Evening star., 1899-07-29
LONDON GOSSIP
What is Thought of the Philippine
Round Robin"
OUR POLICY GREATLY CRITICISED
Valuable Books That Find Their
Way to America.
A T R A Nj w AY SCH E M E
popdenCe of The Evening Star.


Philippines has excited much interest here
where something of the sort has been suS-
pected for long time.
l have been able to secure the following
British testimony to the situation, which
has arrived in private advices from Manila
These advices show that the prolonged
crisis is having a very "disheartening eff
feet upon the commercial community and
all interested in the development of the is
lands The work of subduing the natives
makes but slow progress, while in Manila
itself and those portions of the islands
where the American authority Is estao-
Iished, the administration is ineffective and
unsatisfactory. AS things are going on at
present 1t may be two years before the
war is over and many years before the IS
lands recover from the disastrous eHects
of the present turmoil. The disappointment
of the European population is keen, espe-
c;aIly in the British colony where 1t was
hoped that. failing British rule, Americal
administration would, by It's energy am. anu
enterprise secure the element or staDiii'y
and certainty which was, above all Things,
needed. Up to the present the American
government has proved lacking in the very
qualities most expected from II.
Weak Policy.
From a military point of view the action
taken by the American authorities seems
to neutral residents to be as much lacking
in policy and foresight as in vigor and con-
sistency To begin with too light an esu
mate was formed of the capabilities OF
Ap,inaldo and his followers, while later on
the campaign has been characterized by IN
decision and weakness. when nave muir
Piled the difficulties to be Surmounted anu
have provoked among the rebels a con-
temnt for the American arms. A bold and
steady advance Immediately upon the out
break in February would, it is argued. have
captured the whole of the railway ilne
within a week, and saved an enormous loss
of life in the subsequent fighting, for the
natives had then neither intrenchments nor
barricades. and were not in position 10
withstand q well-organized expedition
Those in authority on the spot Seem as far
as can be gathered, to have been hampered
by instructions from Washington or by the
want of them, but, over and above TINS, the
operations have been conducted IN man
ner which was not likely to command the
respect of the foe. Positions captured from
time to time by the bravery of the rank
and file have been relinquiShed without an
effort to hold them. and have had to be re-
taken at heavy cost. not only of men and
material. but of that invaluable element in
campaign against a semi-civilized foe
prestige. AT the same time the natives
have not been made clearly to understand
the intentions Of the Americans concerning
thcm-and whether to expect self-govern-
ment or complete subjugation to the for
eigner.
adopted have not been calculated to con-
ciliate a population just delivered from the
hated tyranny of the Spaniards, impatient
ly endured for genel laticns. Women and
children going out from Manila to the in
terror have not only been vigorously
searched at the American outposts, but it
is asserted have been robbed of all they
possessed, including their cigarettes Even
medicine has been, in certain cases, taken
from them, under the order, it was said
of Gen. Otis 1t is also regarded in Manila
as unfortunate that Gen. Otis is a Roman
Catholic. seeing the strong hatred which
the native population bear toward the
priesthood. as representatives of the worst
elements in the Spanish domination. Not
unnaturally they fear lest he should be AS
much under the influence of the Romish
archbishop as have been the Spanish cap
tains general.
1t is early yet to criticise the civil ed
minstration, but 1t is evident that the
Yankees have a good deal to learn in CO.
lonial government. What is wanted Is
good and efficient men, with salaries ap-
prCpriate to their ability and experience,
and an assurance of permanency in their
appointments, and not men who are sent
out simply because they have pull at
Washington. and who are chiefly anxious
to make hay while the sun shines" In
other words, to do the best they can for
themselves while their party is in power
and who frankly let you know, as they put
it. that they have not come out simply
for the benefit of their health"
have given this statement from British
sources in full, as at this time it has
value which will be appreciated in the
United States. The statement concludes
by saying that the natives have plenty of
provisions and are growing their crops of
rice.
The South African Question.
There appears to be no doubt that yester-
days cabinet council was mainly occupied
with the South African question. Nothing
definite is known as to the result, but the
more cheerful view of matters which has
been noticeable in political quarters in the
last day or two is fully maintained. 1t
seems, indeed. row to be generally recog-
nized that President Krugers concessions
have brought matters SO near a fair COM
promise that war over such question
would be not n erely an act of folly, but
also 4 crime. The extreme friends of the
Uitlanders still make reservations on the
ground that the offers of the Transvaal
government not sufficiently uncondi-
tional, and may prove. when the full facts
are known, to be, in part at any rate illu-
sorry. The government ought. however, by
this time to be fully cognzant of the sit
uation, and ii is easy to see that in min
isterial quarters there is a hope that in
the forthcoming debate in the house of
commons some definite arrangement may
be announced. Possibly in some quarters
the settlement, if it comes about, will be
chiefly valued as a diplomatic triumph for
the colonial Office.
There is a growing disbelief in financial
hostilities with the Transvaal. The stock
exchange today exhibited a distinctly more
cheerful feeling because of the latest news
from Pretoria, which indicates that Pres
ident Kruger and the volksraad are pre-
pared to make further concessions on the
franchise question. A simple and speedy
suffrage for the Uitlander is admitted by
all acquainted with the subject to be the
essential condition of a settlement, and the
sooner this is conceded the more assured
will be the maintenance of peace. Every
well wisher, therefore, toward the pros
perity of South Africa in general and the
safety of the Transvaal republic in partic-
ular, will hope for an early termination Of
the present situation.
Turning the Tables.
The home rulers do not often get a chance
of turning the tables on the government,
but once in a while an opportunity is af-
forded of showing up weak spots in the
British system of the same character as
those which are taken exception at in 9TH
ers by Englishmen.
Mr.. John Dillon will have such an op-
portunity in the commons tomorrow in a
question of which he has given notice to
the secretary for the colonies The point to
be raised is whether there are $4,000 Brit
ish subjects from India in the colony of
Natal who are denied the franchise and