The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-04-29

he proposed the establishment of a neu-
trail zone between the two armies of any
width that would be agreeable to Gene
raj Otis, so that during the peace nego-
tiations there might be no further dan
ger of conflicts between the two armies.
To these representations of General
Torres, General Otis sternly replied that
the fighting, having once begun, must
go on to the grim end. And it has been
going on ever since" Otis had carte
blanche from Washington giving him
unlimited power to act and he preferred
war to peace. If we mistake not he will
regret his action before the Philippine
problem is finally solved to the satisfac-
ton of the American people. But he
was carrying out the instructions of the
administration as a military dictator,
and now he has more fighting than he
bargained for.
Another military man who knows
more OF the capacity of the Filipinos for
self-government than does Loren
Fletcher is Henry Page, a lieutenant in
the United States army who has spent
eight months in the islands. In letter
to the Chicago Record from Manila he
says that he finds himself unable to ex-
press decided opinion about the mat
ter, "but l can unreservedly AFFIRM" he
says, that the more evidence I have
collected the greater my respect for the
native and his capabilities" He pays
high compliment to their fighting quail
titles and says they made mastery re-
treat when they we're driven from their
intrenchments on the 5th of February
by artillery. A frequent exclamation
along the American lines was: Haven't
these little fellows got grit?" He adds
they had more than grit-they had or
ganization.
He goes ON to tell OF the surprise OF
the Americans when they reached the
headquarters of Aguinaldo at Santa Ana
and found some OF the machinery of
his government. They examined papers
Of all kinds that were scattered about,
one of them being am order to the gov
ernor of the province to have new
election. There were found deeds of
property, records of births and deaths,
and numerous documents concerning
school teachers appointments. There
were meteorological and other scien-
ti6c instruments left behind by the in
surgents in their hasty fight, as we'll as
beautiful Typographical maps, military
and state seals and other articles show
ing that labor and intelligence were
united in their production.
He describes the system of taxation
in vogue and the plans for education in
the villages. OF the latter he says: Gin
each town church, convent, Or
priests home, tribunal, which is
courthouse, Jail and record office all in
one, and a school, constitute the public
buildings. The schools were neat, sub
stantial buildings, which testified that
the Spanish made an honest effort to
educate the masses. The Filipino is
very anxious to learn, and the new gov
eminent of Aguinaldo used every effort
to start afresh these schools. The num-
Der of natives who speak Spanish as
we'll as their native tongue, and who
also know how to read and write, is re-
markable. No school teacher has been
appointed in San Jose, and the school
buildings are held by the American Off
GERS. In spite of this Encouragement
there is private school Aourishing in
native hut"
What grand opportunity the Ameri-
can republic has in helping these people
along in the path of freedom and indie
pendence! But the spirit of avarice pre-
vailed, and instead OF rendering aid to
these liberty-loving orientals in estab-
fishing self-government, the American
troops are ordered to shoot them down
like wild beasts in the interest of grasp
ing corporations and odious trusts. The
administration which is responsible for
the outrage and slaughter is un-republic-
an and un-American and will be hurled
from power in the near future. The
prosecuted Spanish rebels of the East
will be treated like the Spanish rebels
of the West before this war is at an end.
The American people are already dis
gusted with the inefficiency and rapa-
cious instincts of the Mckinley govern
ment, and the occupant of the White