The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-05-02
FilipinOs' Attitude Prevented
Peaceful Solution.
Mr.. LONG DEFENDS PRESIDENT
Unpatrioiic Utterances Deprecated by the
Secretary AS Wholly Urjust to the ad-
minisIrstion-Treatme of Cubans and
Fnipinos-Ef ,rts Now Being Made to
Bring Abou. Peace with the Natives,
Who Have Been Misied by Leader.

Boston. May 1.-The Essex Club cele-
brated Admiral Deweys victory with
banquet at Young's Hotel tonight, at
which were entertained as guests Secre-
tary of the Navy John d. Long and two
heroes of the Manila hght, Capt Wlldes,
OF the Boston. and Lieut.. Commander
Reese, formerly executive officer of the
olympia, besides Commander James r.
Selfridse, formerly of the Puritan, and
Lieut.. Commander F. A. Wilmer, of the
Monadnock. Capt Robley ID. Evans sent
word that he was detained In Washing
ton
Secretary Long began his speech with a
eulogy Of Admiral Dewey. and then paid a
graceful tribute to the officers and men or
the navy. The greater part OF his speech
was defense Of the national administra-
TONS Philippine policy. He said
L believe that no more unpa triotic Ut
terance, or one more unjust TO the ad-
ninistration of the government of our
country has been uttered than the state
ment which | see now and then, that the
treatment OF the Cubans by Spain, or the
Armenians by the Turks, is rot to De
compared with our course toward the
F1lipinos in wanton and deliberate cru
city. The mind that can utter such an
extravaganza is SO entirely warped that
its judgment is valueless.
Il take IL that those who make this
brutal charge against the administration
90 not refer to cases, If any, of unau-
th0riZed outrage committed by fndiyid-
uals. or to the incidental OF painful de-
struction and wholesale devastations
which mark all wars, just or unjust, even
our recent civil war, and of which there
are in all wars horrible illustrations. in
volving the killing of great numbers of
people, booming thousands to starvation
and ruin. and destroying vast amounts
or property. AS to the massacreing of
women and children, which | have also
heard alleged, it has not been heard of
in the present military operations.
Sacrifice Truth to Embellishments.
This, like some other similar extrava-
gances, is among those rhetorical over
statements which sacrifice truth to en-
bellishnent- | cannot, on inquiry, learn
that anything of the kind has been re-
ported, or that If it were, 1t would not
be at once dealt with with the utmost
severity. On the contrary. do know
that the wires have been kept busy with
orders for conciliation and kind treat
peace. When wounded prisoners have
been taken, they have been sent to our
hospitals. Since the signing of the Schur-
man proclamation they have been set
free to distribute 1t among their people
Its first, constant, and last instruc-
ton has been to insure them every help
to better conditions. You can point to no
word IL has uttered. no order it has given,
no mission il has sent that has not had
in view the improvement of the Philippine
Islands.
In the prosecution of the war with
Spain 1t is clear that as military move
ment, as proved by its success, the thing
to do was to strike at Spain in the Phil
ippine Islands; and that having conquered
her there, We hold the Philippines as d
result of the war. Personally, / should
have been very glad If. as | said once
before, that elephant had never been put
upon our hands. But at the end of the
war the islands were in our hands.
Delay in Ratifying Peace.
"The delay in the ratification of the
peace treaty induced Agunaldo TO believe
that a large element in this country was
opposed to the Presidents policy and ia
vored the immediate independence of the
islands; and his agent here. Agoncillo
DH tliC
him in his opinion.
"One would think from what some say
that the President had gone out of his
way TO begin an assault and invasion
upon the Philippines. On the contrary, on
February 6. around that great city of Ma
Mia. where life and property were con-
gregated and entitled 10 protection
Aguinaldo and his followers were making
their assault, shooting down our soldiers.
creating riot and disturbance. endangering
life and property actually lighting the
torch and attempting to burn the city.
Il can hardly believe that even the
critics of the administration approved of
this at that time or that they approve of
the Filipinos firing on our flags Of truce.
And yet / cannot help noticing that some
of them have no word of sympathy for
our soldiers and countrymen who In their
line of duty. were exposed TO those dam
gers in and about Manila. They have no
word of praise for the gallant Funston.
Yet when Horatius won eternal fame by
swimming the Tiber. he was escaping
from the foe; when the young Kansao
crossed the Rio Grande IL was TO attack
the enemy and in the very teeth of the
enemys FIRE. But IL some atrocious SLAM
der is invented against the good conduct
or humanity of our army, IL is a source of
oelsht 10 tnem.
Presidents Order to Avoid Conflict.
''The President had given strict orders
TO Gen. Otis TO avoid conflict In ever,
possible way and Gen. Otis had so notified
Aguir aldo. The latter, instead Of seek.
ing peaceful settlement, went on wagtlg
war on the city and on our .roops lawful
ly there. In the discharge of his duty
10 maintain law and order. certainly the
President was justified in suppressiny
these attacks. And if the best means Of
defense was, for the time being. TO as
sumo the offensive after such proyocatjon
in order 10 prevent further attacks. Re
was justified In that.
"On the contrary. have you vet taken
pains 70 ascertain that the prop4rfv ana
commercial and other interests Of thu
great city Of Manila prefer an American
protectorate2 Do you know that one or
two OF the islands. through their own
authorities. nave officially expressed their
qualification at the American supremacy
and sought It's protection? Do you know
that il there could be a free and well-In-
formed expression OF opinion among their
responsible citizens, they woGd lsrs .Iv
prefer the shield Of the United States
over them2 Do you know that AguinaIdo
represents only portion Of the fTIfplnOs
themselves: and that he il exercising the
most violent despOtism wherever MS
forces preyail2 ! cannot help feeling that
there has been undue precipitation on the
part OF some in failing 10 appreciate The
great responsibilities that are upon the
President, and Ia launching the most vlo
lent assaults upon his administration
which IL .loing the best IL can IN its en-
He3Vors % preserve order and 10 esfsh-
lish a 81 able condition Of things befOre
entering upon the question OF further ad-
justment.