Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-09-28
MKINLDY And PHILIPPINES
London snecta.or. Sept. Cd.

President McKinley's speech to the
Tenth Pennsylvania Regiment, which
has Just returned from the Philippines,
shows that, in spite of all the clouds
of prejudice and newspaper paragraphs,
the United States government, have
adopted and mean to maintain, a firm
and reasonable policy in regard to the
Philippines. Nothing could be better
than his short, plain statement as to
the position. The Filipinos he said,
had assaulted the sovereignty of the
United States, and there would be no
useless parleying until the insurrection
was suppressed and American authority
acknowledged and established. THE
Philippines are ours as much as
Louisiana by purchase, or Texas, or
Alaska" These are words which are
worthy of the best traditions of the
United States, and show that the
administration mean not to run away
from their difficulties, but to face
them squarely and boldly All who
knew anything Of the real temper of
the people of America-the temper
which underlies the "heady' talk of
irresponsible and too impressionable
journalists, the temper which 30 years
ago insisted that the Union should be
knew that this would, in fact, be the
attitude of the government of Washing
ton towards the situation in the Far
East, but it is none the less salts
factory to see it placed on record in
such unmistakable terms.
But while the policy of the United
States is clear enough, the best means
for carrying out that policy remain
open for discussion. The task before
the government is to reduce the islands
to order, to establish the authority of
the United States, and to provide a
framework of government which shall
not merely be strong, but which shall
allow for the future development of the
Philippines in peace and prosperity.
What are tho best methods available
for putting an end to the insurrection
and for bringing security to the
| islands? In the first place. we believe
| that what is needed is n determination
on the part of the Executive not to be
in a hurry. Conquests in tropical ard
unciyilized countries cannot be accom-
| pIished by hasty means. The American
government must resolve not to BIO
rushed by public opinion into a
feverish activity, and the people of the
United States must try not to tidget
about the islands. The best thing
| they could do would be to forget them
for couple of years, and to leave the
authorities free hand. The Filipinos,
if they are to be taught to respect and
appreciate American sovereignty, must
be taught their lesson slowly and
quietly, and by sober but infiexlble
pressure rather than by brilliant feats
of arms. OF course there must be a
sufficient number of white soldiers en-
ployed in the islands, and there must
be plenty Of useful" ships and gun
boats and river steamers, but it would
be an immense mistake to suppose
that the instruction can be
"swamped'' by pouring in a great
army of American soldiers, who, after
they have won victories and marched
through Luzon, can be withdrawn as
quickly as they came. Before such
tactics semi-savage people like the
Filipinos may collapse for the time,
4 but the moment after the storm is past
they revive like reeds beaten down by
the wind. If journalist in London
may speak plainly without imperti.
hence, it seems to us that, after resolv'
ing not to be in hurry, the next thing
for the government at Washington tt
remember is that they are not In thu
Philippines merely In order to conquer
them, but to govern them. The soldiers
and sailors must no doubt for some
time play II very great part, but there
is also need for civil government
which shall be the predominant
partner. In our opinion, civil
governor-general of the Philippines
should be appointed with complete
l
all military and naval officers acting
in the islands. This civil governor
general need not, of course, be {
civilian. He may be soldier or I
sailor, but his post should be a civi
post, and he should act in a civi
capacity and under commission from
the President, or, if necessary, unde
an act of Congress arming him witt
absolute powers. 1t should be hi
business to take stock on the spot a
to the best means of reducing tn,
islands to order. of organizing tn,
military and naval forces for their re
spectiye duties, and of creating al
effective, if at first rough -and-ready
administration. This organization o
the military forces would, of course
be the first requisite. just as Lor,
Cromer and Lord Kitchener as soon a
the advance into the Soudan was deter
mined upon organized a military fore
appropriate to the work in hand, SO tn
governor general of the Philippine
should study the military situation
and organize the right type of force. !
is no good to trust merely to beatin
the enemy by superior bravery wheneve
he is encountered. OF course he will
always be beaten by an American fore
whenever there is fair fight, bur suol
heroic victories are often OF little practi
cal good. What is wanted is fore
that is properly equipped for pene
tratiug into, and holding, the BAG
country. 1t would, of course, be FOOLS
for US to attempt to say what is tn
exact type of force that ought to b
created, but it is clear that it shout
be very mobile. 1t may also be safel
affirmed that 1T should be compose
partly of white soldiers and partly G
native troops officered by Americana
1t ought not to be difficult to raise fou
or five regiments OF native troops, who
if we'll handled, would be most useft
, in penetrating into the interior of th
islands. And well handled they woul
certainly be, for experience shows Ia
one would naturally expect) tina
American officers win the confidence {
colored men and natives just as d
their English cousins. The famou
, black regiments of the Civil War wer
led by white officers, and their me
felt towards them as do Ghoorkas an
l l.. l. III So L.. "A I