The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-20
THE PHILIPPINE SITUATION.


in which the people and the press OF the United
States would not support the Government But
in the Philippines while unquestonaby the national
honor IS involved our naval and military operations
have been almost uniformly successful and nothing
has occurred prevent calm survey OF the situation
and such deliberate action as would embOdy the
settled judgment OF the American people The i'm
mediate question to be determined is whether our
forces shall be augmented to a number sufficient to
reduce the Philippines to actual occupation. This
question has twoiold aspect bearing the
effect OF policy OF conquest internal con-
dtons, and the other without considering the con-
stitution, involving policy or expediency.
On the first point the revolutionary change in
institutions that the imperiaistic projects would
necesstate has been discussed by The Call and by
greatest statesmen and jurists until the issue has pene
traed the minds and reached the hearts OF the people
It new thing for American citizens to witness the
growth OF miItarism and the reproduction on their
soil OF the scenes that preceded the imperialism
OF the Caesars 1t is a strange and mournful expe-
rience for them to hear from the lips OF American
genSal that one-haf OF the Tagas should be killed
in order that the other half may be civilized
But this phase OF the issue need not be further
treated at the present time The remaining question
is one OF expedency. 1t is extremely doubtful
whether potential occupation OF the Philippines can
be secured even by an army OF hundred thousand
men. The statistics and information as to the Phil
ippines very meager. The interiors OF several OF
the larger islands have never been surveyed. There
are native tribes especially in Mindanao, six hundred
miles Whereabouts southeast of Luzon, that have
retained their independence The number of the
islands has not been definitely ascertaned but the
estimates vary from twelve to fourteen hundred 1t is
said that least thirty different languages are spoken
b, +Io
fearless and ntractable had an alphabet and rude
literature OF their own before the archipelago was
discovered.
Such facts as these coupled with the experiences
OF the past few months bring home to the country
the magnitude of the task which the reduction OF the
Philippines to an American province would entail
Considerations OF good faith and Of integrity cannot
be ignored The United States occupies the foremost
position among modern nations It commenced the
war with Spain by issuing sentimental declarations
that even the hypocritical assumption of exigences
provdentially developed cannot erase Its greatness
IS due to its constitutional and historical past the
farthest remove from conquest and imperialism of
which the human mind can conceive 1t bears "the
white mans burden" for its own citizens, for the
throbbng and expectant masses of Caucasian human
ity everywhere 1t stands upon its record unre-
preached, triumphant, and filed with the glory of
sacred trust.
1t is quite possible, without trace of fear or hest
tation, but in the exercise OF what may be termed
national manhood and national consistency, for the
Government to place the Philippines in an indepen-
dent situation, conformable to our own Declaration
of Independence to exact as its sole condition for
its adherence to principle and to honor the return
of its necessary expenditures including the twenty
millions to be paid to Spain, and to establish, for its
security and to safeguard native administration
a temporary protectorate.
The whole matter is in the hands of President Nc
Kiney and his Cabinet, influenced, as they properly
may be, by the evidences of public sentiment IRE
spective OF party, that will certainly reach them We
entertain reasonable confidence that the crisis will
be temporarily considered and conclusion reached
that will preserve the integrity OF our political inst
tutions and command the respect of the American
people and of all civilized nations