The evening times., 1899-06-30
FRIDAY, JUNE 80. 1899.
Time for PaIscring Past.


Brigadier General Charles King, who
has just returned from hard campaigning
in the Philippines. declares that force OF
not less than sixty thousand should be at
once modified in our Oriental possessions.
General Lawton, who has b-on on the fir ng
line for three months, has told the world
that il will require the combined efforts
of at least one hundred thousand American
troops, intelligently handled, to subdue the
Filipinos. General Hall has testified TO the
same effect. Several of the officers VINO as
sisted Admiral Dewey in his amazing vic
tory and who has spent year or more on
the Asiatic station have spoken similarly
through the military muzzle.
The consensus of European expert opin-
ion is that a much larger force of Ameri-
cans than the Spaniards ever maintained
in the archipelago will be necessary to
suppress the present insurrection crush
out the spirit OF rebellion, and
firmly establish our sovereignty. with
its accompaniments of social order and
industrial activity, en- the islands. During
The recurrent periods of turbulent disor-
der and organized defiance of Spanish rule
Spain never had less than thirty thousand,
well-seasoned and acclimated soldiers in
the Philippines. And about all that this
force accomplished was the holding of forts
for Spanish revenue collectors.
Shutting their eyes TO this history, dis
regarding expert opinion. ignoring an ob-
vious situation, and attempting to distoit
plain facts in the desperate hope OF de-
ceiying the American people, the authori-
ties at the War Office announce deter
mination TO provide General Otis with a
force of about forty thousand troops.
With nearly that number of men at his
disposal for the past two or three months
General Otis line of defence has been
gradually contracting, with no hope o. re-
cuperating power enough to expanI it
into line of aggressive. relentless Of
fence.
In the meaning of colloquial English it
is fair to assume that by the use of the
qualifying word about the War Office
really intends to place at Otis disposal
force of less than forty thousand men. But,
granting that it is intended to exceed
rather than fall below this limit, even then
the force will not be large enough by sew
eral thousand. In view of the fact that
the rebels are rapidly improving in their
methods of offensive warfare, II is not at
all certain that the full force intended for
Otis Will not be required to hold the mar
row strip of territory we now control in
Luzon, if. indeed. il will not be actually
necessary to employ them in the defence
of Manila.
Facts like these are well understood by
the American people despite the palpable
and concerted efforts of the War Depart
ment all along the line to hoodwink AMI
to national intelligence which such tactics !
offer is the more serious question of ham
pering the national will. With the excep-
ton OF a handful of inflamed sentimental |
lists, every thoroughly sane American de- !
mands that short shrift be given to the re- |
belliOn in the Philippines. Under incom-
peter rule. or something worse. in the |
War Department, events have progressed |
o that stage where the national judgment |
IS not concerned about the cost Of the un-
iertaking. The only desire on that score |
Is that the cost be capably and honestly |
met. And since the consensus of expert |
opinion worthy of consideration at home !
and abroad is that a great deal heavier
force than has ever before been placed on |
he island will be necessary to thoroughly
'ubdue the unruly Filipinos, it is evident |
nat the work cannot be done with about"
orty thousand, and this the country we'll
Thus thoroughly comprehending these
'hases of the situation, the country would
heartily applaud Mr.. Mckinley if he would
xercise his legitimate functions as Com
Chief of the military forces,
md, ignoring the counsel Of those around
lin, announce fatty, boldly, and clearly
he determination to at once raise and
quip a sufficient army TO suppress the !
filipino insurrection with the least pos-
ible delay and with the minimum loss of
nen. Let him do this and the country
will ring with his praise. The time for
altering politics has long since passed.
summer Resort Weather
When the many scores of Washington