Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-27
NOT AT ALL CERTAIN.

much stock I'm the suggestion that Dewey
may be induced TO become a candidate
for the nomination for President. His
record for common-sense initiates
against the idea that he would leopard
ize his great reputation and the hold
he has upon the people by any such
venture He seems 10 be too self-poised
and observant not to have prohted by
the lesson, taught especially by the ex-
perlence Of General Grant, that the
greatest menace TO the pedestal on
which stands the popular hero is the
swash of the waves Of partisan politics.
But recent revelations make il mani
fest that ths Admiral can, If he chooses,
"a tale unfold" touching the workings
OF the McKinley-Otis Philippines combi-
nation that might seriously diminish
the chances of McKinley's renomina-
ton. And judging from the blunt and
unreserved way in which the bluff old
sea dog" has let himself out on occa-
sions during his Journey thitherward, II
seems not improbable that he may tell
the American people all he knows.
As is well known, for months the adj
ministration continued TO give out lad
vices" from Manila, which represented
that our military and naval authorities
in the Philippines were acting in per-
feet unison that the rebel" cause
was weakening; that we were steadily
gaining the adherence Of the good ma
tiyes"; that the successes of our arms
were gradually demoralizing the zig
norant cut-throat bandit following Of
Aguinaldo" that the general admins
tration Of both civil and military affairs
IN the territory occupied by our forces
was moving along model lines with
clock-work regularity. and that the re
bellion% was rapidly nearing an end. 1t
was declared over and over again that
all-round and complete harmony existed
in supporting Mr.. McKinley's policy of
benevolent assimilation" and the means
being employed to bring about the mate
REALIZATION OF that policy. And for a
considerable period the tone of many of
the dispatches of the Manila correspon-
dents accorded with these Washington
"advices."
Finally. however, the correspondents
found a way to "fank' the press censor
ship. and what was the result? On
awakening one morning the country was
confronted with evidence that the "ah-
vices" furnished from Washington had
been garbled; that the truth regarding
the situation in the Philippines and the
slow progress of our military operations
had been shamelessly suppressed; that
the Washington authorities had unblush-
ingIy misrepresented the light in which
Otis was regarded by those associated
with him; that the commission had been
made responsible for sentiments they had
never expressed and views they had
never entertained, and that the corre-
spondents had been coerced by the iron
hand Of militarism into cabling false
hoods to their papers.
Yet. with all this, it now appears that
the worst was by no means disclosed.
The censorship at Manila is still vigilant
and tyrannical, but through newspaper
correspondence from Washington public
itv has been given to letters from naval
officers at Manila which constitute ter
rible arraignment of the administration
on the charges of suppression, decep-
ton. and Misrepresentation. One OF these
letters states that Admiral Dewey and
President Schurman and Messrs. DENLY
and Worcester of the commission. recog-
0f a EllininOS
for self-government, but that Otis dis
sented: that all the higher naval officers
were opposed to the war as unnecessary;
that the 'insurgent control OF all the
ordinary domestic administration is
strong and perfect" and that in out-of-
the-way places the postman makes his
rounds as regularly as in Manila. The
same letter strongly hints at financial
irregularities and corruption in the OTIS
administration, and another states that
at one time Dewey threatened to seize
| the Otis gunboats on the ground that
they were menace TO public safety
Furthermore. the letters inform us that
| the naval officers burned with indigna-
| ton at the lying reports" as Dewey
| called them to Otis's face. which the
General, under orders from Washington,
sent home; and it is practically asserted
that until the navy took charge Of the
| eunboats the natives were afforded most
desirable opportunities for smuggling in
arms. ammunition, and other military
| supplies.
on the whole, the letters draw a start
ling picture Of incompetency on the par
OF Otis, and expose a most outrageous
conspiracy between the latter and the al
mnistration to mislead, befool and de-
ceive the American people in the interest
of McKinley's political aspirations. They
furnish unquestionable proof of the fact
that the administration has strikingly
exemplihed the truth:
ooh. what a tangled web we weave
When first we practice to deceive"
In the career Of suppression and falsi-
ncation and bad faith towards the mass
es-the taxpayers OF the Countrywide
Kinley has gone too far to recede. He
must keep up the weaving. But If Dewey
sees fit to throw the whole truth upon the
mesh. IL may suddenly break, to McKin-
leys complete undoing. 1t may be that
IL could not stand the weight of all the
Admiral knows. Hence we repeat that
it is not at all certain that Dewey S
home coming has caused culver of JOY
TO vibrate through administrative circles.
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Covarnor RoOseVelt's Intentions Regard
ing Admiral Dewey are annoying the