Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1899-07-20
A MASSACRE WAS INTENDED.
Bishop Thoburn On the War in the Philip
pines and the Chinese Cues


Cincinnati, July 14.-Bishop j. Nj.
| Thobura, of the Methodist Episcopal
| church, who has spent 40 years as a
| missionary mostly in India, is here
with his family, some of whom are IN
| ill-health.
A General Massacre Intended.
The bishop spent some time in Ma
Mia in March last, and was an intelll-
gent observer of events. He says there
is no doubt that the outbreak between
the Americans and Filipinos was in
tended by Filipino leaders to include
| a general massacre in the city of Ma
Mia. He cited in proof of this the
testimony of two Filipino servants
who Were summoned to service in the
army by Aguinaldo and who dared
not disobey, but who warned their
American employers to keep within
doors as orders had been given to kill
ell Europeans found on the streets.
Another evidence was the finding of
5000 new knives stored in a Catholic
church. Only the splendid discipline
OF the American troops prevented the
massacre in Manila.
Meant Permanent Possession.
The bishop was in London when the
thrilling news of Dewey's victory
came. Ii was universally understood
there that it meant the permanent
possession of the Philippines by the
United States. To questions put to
him why Dewey did not leave Manila
after his victory, he said the short
sightedness of the United States gov
eminent made it impossible. Dewey
had not coal enough to carry him to
the nearest American coaling station.
and he was bound TO take Manila in
self-defense.
Bound to Assert Authority.
The whole history of the present
Philippine situation showed such a
natural and logical and even inevitable
course of events that the United
States is bound to assert it's authority
there. Anarchy and assassination, he
declares, would follow the withdrawal
of the United States forces. The only
trouble lies in Luzon island. All
the other islands are peaceful.
Fight the Devil with Fire.
The bishop thinks the proper policy
of the United States is to enlist the
men of the other islands who are the
natural enemies of the inhabitants of
Luzon, TO fight Aguinaldo's army.
Differed by Americans they would
quickly dispose OF the few men that
AguinaldC can muster.
Duty of the United States.
Viewing the situation in the far
east from the standpoint of a mission
airy of Al years in that part of the
world, the bishop was impressed with
the fact that it was the duty of the
United States, forced upon it by the
circumstances of the Spanish war, to
hold the Philippines and to preserve
order and extend civilized government
i'll that region.
Fayors the Dissolution of China.
Moreover, in the interest of moral
ity and Christianity, he hoped for the
dissolution of the Chinese empire,
which he characterized as the most
helpless government on the earth. In
that event Russia should have por-
ton. giving it an available Pacific
port. England, though favoring the
integrity of the Chinese empire, al
ready has in mind the valley of the
Yang-Tse-Kiang, as its share. The
United States should have it's portion
of the coast opposite the Philippines.
Such a division of China would bring
untold blessings to the people of that
empire and would advance the civiliza-
ticn of the whole world.
America Must Have Her Share
The bishop declines to discuss the
subject from the standpoint of Ameri-
can politics, but he says he cannot
imagine why the United States should
shrink from giving up her exclusive
policy and hesitate to take her place
among the nations when the duty is
so manifestly thrust upon her. If
China falls to pieces, as nearly all
well-informed people believe she will,
it would be unwise if not morally
wrong to concede that the European
nations have a right to settle the des-
tiny Of that great empire without any
reference to America. The United
States must inevitably become the
dominating naval power of the Pacific
ocean, and if such a future is in store
for her she certainly ought to hold
en- important section of the coast line
of eastern Asia.