The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1899-05-06
WE MAY BE GENEROUS.

Every American citizen, except
perhaps a few who make war their
profession, hope that the negotiations
between the American forces in the
Philippines and the Filipino insur-
gents may terminate in peace being
declared and cessation of hostilities,
though there is little prospect of such
. termination if General Otis pursues
the course he has outlined of refusing
to recognize the existence of the Phil
ippine Cover nment and demanding an
unconditional surrender. The Fill
pinos are a peculiar people, and have
little confidence in humanity, hence
they will not redily believe the prom
ises of the American commission that
upon their suri ender their rights will
be recognized, therefore they will not
be in hurry to lay down their arms
and give themselves up to the Amer
ican authorities as prisoners of war
without first knowing what the future
of their country shall be. They be-
lieve they have everything to lose if
they should surrender unconditionally
and much to gain by remaining in the
field fighting for Independence, for
they have learned by experience with
both the Spanish and the American
armies that the invaders are placed at
a serious disadvantage whenever they
get from under the protection of their
guuboats, and that it is only aquestion
of time when they will be worn out.
With the experience we have had in
q war of three months with tie Fill
pinos we certainly can afford to be
generous in our dealings with those
people. We have had magnificent
army of 80, 900 men chasing them from
one point to another for three months,
and yet have not gained what might
be termed decisive victory. for the
Filipino army is neither subdued nor
annihilated. To force the war longer
must be at the expense of many
valuable lives, and at the same time
the longer the war is continued the
more bitter will. be the feeling OF the
: insurgents against the government
they are asked to accept. We might
well profit by the experience OF Spain
in Cuba, and learn lession therefrom
that would be to our advantage.
Spain refused to recognize the exis-
tence of the Cuban government, and
would not accept overtures of peace.
An unconditional surrender was the
only inducement held out to the
Gu bans as the terms on which peace
could be bought. By this course Spain
lost the sympathy of other powers, and
Cuba found in America an ally that
took up her cause. May not the Fill
pinos yet find friend in some other
foreign power?
The Fiiipiuos have rights that we
must recognize, Notwithstanding the
fact that we bought them like so many
cattle or sheep. They are human
beings, and liberty is as dear to them
as to the most loyal citizen of this or
any other nation. They have sense
of honor the same as all humans, and
it is but just that their honor be con.
sidered. A liberal policy extended to
them now in the recognition OF their
rights would aid materially in settling
future difficulties. 1t is not too late
to make them our friends by being
generous in our dealings with them.
But the more blood we spill the more
difficult it will be to deal with them in
the future, the stronger their enmity
toward US will be. Whatever the
fnture disposition of the islands may
be, whether they are to be made
portion of the United States or are to
become an Independent government,
our relations with the people OF the
islands will be benefited by liberal
treatment being accorded to them now
while they are Offering to treat for
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