The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-06-19
The Philippine Accumulation.

ET =
There Is no Doubt in the minds of care
ful observers that something is wrong IN
the philippines. The reports of continued
| victories which reach his country are
certainly most gr-atifying-that is TO say
since we must fight at all, II is better 70
win than to lose-but a majority of people
think that enough battles have been won
nv our troops to have completely crushed
o,,t the rebellion" and stiN they note
that the insurgents turn up after each
terrible defeat. apparently in as good a
condition as ever before, and we prac-
tory or advanced one step towards peace
The cause for this is variously at
trFbuted to various conditions. Some say
it is the anti-expansionists at home, VINO
give great aid to Aguinaldo and his bands
by encouraging Them to hope that the
islands will be finally abandoned. Others
claim that 1t is a lack of sufficient troops
to hold the conquered territory, While
stlI Others attribute the trouble to the
academic methods of President Schurman
and his university colleagues of the Peace
Commission.
whichever one of these is correct and
whatever views one may entertain on the
subject of expansion. one thing remains
certain: Once having raised the stars
ana Stripes on Philippine soil our Govern
,nent is obliged to keep it flying, SO long
as armea opposition to 1t exists. II we
ara to surrender the islands, which we
have been tricked by our governmental
blunders into buying, we can only do so
after a complete pacifcation and after we
have zone through the form of establish
ing a native government with at least the
appearance of stability. This being the
case proper measures should be taken to
end the fighting promptly. The present
bloody but inconclusive plan OF winning
without conquering must stop. The ad-
ministration should display some OF fhat
wonderful backbone. which the Repup-
ftcan chieftains are said to have con-
cealed about them somewhere. A sum-
Client force not only to crush the rebellion
ana crush it quickly, but to keep 1t
crushed. should be at once recruited and
sent to the Islands.
The reason Of the present dilatory
methods is plain enough. To issue a new
call for troops. and to begin sending an
army of LOO, 900 men-the force necessary
to crush Aguinaldo-to the Philippines is
to confess the utter d-isastrousness OF the
Treaty of Paris, and the outrageous fail
aure of the Administration. President Nc
Kinley and his Grew have not the courage
or honesty to make the confession. They
are playing for time In the hope that daily
tales of victories won may keep the people
amused until after the next Presidential
election.
Opportunities from lack Of courage and
lack Of brains, they have let events drift
from the day when the Maine was blown
up. ana they are relying now on the
chapter of accidents and the exuberance
OF the country to save them from the con-
sequences Of their immortality and i'm
becility.
What we need is Grover Cleveland back
IN the Presidential chair, first to pacify
Cuba and the Philippines by firm and
energetic action, and then to turn them
over to their people, who own them, and
rid us Of further responsibility for their
tutelage.