New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-08
cgAOS OR AMERICAN CONTROL.

Philippine problem receive confirmation lroin
nm unexpected quarter. The Manila correspond
ent Of THE New-York Evening Post writing
few DAYS before the insurgent attack on our
forces. plainly shows the mpOssbillty OF the
schemes urged upon us by the antieXpansion-
lists as alternatives TO the policy Incorporated III
the Treaty Of Peace This is highly Significant
IA coming from a trusted correspondent OF al
extreme opponent OF the Administrations course
in the Philippines which, while failing fully 20
recognize the meaning Of its correspondents re-
port. editorially commends his utterances.
1t IS perfectly clear from his account that the
alternative in the Philippines Is American coh-
troll by force II necessary, or utter chaoS anu
ruin. ending sooner or later In occupation anu
conquest by some European Power. Ihat was
the alternative which presented itself TO the ne
cotiators at Paris, and If THE Evening FoSts
correspondent observes correctly they were eVI
DENLY well Informed Of the situation and posi-
bili,es Of the Filipinos several months before
he wrote this letter detailing his conclusions.
They saw that the United States had super
seeded the only responsible government existing
in the islands, and that public opinion Doth Ut
home and abroad forbade our returning into the
hands Of Spain the country which she had SO
miscoverned for centuries. Some disposition
must be made Of the islands They could not
he left derellct to run amuck In Malay fashlon
of themselves and the rest Of the world We
had no power 10 enforce them as n trust on
ANYBODY else Continued Spanish sovereignty
meant nothing but bloody and amending sruG-
gle Those who make the fighting against us
the text for complaint ignore the fact that no
other possible disposition promised less fighting
II Spain kept them there would be fighting. If
they were left TO themselves there would be
fighting among the natives, followed by more
fighting with some European nation appearing
TO take possession and end chaos, and that per-
haps followed by still more fighting among Eu-
ropean nations concerning the disposition Of the
conquest The Evening Posts" correspondent
writes: THE best-informed men here think
that the end Of any insurgent government
must be chaos owing to the dslntegrating In
"Auence of the brgandage instinct in the race"
He says also:
The people Of the United States must make up
their minds either to aght for these islands or 70
give them up A protectOrate is at present out
ot the question. at least such protcctorate as
the native demands His IDEAS are vague but
what he really means is the Philippine Islands
for the Filipinos. This ideal is all very well In
theory. and no doubt will inspire the people TO
make strong fight; bet It is Impossible ior the
the acts of hnlf-wild peoples, who will undouot-
edly soon return 10 their internal feuds
That Is q complete answer to the politicians
nj home who have been bowling about the niG-
uity of coerclng these lovers OF liberty" and
praying that they may have their Lafayette
and denouncing the Government for not making
terms with them. The writer reports suspicious
that the Philippine government needed some
recognition from the United States Govern
"ment in order to prop 1t up with It's own
people" and gives this interesting account Of 4
conversation between committees OF American
officers and Filipinos:
HAS any foreign Power recognized your gov
ernmentY asked Colonel Crowder.
NO"
Have you been recognized even as bel
lgeTcn,s?"
Then the United States and Spain arc the
only Powers recognized here?"
yes"
Then the United States is responsible to other
nations for these islands"
"Yes"
| IF we should leave what would happen TO
The Philippine committee held up their hands
| in dismay. do not leave us, for other Powers
would come IN and take possession of the
islands"
"Then. II our remaining here is a benefit why
do you Insist on making trouble?
The people are beyond control
The correspondent believed that the leaders
had in their folly and vanity carried the people
beyond control. and predicted that fight was
inevitable unless the Americans yield 10 insur-
gent demands. Even then it will only be de-
'ferred." But he gives an account of the pco-
pie how they are separating how they take 10
| the hills to avoid their own taX-gatherers and
| kill the insurgent officers sent TO govern them.
| That does not suggest people determined 10
drive back the invader and only needing Il
European Lafayette to assist the Filipino Wash
ington in order to rejoice the hearts of Amcri-
can anti-cXpansonlsts over the birth Of n new
nation.
This writer sees rs plainly as anybody must
who gives unprejudced attention TO the sub
iect that the Filipino pretensons are ridiculous.
Some civilized Power must rule these people
| There is no civilized Power in position to do
this without European opposition but ourselves.
II such Power were threatening. the FIlipinos
would as he hints, bc the first to ask our aid.