Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-06-08

We do not share the roseate views
that obtain in some quarters as to
the situation in the Philippines. From
our point OF sight, American authority
is a long ways distant from complete
establishment in the islands. 1t is just
as well to know the truth, unpleasant
though 1t may be, as to be deceived
by fond hopes. Indeed, ii is great
deal better, for it means the adoption
of measures calculated to bring more
speedy and complete fruition of those
hopes.
The trouble seems TO be that the peo-
pie of the Philippines are determined
to accept nothing short of complete
independence, though they might grant
the United States a sort of nominal
protectorate, which would mean moth
ing except that. we would be response
bic to the world for the misdeeds OF
the native government. II is not
probable that the people as a whole
have very perfect understanding OF
affairs, but their leaders tell them that
the United States intends to treat them
as bad or worse than Spain did, and
that is enough. They hold the conf
dence of the masses, and can sway
them according to their will. So per-
feet is their authority that the world
has seldom seen the population of a
whole section SO nearly unit in de-
sire and action. With very few ex.
ceptions, so far as we are able to
Judge, the Filipinos are bitterly hostile
to the Americans There is OCCASION
ally little pretence differently, but |
our troops have learned to be mis-
trustful of it. Even in Manila, which
is controlled absolutely by our forces. |
the natives are known to be withheld !
from attack only by fear. Manilans
are watching every opportunity to help
lnelI country Hleu NlinOul.
The military situation is not at all !
satisfactory, though far from being
threatening ofdisaster. Starting from
Manila as a base, with all the rest of
Luzon held by the insurgents, flushed |
by their success in driving ont the
Spaniards, we have advanced our lines !
in all directions, but still controlionly |
a small section in the immediate neigh
borhood of the capital. To the
south, we are hemmed in closely. The |
rebels there have strong entrench- |
ments to which they withdrew after
their repulse before the city. We have
not disturbed them in that quarter. as
we have been engaged elsewhere. !
Later. they must be driven back here.
No doubt this can be done. with some |
loss to us. Their presence in force so
near Manila is a threat that we must |
not BE- careless in leaving the city I'M
covered.
Some miles east of Manila is Laguna
de Bay, large inland lake. BY throw
ing line from Manila to this body |
and controlling the lake with our boats, !
we have a strong strategic advantage. |
The rebels are virtually cut off from
communicating with each other, north
and south, except by going around to
the east of the lake. South OF our
forces here, the enemy controls every
thing up to our outposts.
The fruits of the expedition north,
which resulted in the capture of NAL
alos. San Fernando, and other towns
occupied by the rebel
as its seat, seem to have
been less valuable than was hoped. We
drove the enemy wherever met, some
times with loss. and took numerous
towns, but he fell back further and at
last we had gone so far from our base
Of supplies that we could follow no
further and we were Obliged to retire
to points that could be reached BY boat
or railroad. leaving the rebel force
largely intact and with courage I'M