The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-02-22
CONDITION AT MANILA.

about the same as during Tue pas'
ten days, so far as whipping the
naf;ves IS concerned. Gen. Otis,
troops have had serveral small en-
gagements aud have taken some llsoe
new territory, but as yet the natives
which are commonly termed by our
authorities insurgents, show no dis
position whatever towards throwing
up and surrendering to the American
troops. The United States now has
practically the same condition upon
her hands that Spain did when she
was trying to subdue the Cubans.
The exact conditions and principles
involved may not be the same, but
in many respects the Filipinos are
very similar to the Cubans. In fight
ing tenacity they are identical, and
with those same guerrilla methods
with which the Cubans fought the
Spaniards BY running out OF jungles
and bouncing upon them, then to re-
tire into the brush where the Ameri-
cans can hardly penetrate, the Flip
mos are now giving the United States
troops trouble around Manila and
uoilo. The weather is now becom-
ing so hot about Manila that many
of our soldiers cannot stand the sun,
while the Filipinos are undaunted,
and when troops OF the natives come
out and fight with primitive bows
and arrows, while in another Instance
ore of the native commanders Is
unable to WELD his sword, yet with
one of his arms in sling, he COM
mands his followers while in battle;
it shows that these poor, half civil
lied people are fighting for freedom
and principle, and if the United
States wants to show them her hu-
manitarian dealings, she must 60
about it in some other way than
shooting them down in battle.
The treaty has now been ratified,
and Spain and ali Spanish control
has been entirely eliminated from
the situation. This is proper, that
the treaty should be ratified, for had
it not been, then the United States
would yet be technically at war with
Spain; hostilities being only ceased
by the terms of a protocol, and had
the treaty not been ratified when
hostilities were opened and continued
as they are now, the terms OF the
protocol would have been violated,
and our government would yet be
fighting Spanish citizens. But the
treaty is now settled. Spain now has
nothing to do with the Philippines;
she has no more control over them
than England, France or Germany,
Technically the citizens Of those
islands are citizens of the United
Stotns hnt the Tinted States cannot
afford to 60 to war and shoot down
people upon such technicality. There
is an underlying moral question
which we as great moral and civil
lied nation are boanG to respect.
The United States did not begin war
for conquest, but for humanitarian
principles, and when we simply by
our superior strength, wrench from
Spain her possessions and set ur
over her citizens a government oI
military authority and rule them at
the point of the bayonet and by
shooting them into submission, we
are precious little better, if any, than
were the Spaniards. The Filipinos
cannot understand our humanitarian
methods, and it is not surprising that
they do not. If the United States
wants to do the graceful thing let he,
offer some concessions to the Fill
pinos. We can afford to do it. We
do not need to annex them. We dc
not need any such citizens in GU,
body polite. But offer to allow them
the privilege Of organizing some
sort Of a government of their own
and asst them to do it, and when
they are organized exercise a protec'
torate over them and use our power
in preventing their being grasped by
some other greedy power. Ii we do
something oftbat sort, we will do the
act graceful, but there is nothing
gaceful in shooting down the citizens
of poor little sickly, half civilized
people and then gloating over GU,
victories. II is ike good, big brag.
ging boy fogging little one and
then Growing over his accomplish,
ments.
Love laughs at locksmiths, but il