The evening times., 1899-02-23
FiIipino Atrocities.

In spite of the discovery of The plot 10
massacre all persons in Manila except Ia
tiyes. and the arrest Of many of the per
sons involved in the conspiracy, the Fill
pinos persist in their horrible purpose.
The attempt to destroy the city by fire con-
firms the opinion that there are inside the
American lines a large number OF Filipinos
who belong to what is called the Philip
pine Militia. and VINO are eager TO go 10
any extreme 10 aid in the cause that is
represented by Aguinaidos army. Only
the promptness and display OF force by the
provost marshal has prevented a massacre.
The presence of shaTpshooterS, who fired
Oh the soldiers fighting the flames, is proof
of the accuracy of the massacre orders
forwarded by General Otis. for in these
orders were included instructions placing
the sharpshooIers in position 10 aid in the
murderous enterprise. There IS every rea-
son TO believe the statement that the "a
tiyes were primed for a general uprising.
Destructive fires are not uncommon in
Manila. which is a city with a population
a little larger than that Of Washington.
While there are many fine buildings in the
place. public and business, the most of the
residences are mere cabins lightly built
and very inflammable. Once fire is start
ed il is hard TO control, especially by so in
efficient a fire service as that of Manila.
Just before the outbreak of the war with
Spain. there was s.. 900 confiagration
in the business centre. Usually such an
event is the opportunity of the common
people The proprietors of the stores or
houses have little hope of saving any OF
the articles that are carried into the
streets. The police are placed in charge Of
them, but by paying small sum TO them
the natives are allowed to pick up portable
objects. When n fire reaches the quarters
of the half breed Chinamen- the latter.
driven from their huts, are beaten and
1 often killed by the mob. They are hated
! and prosecuted by all classes.
These plots for the massacre of all ex-
cept Filipinos. of which the incendiarism
is a part, have been encouraged by the
prevalent notion that the partisans of Ag-
uinaldo in this country have a great infiu-
| ence and that successful resistance
against the Americans will secure the in
dependence of the islands. The messages
| of Agoncillo have inspired the rebels with
/ belief that President Mckinley has weak
| ened in his policy and that a successful
! movement such as a massacre or the de-
struction of Manila will induce him to treat
directly with Aguinaldos alleged govern
ment The discovery that there is little
opposition TO the Administration on this
subject; that even Boston is enthusiastic
| in its support; and the revelation of Fiji
pino barbarism. have silenced the few who
have hitherto given moral encouragement
to the rebels. We have no cause to fear
further mischief from them. There is
probably no faction in America that now
advocates any other than a policy of severe
repression. united country backs the
Administration in the use of force to es-
tablish the authority of our Government
| throughout the Philippines.
One of the consequences of the determin-
ed attitude of the President is the yolun-
| tary submission of the inhabitants of the
| Island of Negros one of the Visayan
group. and the assurance that all the Wis
include the insurgents to whom the Span
| iards surrendered Hoilo and who offered
| a perfunctory resistance to General Miller
They have never submitted to the dicta-
| torship of Aguinaldo and would probably
never have taken up arms against Ameri-
can authority if they had not been in in
surrection against Spain.