The San Francisco call., 1899-09-11
DR.. M'QUEEN UPHOLDS
THE ADMINISTRATION
SAYS IT IS DOING ITS BEST IN
LUZON.

At Simpson Memorial Church last night
Rev. DR.. Peter MacQueen of Boston, re-
Gently returned from an eight months
visit to the Philippines, spoke upon his
observations and experiences there. DR..
MacQueen went out as foreign editor of
the National Magazine of Boston.
Last night he said in part:
The war of the Tagals presents some Of the
most thrilling and unusual events of history
When our war with Spain began this beauti-
full archipelago was about much known TO
our people as are the canals of Mars. To-day
they are the cynosure Of statesmen; and one OF
the world questions. One of the greatest gyra-
tions of history is also found in the attitude
issue in the Spanish war The war began with
a public sentiment unanimous and unparalleled
in its enthusiasm. Not one voice heard
against our righteous war with Spain. To-day
IL Is the sorrow of our country that high
minded men in all sections greatly divided
and are forgetting themselves and calling one
another by the ungrateful titles Of 'tyrant"
Moreover when we started out we were well
coined by the people Of Porto Rico and Cuba
and the Philippines. To-day a sullen folk in
the jungles of Luzon and by the rivers of Pa
nay dispute us inch by inch straining every
nerve to be free from the governance Of their
hberators In spite of the fact that out of 70
or 100 fights they have not gained a point they
are still defiant, flying across the land with
their wives and children, burning their homes
and sanctuaries with their own hands Killed
like sheep in the shambles, they stand at bay
in "a mood so defiant that the mightiest nation
on earth cannot but dread the audacity of their
despair
/ have been quoted in the papers of New
York and elsewhere though 1 was hostile
TO the attitude Of the President and the ad-
minstration in their plans for the islands.
ations. and wish 10 study the problem sim
ply a patriot and a citizen.
The unfortunate Tagal war came on through
many causes-chiehy. 1 think because our
laws do not admit of a foreign policy which
allows the President, in the case of an emer-
gency, to act before Congress has acted on
q national policy. No doubt the long DELAY
at Manila made friction unavoidable. or
course we have not yet heard the whole OF the
Filipino case but there exists scarce possible
room to doubt that men endured great
provocation and insult with magnanimity and
patience. | associated a great deal with the
Russian. German and French correspondents
and attaches and found them agreeing on
this point although they were rather against
our actions later on.
There is evidence everywhere that the ad-
ministration is doing all in its power to set
things right in the Philippines. Even the
orders of General Otis recalling Lawton in
the middle Of the Paranaque fght-or rather
bidding him to stop in the middle of the af-
ternoon-was a humane order, sent for the
purpose OF letting the women and children
escape from the town. Incidentally and gall
and we found the city deserted save for a
few cats and dogs, which not contra
Notwithstanding much that can be said for
General Otis as man honest and painstakng
II is still true that he is thought to be incom-
petent to run the army and also the civil Gov
ernment. The man is overworKed and will
likely break down from the overstrain of at
tempting the impossible. Moreover. the fact
that the army wants with 1t on the
fighting zone, and that they have not the en-
thusiasm for General Otis that they have for
men like Funston, Wheaton and Lawton is
good ground for the people to consider whether
they do not want general in Luzon Law
ton is the great military man of the PhiIip-
pines, and Wheaton is noble fighter. / al
ways went with those men. Where they were
you were always sure to bloodshed The
army wants Lawton for commander. One man
has got to have entire military control Be
cause II you have three, they will cut one an
other up Instead Of the Fflipinos-one man will
start an expedition to-day, another next week
and so on, regardless of the movements of the
other. young man Of great military and civil
ability was General Irving Hale of Colorado
de would have made a splendid Governor for
Manila. That city should be delivered from the
bondage of martial law. The native police are
better than ours in that they know the haunts
OF crime. the language and the crooks of the
place.