Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-10-13
The End BY Next March.
Views OF General Funston ON Phillip
pines, who says There should BE NO
sympathy or TemporIzIng.

Views OF General Funston on Philip
pines, who says There should BE NO
sympathy or TemporI1Ing.
Brigadier General Funston, who has just
arrived at his home on the California coast
after his brilliant campaign against the
Philippine rebels, says: Il see no reason
why the Americans should not be sole mas
tiers Of the Philippines by March next year.
The situation in the islands has reached
stage where it is very easy TO see how to
cope with 1t. There must be no temporiz-
ing, no wasted sympathy, no foolish senti-
ment. II must be a case Of fight The
natives are now in such frame of mind
that they will not yield until they are thor
oughly thrashed and convinced that 1t is
useless TO oppose America.
1--WE arrived at Manila last December,
which was two months before hostilities
began. During these two months the Of
ficers of the Filipinos frequently came
within our lines, and | discussed with
them every phase Of the situation.
The best among the natives are ignorant.
Occasionally found smatteriDg of edu-
cation. But they are absolutely an ig-
norant race, and quite incapable of self
government. 1t is true that they possess
much shrewdness, and are cunning, but
in reality the chief trait in their character
is treachery. 1t is this which has en-
abled them to make as good a showing as
they have made; but this is no argument,
nor can it be made so, that they are
capable Of governing themselves.
suppose that they were left alone
The islands would be scene Of insuTrec-
ton without any possibility of restoring
peace. Only a strong power can take
hold of those islands, subdue the various
factions and place them on a solid footing.
! am convinced that the best way to gov
ern the islands is to give them firm,
stiff-necked colonial government, moulded
on the same lines as the government of
colonies of Great Britain.
81 am convinced that as soon as the re-
bellion Is crushed there will be an entire
change Of heart among large percentage
Of natives, and they will be quite willing
10 carry arms under American officers.
With the IS, 900 men now down there and
the additional -, 600 that will be on the
ground when the November campaign
opens, there will be ample soldiery to walk
through the islands Sixty thousand
troops will teach the natives the lessons
they deserve.
1.-THE seat Of all trouble, at this time, is
bAAt 1 hllRpllt y ultA a. uDilE hbAAs L MS
pernicious little body is keeping the war
alive. Il is in communication with the
insurgents and it supplies Aguinaldo's
army with the hope from which IL lives.
Il sends out reports Of fearful disaster 10
our troops that never occur. 1t imagines
all manner Of friendly feeling the world
over towards the natives II assures them
Of all kinds OF outside support without
foundation and in this manner keeps their
spirits alive.
"The natives are busiest just now circu-
lating reports that the trend Of public opin-
ion in this country is against the Ameri-
can procedure in the islands. They are
informed by this junta that a majority OF
all the states have pronounced against the
policy OF the administration, and that they
have only 10 wait until the next general
election, when the United States will grant
them their independence.
"Aguinaldo himself is shrewd, but not
clever. He circulates and corroborates all
that the junta sends out and adds TO 1t all
that cunning Imagination can devise. With
him the campaign is a great onfdence
game II his people could see the situa-
ton as it is they would desert him tomor-
row.