The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-15
MASSACRE PLANNED.
Plot to Slaughter American Troops Was
Discovered.


Discovered.
Cincinnati Ohio, July 13.-Bishop ].
NJ Thoburn of the Methodist Episcopal
church, who has spent 40 years as a
missionary, mostly in India, Is here
with his family, some of whom are in
i'll health. The bishop spent some time
in Manila in March last, and was an
intelligent observer Of events.
He says there is no doubt that the
outbreak between the Americans and
Filipinos was intended by the Filipino
leaders to include general massacre in
the city of Manila. He cited in proof of
this the testimony of two Filipino serv-
ants who were summoned to service in
the army by Aguinaldo and who dared
not disobey, but who warned their
American employers to keep within
doors that night, as orders had been
given to kill all Europeans found on
the streets. Another evidence was the
finding of $1,000 knives stored in a
Catholic church. Only the splendid dis
cipline of the American troops prevent
ed the massacre.
The whole history of the present Phil
ippine situation, the bishop declares,
showed such a natural and logical and
even inevitable course of events that
the United States is bound to assert its
authority there Anarchy and assassi-
nation, he declares, would follow the
withdrawal of the United States forces.
The only trouble lies in the Luzon
island. All the other islands are peace
full. The bishop thinks the proper pol
icy of the United States Is to enlist
the men of the islands who are the nat
ural enemies of the inhabitants of Lu-
zon to fight Aguinaldo's army. OFF,
cered by Americans, they would quickly
dispose Of the few men that Aguinaldo
can muster
Viewing the situation in the far East
from the standpoint of missionary of
40 years in that part of the world, the
bishop was impressed with the fact
that 1t was the duty of the United
States, forced upon it by the circum-
stances of the Spanish war, to hold the
Philippines and to preserve order and
extend civilized government in that
vast region.
Moreover, in the interest of morality
and Christianity. he hoped for the dis
solution of the Chinese empire, which
he characterized as the most helpless
government on earth. In that event,
Russia would have a portion, giving 1t
an available Pacific port The English
have in view the valley of the Yang
Use Kiang as their portion. The United
States should have that portion oppo-
site the Philippine islands. A division
of China would bring untold blessings
to the people of that empire and would
advance the civilization of the whole
world.
The bishop declines to discuss the
subject from the standpoint of Ameri-
can politics, but he says he cannot
imagine why the United States should
shirk from giving up her exclusive pol
icy and hesitate to take her place
among the nations when the duty is
manifestly thrust upon her. If China
falls to pieces, as nearly all well In
formed people believe she will, it would
be unwise, If not morally wrong, to con-
cede that the European nations have
right to settle the destiny of that great
empire without any reference to Amer
lea. The United States must inevitably
become the dominating naval power OF
the Pacific ocean, and If such future
is in store for her, she certainly ought
to hold an important section of the
coast line of Eastern Asia.