Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-11
SATURDAY. FEBRUARY II, 1879
TUIpIyO CONSULTATION"

Tho situation in the Philippines is by
no means reassuring. What with inc
manner in which dispatches from Manila
contradict one another and what we are
enabled 10 read between the lines. II Is
pretty evident that we hallooed over our
victory in the fight Of Saturday ana sun
day before we were out Of the WOODS.
Not that the victory in itself was incom-
olete. On the contrary, the fuller the re-
mort Of the battle received the more APP
parent it becomes that we slaughtered
the enemy in fine style, and that the
triumph Of American arms was signal
But the smoke of battle had not cleared
away ere we felicitated ourselves upon
having utterly demoralized the natives
and taught them lesson they would not
forget. In a word. we claimed that we
had practically settled the question of
the pacification Of the Filipinos once for
all.
on that point, however, grave doubt IS
obtruding itself. 1t begins to look as II
we are TO learn by sad eXperience-such
experience as more than one other nation
has had under similar circumstances-that
there is a vast deal Of difference be-
tween routing savages and semi-savages
in one battle and smashing them. 1t
begins to look as If the events of Satur-
day and Sunday were only the opening
of the ball-the beginning Of Mr.. Mckin-
ley's process of assimilation.
While one set of Manila advices state
that all is quiet. and that General OTIS
feels safe in weakening his command to
the extent of dispatching an expedition
TO noilo, from another set it is learned
that the Filipinos have burned n village
near Cavite Further, they are evidently
says one Manila special, concentrating be-
tween .-aloocan and Malabon, and judging
from appearances, are being reinforced
by better drilled men from the northern
provinces. In front OF Caloocan, adds
the special, they are thick as swarm Of
bees and are intrenching themselves If
this means anything, it clearly means
that those who have taken an optimistic
view Of the moral effect" of our victory
did not reckon with the fact that savages
and semi-savages have a very foolish way
of not staying demoralized.
That Aguinaldo and mis- adherents will
oe finally smashed" we do not question
Indeed, since the fight is on there is no.
thing else left for US to do but smash
them. AS the case now stands il is d
matter Of maintaining American prestige.
Our soldiers are in the Philippines. We
To- In fcf
win. But 1t is absurd 10 suppose that
their work is going to be in the nature
of summers day outing. Moreover, the
American people would as well accept
the conclusion that unless they ropudiate
MIR. McKinley's policy OF Imperialism. and
unload the Philippines. the "assimila-
ton" by the agencies OF gunpowder and
blood OF the organized rebels" of to-day
will be but foretaste Of what is in store
for US hereafter along that line. After
we have disposed Of Aguinaldo and his
followers. there will be the tribes Of the
mountains and the jungles to deal with,
and unless these shall belle all their tradi-
tons. their assimilation" will cost thou
sands OF lives and millions Of money. The
contamination of American Imperialism
will cali for many punitive expeditions
and IL would be idle not TO fear that some
OF them will pass into hietory to take
place alongside of the terrible Tragedies
that have marked the progress OF British
imperialism, and In which Anglo-Saxor
courage awaited to save hardly one tC
tell the tale Of Anglo-Saxon sacrifice.