The times., 1899-02-08
Thc Work ut Mnniia.

1t is denied that instructions have been
sent from Washington to General Otis and
Admiral Dewey TO pursue the rebels and
beat them down relentlessly until they
surrender to the authority of the Ameri-
can Government. lay down their arms, and
disband.
The denial does not imply that it is the
intention of the President TO continue On
the defensive and not TO punish the rebels
for their attack on the American lines:
but it is distinctly asserted that the rea-
son for Withholding all directions is TO
allow the commanders in the Philippines
10 act according TO their own judgment
II is regarded as injudiciOus to embarrass
them with orders which may be impracti-
cable owing to the situation or condition
of the army or for some other reason.
For the moment it may be wise TO leave
! General Otis entirely free TO move accord
| ing TO his knowledge of the position and
relative strength of the armies. 1t is
always wise to refrain from specific in
structions TO a commander thousands of
miles away when there is a definite un-
derstanding OF the object and desire OF the
| Commander-in- Chief
In this case however there has been a
sudden and complete change in the situa-
tion not only through the attack on cur
forces, but also through the ratification
of the Treaty. 4 few days ago, ii was the
/ policy of the President 10 maintain a
purely defensive attitude, because he con-
I sidered that the protocol only was in oper-
alton. Now that our title to sovereignty
| in the Philippines is perfect, the Tagals
under Aguinaldo become rebels against
| the authority of this Government, not
merely constructiyely, but actually. This
| change must naturally impose a new policy
on the Administration and we may reason
ably expect that General Otis will be in
/ formed of the new relations toward the
enemy and how far he shall assume the
offensive.
That our authority must be enforced
now or later is not an open question. and
it only remains to determine what mill
tary expediency demands to protect the
army from further attacks and what the
best interests Of the Philippines require
IL viii be admitted that no person in this
country is more competent TO suggest the
best methods for ending the war than
| General Merritt He is a soldier of cx-
, perience and great ability; he has been in
| command Of the army that is now involved
| and is Intimately acquainted with every
| feature Of the situation; he has made a
study of the character of the Tagals and
! has had frequent and frank converse with
Admiral Dewey. He aliirms that unless
! General Otis be instructed TO pursue the
rebels and beat them into submission. our
! Administration will be hampered for years
| by instructions. He is positive that if
there had been no temporizing when Agui-
naldo became insolent and refused to obey
| the orders of the American commander,
| that adyenturer would have been glad of
| employment under the American Govern
ment and there would have been no talk
/ of armed resistance. He believes that If
| the President prosecute the war aggres-
siYely. refusing to talk about government
| until every rebel is disarmed: if General
Otis lose no time in furnishing AgunaJfo
and his army and make il clear that ebe-
dience must be unconditional, we shall
. have peace quickly and will never again
hear OF an attempt to achieve independence
by driving out the American army.
All kindness in war is a mistake. II
will be most cruel to the Filipinos them
selves If they are allowed TO believe we
can be intimidated, for the time must come
when we shall establish our authority alb
| solutely in every foot of the Philippines
II We ever abandon the archipelago. it
will be when the Fiiipinos have adopted
| the methods prescribed by this country and
| formed stable government under the
| principles of American institutions The