The record-union., 1899-07-20
Relative to Criticisms on the Conduct Of
Affairs in Far Eastern Islands.
The Philippine Campaign Receiv-
ing President McKin1ey's Con-
slant Attention-Is in Direct
Communication With Manila
and Receives Daily Reports
From All Sources.

tel on the war in the Philippines, in
which he says:
Il purpose herein to answer certain
criticisms which are being directed at
the conduct of the war in the Philip
pines. 1 do not refer to the criticisms
of those .who in the name of liberty
and philanthropy are advocating pol
icy of national cowardice and dishonor.
Their ugliness obtrudes from every
thing they say. To make an end of the
rebellion, to bring out a condition of
order and peace in the Philippines, is
not their object. On the contrary,
nothing is clearer than the fact that
they want their countrys arms to be
defeated. Every little difficulty, every
little disaster, is to them a source Of
immoderate satisfaction, and the char
acter of the work they are doing ap-
pears in Aguinaldo's latest proclama-
tion where he tells some Filipinos some
states of the American Union have al
ready risen in our favor
But there are other critics who, en-
tirely convinced of our duty and re-
sponsibility in the Philippines, are ap-
prehensive lest the Government has not
appreciated the size of it's undertaking.
They forget the history of the matter
They forget the limitations of author
ity from Congress and of good faith
to Spain, by which the Government has
been embarrassed. They are inquiring
why General Otis has not had larger
army at his back. They want to know
why there is not sufficient force pres
ent in the island of Luzon to crush out
the rebellion upon its first appearance,
and stirred by sensational newspaper
stories, and by the recent round robin
Of the offended correspondents, they
are asking whether the situation is
even as good as had been reported,
whether the Government has not al
lowed itself to be misled and whether
the military force now being enlisted
will surely be great enough for the task
in hand. These are the inquiries to
which 1 purpose to submit an answer.
1T should be borne in mind, in the
first place, that the Government
means of Information concerning what
has occurred in the Philippines are not
confined to General Otis. The Navy
Department has it's officers there The
President is directly represented by
years our Minister to China. and by
Professor Worcester, who resided in
the Philippines for four or five years
and who knows the native character
and habits. The Philippines campaign
is receiving the Presidents constant
personal attention. He is in direct
cable communication with Manila, and
receives daily reports from all sources.
1.-The possibility of his being mised
about the facts in the case is scarcely
worth consideration. The precise facts
as he obtains them not only from
General OTIS but from each of a dozen
or more of his official infOrmants, is
that for a distance of fifty miles north
of Manila and of twenty miles south
of Manila. and eastward into La Guna
province, our armies hold the territory
so that insurgents are scattered be-
yond our lines in bands of from fifty
to 800, their only considerable force
consisting of 1000 men, who are en-
camped in northern Pampanga. The
southern army of the insurgents, pos
sibly 1000 strong, is badly demoralized
by recent defeats. The Presidents ad
vices report to him that in a number
Of cities within the American lines
local governments have been formed
which are discharging their functions
cOmpetently and to the satisfaction OF
the people; that the mass of the people
desire peace and American protection;
that they no longer flee on the ap-
proach of our troops, but heartily well
come them; that the population within
the American lines is dense and grows
larger all the while, and that land
cultivation is going on extensively.
1.-The President is advised, and on
this point his information comes unan-
imously from all the able men whose
official obligation is to keep the Gov
ernment accurately informed, that the
only hope of the insurgents lies in the
efforts that are making to convince the
people that a change of Government
is about to occur in the United States
favorable to the insurgent cause; that
there is general opposition among the
American people to the prosecution of
the war and a fixed purpose on the
part of that. political party about to
come into power to withdraw the
American army and to recognize the
Government of Aguinaldo. This idea
is being assiduously circulated by the
insurgent leaders, and it so far serves
their purpose. as to enable them to
maintain their forces in fairly strong
array.
''It is perfectly easy to explain why
the Government did not have a great
at Manila when the Filipinos
made their first attack. 1t did not
because it could not. 1t was restrained
by two circumstances-good faith with
Spain and the laws of Congress under
which the army had been created. 1t
must be remembered that the Ameri-
can people were not thinking Of the
Philippines when. they went to war
with Spain. They were concerned
with the affHirs of Cuba. The period
Of actual warfare however, was short
and the French ambassador had ap-