The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-20
JUDGE JEwETr,s VIEWS.

Judge Advocate General JeWettS views
regarding the Philippine situation are en-
titled to consideration as those of one who
has been in the islands for some time and
lad good opportunities of studying condi-
tons. The fact that there is a GOODNESS be-
tween General Otis and Judge Jewett and
that they do not agree regarding some
matters is not to the discredit of either.
General Otis looks at the case from the
standpoint of a soldier ard fighter and
Judge Jewett from that of a lawyer and
civilian. The public does not know ex-
actly the differences between them, but,
whatever they may be, they are probably
due largely to their different points of view
and trained habits of thought. On one point
the soldier would hardly differ from the
civilian. Judge Jewett thinks that might
is the first requirement for enduring peace,
and the sooner the crisis is reached the bet
ter" 1t is the testimony of all who know
the Filipino character that they have more
respect for force than for anything else, and
while they are apt to construe a temporizing
or magnanimous policy as cowardice they
are quick to understand the meaning of
force. They have already had one or two
impressive lessons on this subject from the
Americans, and another demonstration or
two will probably convince them that they
are dealing with a people who keep force
on hand and know how to use it when occa-
sion requires. The Filipinos, like the Span
iards in Cuba, respect a people who. when
they have to fight. fight in earnest. In the
fight before Santiago the Spaniards thought
the Rough Riders disregarded all the rules
of war; Richard Harding Davis writes:
When we fired volley,' one of the pris-
oners said later, instead of falling back
they came forward That is not the way to
fight, to come closer at every voley.' And
so, when instead of retreating on each vol
ley, the Rough Riders rushed at them,
cheering and filling the air with wild cow
boy yells, the enemy retreated upon San
tiago. where he announced that he had
been attacked by the entire American army.
A resident of Santiago asked a Spanish SOL
der if those Americans fought WELL Weir
he replied, they tried to catch us with their
handsr" That is the kind of fighting the
Americans are doing in the Philippines. No
doubt it will be as great a revelation to the
natives as it was to the Spaniards in Cuba,
and they will soon yield before it.
Judge Jewett thinks that the utter alb
sence of a policy regarding the future is to
blame for the present trouble. He says:
Aguinaldo has had cause to doubt our
nearly every day, just as he went to visit
General Merritt. He would ask: What IS
could not tell him. He naturally believed
liars and cheats. He could not conceive
of powerful Nation without fixed policy.
Then he took to uttering falsehoods to the
world about the American occupation.
This illustrates what the Journal has re-
marked before, namely, the danger of delay
in dealing with crises. If this government
had taken decisive action regarding the
Philippines as soon as the protocol was
signed, and declared then the generous
policy it is prepared to announce now, the
present trouble would probably have been
averted. But the President had to await
the conclusion of the treaty and then the
slow action of the Senate. From May l,
1898, when Admiral Dewey destroyed the
Spanish fleet, we have had control of the
city and bay of Manila. From the date of
the protocol. last Aug. II, it has been evil
dent that we would take over the islands,
yet the President had no authority to de-
clare or adopt a definite policy regarding
their disposition or government. The delay,
though in a measure necessary, has been
disastrous in that it has given Aguinaldo
time and pretext for organizing a new in
surrection. If the policy which is now prac-
tically decided on, could have been an
nounced four or five months ago, we would
be in undisputed and peaceable possession
Of the Philippines to-day. No doubt Judge
Jewett is right in saying that lack of
policy regarding the future is largely to
blame for the present trouble in the Philip
pines, but as he is equally certain that the
insurrection will soon collapse and that
there will not be any serious guerrilla war
fare we can afford to overlook past mis-
takes. especially as they were unavoidable.
1t is evident from what Judge Jewett says
that our forces in the Philippines have
made an excellent impression and done good
work there, and no doubt they will continue
to do so.