New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-17
WHAT GENERAL WHEELER SEES.

Mr. Bryan has been talking about the Phlllp-
pines necessarily for months In all this deiuge
of oratOry not n single statement by him can
be quoted which casts light upon the situatoh'
either making clearer the facts or presenting
new reasons for decision. But another Demo
crat. for eighteen years more trusted ana nom
ored by the Democrats Of Alabama than Mr..
BRYAN has been by the people at any time. as
tinguishcd nv heroic service under the flag or
his country, as Mr.. Bryan never was. Tencrai
Wheeler of the Confederate service. OF the san
tlago victory and of the new forward move
mcnt in the Philippines. has to write only one
letter in order to submit fact which ought 10
terminate ali discussion about the islands. Ills
letter to President Mckinley, dated Manila
August %. which the President read at Sioux
Falls. " D.. on Saturday, contains the result OF
General Whceler's investigation on the spot in
these words:
am confident that II we would withdraw our
army now Agunado could not hold himself IN
power without carrying on warfare against otner
tribes and this would cause constant wal l"i
and turmoil for years OF course. tnere N"r"
be looing OF cities and selling and destruction
Of property. and the business people ana prop
erty holders would apply to some strong govern
mcnt 10 restore order For us to Withdraw our
army now would he criminal and for sncn an an
action we would be arraisned and denounced
by the civilized nations Of the earth
Remembering that this is not only high tes-
tlmony for everybody rs to facts which the a'l-
thor has personally investigated. and for Demo
Gratis testimony which il would be utterly I'M
possihlc 10 controvert on account of Wheeler
exceptional standing as soldier and as clu-
zen. men will notice that if true. this statement
leaves nothing t. be said. If Agunado and
those with him who profess TO form govern
mont have not in fact been chosen by 'he III
habtants are not in fact supported by them anu
would i'm fact be obliged to carry on warfare lor
years against hostile Philippine tribes IN order
TO maintain the pretcnce OF power any
then n is the extreme OF impudence to pretend
that he and those with him represent the rights
Of the people. the aspirations or people lor
free lom the desire of people 10 govern 'i''n
selves Men in New-YOrk or Massachusetts
find It easy TO assert anything they IKE "Dou'
the state Of facts In the Philippine Islands IL
nav be- charitable 70 suppose that they easl!
believe whatever jumps with their prcJudlceS
But n man Of the highest sense or hohor' d
political opponent Of the President. aitcr per
sonal investigation on the spot. could not haAc
such statcmen. rs this of General Wheeler
If circumstances left even the fantcst pre''hce
of ground for claiming that the insurgent chi'lS
actually represented the people. or even recos
nized majority Of them
II has never been stated by any one else so
plainly that the removal of American FORCES
from the Philippine Islands at this time or at
any other time since the beginning or hos'lH-
ties By Agulnaldo would OF necessity Involve
years of warfare between Philippine trlpes
lootng Of cities. Selling and Destruction "i
propcrty and all the horrors of a seml-saNage
struggle for the mastery. Enough mas peen
told Of the manner in which the Philippine IN
sureents have conducted hostlliucs 10 cast llGht
unon the sort Of warfare which the WlthdraWal
of tho United States would thus set loose
Enough has been learned also. In contact WIN
tho less savage tribes in other islands ana IN
some narts Of Iuzon regarding the dread when
thnv feel Of the crucltics and barharitles 10
u-hich \ conflict with the Tagals would expose
Thorn The statements OF Catholic missionaries
and of nrjcsts wherever located ana the STATE
nents Of business men who have fallen Into the
novcer Of the insurgents suffice to show what klnd
~ ror II * that the United states would get loose
n Il should withdraw its forces from n territory
turned over by treaty with Spain to the control
of tho United States Government. II Is evident
ne General Wheeler says TINT the residents
erh,ect 70 other Powers would M once appeal
70 them for protection and for armed intcrposi-
ton TO put down such warfare Nohody
doubts that there would be a ready response on
the part Of more than one foreign nation ana
II wonld rest with that power TO determine now
far n scmi-savagc warfare should be continued
and under what conditions il should be sup
pressed. All that could then be said Of the
United States would be that after having
solpmnlv accepted responsibilities given by
treaty. for the restoration and maintenance OF
order and peace in the Philippine Islands the
Government of the United States had abjecuy
abandoned It's responsibility and turned over
some millions Of helpless people to the rayageS
Of war. because II lacked the manhood to put
down An insurrcction by minority.