Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-01-25
Agree With Ratification.

Along with resolutions from state
legislatures in favor of the immediate
ratification Of the peace treaty and the
termination thereby of the somewhat
anomalous conditions now existing by
reason of the delay, it is worthy of
note that the expressed opinions of
most of the prominent men who are in
timately acquainted with the exact
conditions existing in the Philippines
coincide with the views OF the admin
istration and the avowed public senti-
ment in all essential particulars.
Undoubtedly the American people
will place more of reliance in the re-
port Of the Philippine commission re-
Gently appointed than in those made
by Mr.. Poultney Bigelow, who has re-
Gently returned from Manila. Never
theless Mr.. Bigelow is conceded to be a
very observing person, with pretty
good Judgment in the main and fear
less in the avowal of his conclusions.
In recent interview he said that
though he was by education and taste
free trade Democrats she ran the risk
of being termed a jinso in that he sees
no alternative but for this country 70
hold the Philippines, and hold them
with a mastery hand. He expects
trouble with the Filipinos. a majority
| of whom he thinks would welcome Eng
lish domination, for they have wit
messed the beneficial effects of it at
Hong Kong and respect its power.
| while they are apprehensive of Ameri-
can control. He regards the islands as
| enormously rich and the people in no
condition to be left to the inevitable
| anarchy that would result.
Much the same in effect are the
opinions expressed by a native Filipino.
Ramon Reyes Lala. formerly of Ma
! Mia. now of New York. who is person.
many Of the revolutionary leaders.
| While the more influential Filipinos
have strengthened and upheld the
| hands of Aguinaldo in order to expel
| Spanish rule. they would not, in 'the
opinion of Mr.. Lala. welcome the die
tatorship of Aguinaldo. though he is a
popular hero. He thinks this country
should dispose of him by making him
! general, and after a few years when
affairs have settled down there, he does
not think more than $4,000 troops viii!
be required to maintain order.
Here is what he says about the
ability of the natives to govern them
selves
| within the next 10 years, or even
within shorter time, they may learn
to govern themselves. for during that
| time they will gradually become civil
! lied through their intercourse with in
| teillgent and humane Americans, bu.
even if they should learn how to rule
| themselves. they could not hope for
| peace or prosperity unless they had
some great power like the United
| states as their friend and champion
Assume for moment that the Fill
pinos form a republic. and that the
Americans leave the islands to their
fate. What will be the result? There
would very soon be petty chickering's
and revolutions in many of the outly-
ing islands, and the native government,
having no navy and only small army,
would be unable to suppress them On
the other hand. as long as the United
states exercises a prOtectorate over the
islands. peace and prosperity will be
assured.
1T is difficult" he said. Ito deal with
uncivilized tribes. and most Of the
tribes in the Philippines are unciyil-
lied. Take the Suiu islanders. for ex-
ample. They have long been under the
protection of the Sultan. and it might
be advisable for the United States
government to make some arrange
ment with the Sultan So that this pro-
tectorate shall continue. The British
government has, for years, had an ar