Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1899-07-06
Harrison GREY OTIS.
The California Journalist General
ON His Way to the Ma
tional Capital.
Iaix ON THE PHILIPPINE QUESTION.
FiIir.inos Are Capable of Self
GOvernEent-The United states
VIII Have to Maintain a Force i'm
the Islands Indefinitely.

Chicago, July 1-Gen. Harrison
Grey Otis, of Los Angeles, Cal, who
was with the Eighth army corps at
Manila when the instruction began
and who saw nearly years fighting
around that city, arrived in Chicago
Thursday night en- route for Washing
ten His visit to Washington will
mark his muster out of the volunteer
service
Philippine Situation Discussed.
Gen. Otis discussed the situation III
the Philippines at considerable length,
and took the hopeful view that with
the additional troops to be furnished
the war would be terminated before
the next rainy season sets in.
with $4,000 troops all told-say 80,
600 for fighting columns and 10000 fol
garrison Duty" he said, Gen. Otis can
suppress the revolt before the next
rainy season, restore peace, establish
order, protect all well-meaning ma
fivcs of Luzon in their rights of per
son and property and establish ano
maintain a simple, economical, just
and effective government over the isl
ands"
Not Capable of SeIf-GOyernment.
DO you believe the Filipinos are
capable of seIf-government, or will il
he necessary for the United States to
maintain a standing army on the isl.
-ands for a great length of timer
I'm their present state 1 do not be
Ecvc the Filipinos are capable of self
government. If the restraint and con.
troll of this government were with
drawn from them now, 1 believe they
would be at each others threats in
very short time, and make a farce OF
self-government. The conclusion from
this premise, therefore is that it will
he necessary for the United States t.
maintain a considerable force in the
islands for an indefinite period. Such
a course will, in my judgment, be un-
lvOidable if we are to hold, protect
and properly govern the possessions
we wrestled from Spain as legitimate
prizes of war in an honorable com.
bat
Obligations OF the United States.
This country owes much to itself
providing n sound, adequate and just
government to the natives of the Phil
ippiue group Moreover, it owes some.
thing to the world in this regard. for
at would be a shame and a reproach
to an enlightened nation to conquer
an possess a half-civilized land, ano
then abandon it without adequate gov.
erEmental protection and internal Sc.
curity-"
Has there ever been any question
as TO the duty of the government n
the Philippines"
Duty of the Government
Il can not see how the duty of the
government in the Philippines can be
fairly questioned by any self-respect-
ing American with a proper concep-
ito OF the actual situation. 1t was not
possible to avoid hostilities after the
capture of Manila The most careful
honest and persistent efforts to ac.
cCmplish that so desirable result were
made by Maj.-Gen. Otis and all in his
command, in obedience to the orders
Of the president of the United States
The General Situation
Regarding the general situation in
A1S HhiiippiHeS let IneSe prime facts
Dc borne in mind:
First, with even the small force now
available in Luzon, the native army
has been defeated in every engage
ment; second, no serious mistakes
have been made by Maj.-Gen. Otis.
either military or civil. He has shown
himself to be a commander with a
strong grasp on the situation. He has
ability, experience, skill, integrity and
marvellous capacity for work"