The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-28
PHILIPPINE COMPLICATIONS.

What business has the United States
to expose the lives of men and squan-
der the money of the people in trying
TO suppress the natives of an archipel-
ago in which this government has no
rights that it admits, no interest that
it has recognized as a government?
Either the treaty should be ratified
or the troops Withdrawn. The situa-
ton is grave in the Philippines. The
position Of the United States is not
easily defined. Until the terms of the
peace treaty are agreed upon, those
islands belong to Spain. For a CEN
fury the Spanish army has been try
ing TO conquer the Filipinos. The
United States objected to Spain's war
ring with her colonists. Spain refused
to cease at the request of this govern
ment. Then the United States under
took to make Spain quit After a brief
but costly war, Spain yielded and
agreed to stop shooting the natives of
her colonies. How viii it look for the
United States to take up the sword
that Spain threw down, in an attempt
the vanquishment of the natives?
1t is reported that 60, GOO Filpinos are
now in arms; that they have the ad-
vantage of being acclimated, equipped.
acquainted with the country, and de-
termined to be free. IF this be true
there is a serious outlook ahead for the
American troops now stationed on the
islands
Of course, no one believes the Fill
pinos to be capable of government
No enc considers them anything like a
progressive people. They are destined
to become a drawback to civilization.
a menace to commerce, situated, as
they are, at the eastern gate of the
Orient. But they are making an ap-
peal to this country that must be an
swered with a proposed policy. not
alone to reassure the Filipinos, but to
give Americans some understanding of
what they are to fight for.
The English at Manila and Hong
kong, and, in fact, everywhere, are
anxious for the United States TO hold
the Philippines. But they sense the
fact that the indecisfon of President
Mckinley has furnished an excuse for
distrust, and may lead to something
more serious.
Writing from Hongkong, an English
man of note informed the readers of
the London Globe recently that the
Filipinos do not want to fight, and if
the Americans only meet them half
way, all will go we'll
He said further: There is much to
be gained by a just, statesmanlike set
Element with the natives, while there
will undoubtedly be great losses
a continuance of arbitrary
treatment. The just aspirations of the
people ought to be taken into consider
alton"
While the annexation of the Philip
pines would be desirable from a com
mercial standpoint, there is no need
Of annexing a revolution. And what
the Filipinos seem to want is what the
American people want-an outline of
the presidents proposed policy, a fore.
cast OF what the administration has in
view.
The correspondent of the Globe tells
how much the natives were expecting
at the hands of the United States. He
says they refused to consider the
overtures of Germany and France.
When Prince Henry visited Hongkong
he caused the Filipino leaders there to
visit him, and informed them that he
was empowered to promise the natives
full recognition of their national gov
if they would cede to Ger
many, as a quid pro quo, a small coal
ing station. France more recently
made similar advances, and in each
case. the reply was, We cannot settle
with you. The Americans
promised US independence, and we wish
to wait and see what the Americans
viii do for u.s.
After all, there may be two sides to
the Philippine character. At least, the