Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1899-04-21
The Philippine Question.

Inc OnlteU OtaleS ana Spdln nave pIaC,lCaI
ly recognized the so-called Philippine republic
as de jure government. General Rios has
cabled the Madrid government that General
Otis has granted Spanish commission safe
conduct to the insurgent lines for it is to ne
gotiate with Aguinaldo for the release of the
Spanish prisoners now held by the rebels
And not only has a Safe conduct been assured
the Spanish commissioners, but General Otis
has placed the insurgent prisoners of war now
held by the Am orleans at the disposal of Spain
to exchange them for the Spanish prisoners OF
war held by the rebel government. But no eX-
change could be made until cartel had been
signed by the parties in interest. The signing
of cartel would be the official recognition of a
government behind the signatory parties, and
that IS exactly what Aguinaldo has been play
ing for all the time.
Spain and the United States are as much at
peace as they were before the war, and hence
the co-partnership between Madrid and Wash
ington in this matter is one of friendship; but
it is also joint recognition of the ability OF
the so-called republic to hold onto its prisoners
of war. Moreover it means that Spain shall
negotiate with Agunaldo for cartel and that
the United States will furnish the required
number of rebel prisoners to count out man tor
man for exchange. This will relieve the in
surgent movement from the unlawful attitude
of an instruction and give it the dignity of a
revolution with belligerent rights. That is to
say, it will give the Philippine republic the
same status that the Washington government
conferred upon the southern confederacy. This
will, or should, place the conduct of the wal
on both sides in harmony with the ethics OF
civilized warfare, which would be decided i'll
provement on the policy of burning towns and
destroying farms.
Another reason for regarding the insurgents
as an organized force directed by some sort of a
government is the failure of Macarthur 10
"crush the rebellion at the north of Manila,
and Lawton's complete failure to overcome the
rebel army in the east. Macarthur captured
the capital of the insurgent government, but it
had no moral or physical effect upon the Fill
ipinos in or out of the army, and the few miles
of territory between Manila and Malolos Is val
ueless as far as what the campaign was planned
to accomplish is concerned. General Lawton
has fallen back upon Manila, abandoning the
twenty miles of territory which he was suppos-
ed to have captured. 1t would seem, therefore,
that the campaigns of Macarthur and Lawton
have resulted in nothing mere than demonstrat-
ing the fact that the Filipnos are maintaining
we'll organized armies, and that they are cap
able of prosecuting war of no mean proper
tions. This means that thousands more of
American soldiers will have to be sent to the
archipelago, and such plans of campaign adopt
ed as general would adopt to overcome an en-
envy that was worthy of his highest skill aud
best knowledge of the science of war; The
Washington government is beginning to under
stand why Spain could not put down the rebel
lion in a century. General Otis, too, has found
out that he is not dealing with ignorant bar
barians, and humiiating as it is, he must adj
nit to himself at least that he has been out
generated by the enemy, and must now consid
er other plans for successful forward move
ment.-Kansas City Times.