Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-05

THE PHILIPPINE hbfo"
Tn. report OF the philippine Comn''s-
sion is a remarkable document-re'i"'
able. chiefly. for the way In "hi.n
doubles back or. and contradicts' NSei'
Tho manner In which IT IS put toge'nei
Gives color 20 the assertion mace SUM
DAYS ago that the commission "e'e VI
yided as 90 what sort If report ''es
would make. but were finally oroush'
into agreement by administration lh-
nuences.
But II Is rot 8 document that Is calcu-
lated TO make tho American people looA
upon our Philippine venture up TO GATE
without qualms Of conscience. sun
less is IT likely TO cause them 10 take
roseate view OF the prosecution OF our
mission in our far East possessions. As
10 the past. IT whips the devil arcuhd
the stump, and puts Is In anything put
credtabls light. As to the future, 1t
is anything but comforting. 80 FAR as
anordlng assurance as 10 when the END
Of bloodshed and expense will be reached
As an example Of the Inconsistencies or
the report. tako the question OF fiipino
Independence. The commissioners state
that mo alliance Of any kind was en-
tered into with Aguiualdo. nor was any
promise OF independence made 10 him
In terms perhaps not. Yet all 'hat
goes before this statement tends to show
that Aguinaldo had every right 10 sup
pose that We Intended 20 form an al
lance with him and give the Filipino
patriots. as We then termed his follow
ers a chance TO establish the indepen-
dsnce Tor which they have been fighting
for years. We hurried Aguinaldc 10
Manila and impaired new life to the
insurrectionary movement Again, the
commissioners declare that there never
were any operations or any combined
movement by the United States ana Eli
pinos against the Spauiards." But just
previous 10 that declaration It is stated
that Aguinaldo was permitted 10 land
at Cavite and organize an army, with
the purpose Of strengthening the United
States forces and weakening the enemy.
If in granting this permission for the pur-
pose admitted. We did not combine with
the Filipinos what in the name Of com
mon sense, did we do? 1t is true that
there never were any "operauons'-ac-
tive operations--by "the United States
and Filipinos against the spaniards.'
Why, is somewhat Of a mystery, con-
sideIlng our invitation and encourage
ment to Aguinaldo, and cur permission to
him TO organize an army. Perhaps
the explanation lies in the after thought
of the administration regarding the Phil
pplnes we have heard so much about
from time to time BE that as It may,
| however. the commissions report rem
ders unavoidable the conclusion that
tacitly. at least, an alliance was formed
! with Aguinaldo. and that he was justified
! in believing that We would aid tho Fill
! pines in securing their freedom.
So much for the past. What as to the
I future? The commissioners, in general
! language, in their report, and IN more
specific language in interviews seek TO
encourage the idea that the consrmma-
| ton OF the policy of benevolent assimi-
| lation" Is near az hand. Yet al one point
the report says that tho Filipinos
/
/ semblage Of different tribes and peoples,
and their loyalty is still Of the tribal
type" A pretty prospect that for be
nevolent assimilation Loyalty Of the
tribal type means also tribal warefare.
So when We get through with loyal
! ling" Aguinaldo and his immediate
followers, we will have hardly more than
started in upon our great work Of build
I ing up our eastern empire. This is
made palmer than ever before by what
| the commissioners let drop regarding
/ tho conditions in the ISLANDS other than
/ Luzon. As We have always said, we
cannot afford TO call a military halt in
the Philippines until American arms
have been indicated. None the less, it
is a cold truth that the report of Mr..
McKinley's commission not only places us
in a worse position in the eyes Of the
world than we have hitherto occupied
but makes it clear that the road to the
end is beset with more difficulties
even than had been supposed. 1t is a
bad give away. both rs 20 The admins
tration's policy ard the outlook.