Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-27
AN IMPROVING SiTUA TION.

President Mckinley has assured the
ippines is improving. In his procama-
ton designating a day of thanksgiving
the president says that while the in
surrection still continues in LuZon,
business is resuming it's activity and
confidence In the good purposes of the
United States is being rapidly estab-
lished throughout the archipelago" For
some days there has been little informa-
ton in regard to the Philippine situa-
ton and the public has had no reason
to suppose that there was any material
change, but it is to be inferred from
the presidents statement that the gov
ernment is in possession of information
that has not been given to the public.
The country will be gratitied to learn
that progress is being made in estab-
fishing confidence in the good purposes
of the United States and will earnestly
hope for distinct manifestation of this
at an early day. The numerous disap-
pointments that have followed favora BILE
reports from the commander in the
L HlllDIllltS nave tuc DuDliC ~
regard advices from that quarter with
more or less incredulty and this feel
ing will retain possession Of the popular
mind until there is practical and I'M
miStakable evidence of improvement
in the situation. AS yet there is no
such evidence so far as the public
knows but it is not wise to assume
!
indicated by the statement of the pres.
ident, may have such evidence. AT all
events, ii Is not unreasonable to sup
pose that some even OF the FilipinOs
who are opposed to American rule are
beginning to realize the hopelessness
of the attempt to prevent the establish
ment of American sovereignty in the
islands and are willing to stop hostil-
tiles If assured of fair and liberal
treatment. Fully aware of the deter
mination of this government 10 establish
its sovereignty and of its power to do
so, ii is quite possible that even some
of the leaders of the insurrection are
conscious of the futility of further re
| sistance and would welcome honorable
| terms of peace. The force with which
the United States will soon enter upon
n vigorous campaign is formidable. 1t
| Is larger army than Spain ever had
in the Philippines and the insurgents
will understand that it is there for the
most aggressive warfare. They have
learned that the American method of
carrying on war is very different from
that of the Spanards and that Amer
| lean soldiers are vastly superior to those
! of Spain. No one should know better
than Aguinaldo himself the overwhelm-
| ing odds against which the insurgents
are contending and therefore the hope
lessness of achieving their purpose by
continuing hostilities.
A serious question with the American
people is whether the war is hereafter
to be prosecuted with a view to de-
cisiye results or there is to be a repeti-
tion OF the futile campaigning that has
been going on for months. Are our
troops to go on capturing towns and
abandoning them, TO be reoccupied by
the enemy, or will the splendid army in
Luzon strike such effective and decisive
blows as TO speedily end the insur-
rection? The military operations thus
far have reflected no credit upon the
commander in the Philippines. The
valor of our soldiers has been TO a large
extent fruitless. The loss of life and