
it's muster roll. With the Katapunans
Aguinaldo and his lieutenants formed
an alliance, offensive and defensive,
while the Spanish treaty was in debate
in the United States. It was the Kata-
punans who caused the native insur-
rection in Manila and burned a portion
Of THE city. 1t is the Katapunans who
have burned the successive towns cap
tured by our army, have maintained
the war and made strong overtures of
peace futile. In short, Aguinaldo hav-
ing invoked the aid of this evil spirit,
has become its slave. Having grasped
the poles of a galvanic battery, he can
not let go. The smile is the cores
pondent's. The real strength of the re-
bellion is not Aguinaldo or the Filipino
congress, but the KataDunans, and
nothing but terrorism holds the army
together. It is worth while to have
this testimony from an anti-expansion-
list witness.
The correspondent describes the stu
alton al 1.-The practical ending of the
war" and goes on to discuss the prob
lens of Daeifcation, but that matter
need not be taken up here. It is suf-
ficient to know that an army cannot
be long fed, clothed, armed and made
to fight by mere intimidation. Many
refugees have got within the American
lines, many wounded have been cap
tured, and their testimony is unani-
mously in support of this correspond
ents assertions. They have learned
that we do not murder the wounded
nor burn peaceful villages. Many Of
them have returned to agriculture, and
in one or two towns a government has
been established under the supervision
of American officers. Time will be
needed for the extinction of the Kata-
punans and the rounding up Of all the
armed bands Of natives, but progress
has been made in this direction. and
the situation in the Philippines is by no
means so desperate as the anti-admin-
istration speakers assert.