Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-11-16
WITHDRAWAL WOULD MEAN AN.
ARCHY IN PHILIPPINES.
PROF. WoRcEsTER's OPINION
HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE PHILIP.
PINES COMMISSION.
"Anti-Imperinlfsts" Held Responsible
for the Prolongation of the War,
With Its Enormous Cost
in Treasure and
Blood.

CHICAGO. Nov. 15.-Dean c. Worcester.
member of the Philippines commission,
spoke at Central Music hall tonight upon
The Philippine Question" The address.
which was delivered under the auspices of
the Hamilton Club, local Republican Or
ganization. was received with every mani
festation of approval. Mr.. Worcester fol-
lowed in the main the line of argument
regarding the retention of the Philippines
which had been published in the report of
the Philippine commission.
Professor Worcester said at the outset
that the issues raised by the Philippines
question, directly and indirectly, were more
important, more far-reaching in their con-
sequences, than any other nation has been
called upon TO meet since its birth. He de-
precated the idea of those willing to make
party politics of questions which involve
the well being and the future destiny of
millions OF their fellow beings. Proceeding,
he said:
IF all the accusations brought by those
who declaim against our so-called crime in
the Philippines are true, We have. indeed.
committed great transgression against
the people OF those islands
Professor Worcester then took up various
arguments presented against the American
policy IN the Philippines and, quoting from
senate documents, from the proclamations
OF Aguinaldo and from a mass of official
evidence. most of which has been made
public, answered the several criticisms.
His answers we're directed specially TO the
arguments ''of a gentleman who recently
addressed An audience from the rostrum
on which l stand"
aldo's cabinet testified before the commits
sion to the fact that, even after his procla-
nation Of June IS, he freely admitted that
no American had ever promised him iHde-
pendence for his people The speaker
added:
1T has been often stated that our consul
SfnganOre Mr. led
his authority and made the promise in
question. If not directly, at least indirect
ly- ] am indebted TO Admiral. Dewey for
the statement that Mr.. Pratt is ready TO
take oath that he never made such
promise, and may add that legal proceed
ings brought by Mr.. Pratt against pub
Usher for this and other charges resulted
successfully
Professor Worcester said, after citing
much evidence:
ct believe / have shown that there was
no true cooperation between our land
forces and the Filipinos. except in the fact
that We fought common foe, each in
his own way. / may add that We required
no help in taking the city. 1t lay COM
pletely at the mercy of Dewey's guns. and
soldiers were ordered to occupy IL, not to
take it. The fighting of August l3 was per
functory and designed only to save the
honor Of the Spanish troops After the
fall of the city, Aguinaldo modestly de-
nanded of General Merritt the royal PAL
ace for himself, and, in addition. the prin-
cipal churches, a share in the public funds.
and. most important Of all. the arms and
ammunition surrendered by the Spanish
troops, which he had long planned to
. possess 1t is needless to add that his re-
quests were refused "
Speaking of the efforts to avoid con-
fict. Professor Worcester said:
Il am often asked the question, Might
not all this have been avoided If, even after
the fall of Manila, the Americans had come
TO an understanding with the Filipinos?
am glad TO be able to say to you that
not hcIf hat f6et trg u-R
plotting trouble, had repeated interviews
with one and another of them"
and citing from General Otis letters. Pro
fess9r Worcester said ..-
The prime cause Of the failure of these
negotiations lay in the fact that the Fill
any definite statement of their own de-
sires. They did say that they desired in
but in discussion, made it evident, first
d. that they did not themselves know what
they meant by these words; and, second
= that they were not agreed among them
selves even as to the general demand"
A az another point: the speaker said: a..
United States did infinitely more than
Aguinaldo's army toward driving out and
destroying Spanish power in the Philip
pine islands. If our claim to sovereignty
was shadowy. what shall We say as to the
claim of a tribe representing less than one
sixth of the population of the islands, and
exercising Jurisdiction over but a small
As showing the bloody work of the in
surgents. Professor Worcester said:
"At the time 1 left Manila, the province
Of Batangas was overrun with thieves anc
murcerers. No attempt was being mad,
TO enforce law and order The public
schools were abandoned. Forced contribu
tions were wrung from the people at tn,
bayonet point until many were ruined. Un
willing contributors had been punished b.
having their hands hacked off, and evei
By being buried alive.
.'The Individual houses In such importan
towns as Taal were intrenched in orde
that the inhabitants might defend them
selves against their neighbors. The militar,
governor of the province. although Taga
log and an insurgent. had characterized tn
and had repeatedly sent In secret to Ma
nila asking for aid to restore order an,
promising TO surrender with his troops i
his aid
The speaker denounced as false state
msnts that the Americans had no friend
among the Filipinos. and declared we hai
many good true friends among the ieadini
Ftlipinos. He proceeded:
Il hear II said: If only fraction OF tn
Philippine population is in arms agains
US, and IL the great majority of the peopl
are ready to accept American sovereignty
why is that We are compelled to send
great army to the islands?' / answer. first
because We are waging the most human
war in history. If 1t was simply a matte
OF killing. We should not need so large a
where they chose in the Island of Luzo
to-day and kill to their hearts conten
without serious risk. II is because we ar
attempting to protect the peaceable ;nhab
itants from the depredations of the law
less that we need so large force
Finally a word as to the way out Is
conceivable that we should withdraw ou
troops. abandoning our friends TO the ven
geance of our enemies and the people a
large to civil war and anarchy? There
but one answer to this question On
troops must stay until armed resistanc
has ceased and public confidence has bee
fully restored The day will come, soone
or later. when native soldiers, unde