Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-12
Noted Kansan Discusses Character Of
the Filipinos.
NOT Fit TO GOVERN THEMSELVES
Insurection Kept Up by unwise
Sympathy in the United States.
NEED OF PROMPT ACTION

CHICAGO October PA special to the
Times Herald from San Francisco says:
IT see no reason why the Americans
should not be sole masters Of the Philip
pines by March next year.
This is the opinion of Brigadier General
Funston, who arrived at the home of his
wife in East Oakland last night
1.-The situation in the islands, he said,
has reached a stage where 1t Is very easy
to see how to cope with 1t. There must be
no temporizing, wasted sympathy, no
foolish sentiment. 1t must be case OF
fight. The Filipinos are now In such a
frame Of mind that they will not yield un-
til they are thoroughly thrashed and con-
vinced that 1t is useless to oppose America.
1 do not say this unadvisedly. have given
the matter many months of deep study and
my knowledge of Spanish enabled me to
converse freely with officers and prisoners
on the rebel side.
I'VE arrived at Manila last December,
which was two months before host1lit1es
began. During those two months the off1-
GERS of the F'ilipinos frequently came with
in our lines. and l discussed with them
every phase of the situation. They were
very high minded and gave me the opinion
themselves. and that it was all very we'll
for the Americans to deliver them from the
prosecutions of Spain. but that, having per
|
and let them alone.
ignorance is the Rule.
1.-THE best among them are ignorant. Oc-
casionally l found smattering OF educa-
ton. But they are absolutely an ignorant
race and quite incapable of self-govern-
ment
1T is true that they possess much
shrewdness and are cunning. but in reality
the chief trait in their character Is treach-
cry. 1t is this that has enabled them to
make as good showing as they have
made, but this is argument, nor can
1t be made So that they are capable of
governing themselves.
Suppose that they were left alone. The
islands would be d scene of insurrection
without any possibility of restoring peace.
Only a strong power can take hold OF those
islands, subdue the various factions and
place them on solid footing.
Il am convinced that the best way to
govern the islands is to give them a firm,
Stiff-necked colonial government, nodded
on the same lines as the government Of
colonies of Great Britain There should he
a governor general who should have abso-
lutte power over the civil government. and
also the command of the United States
troops, and any native troops that it may
be considered judicious to organize.
This may seem strange but | am con-
vinced that as soon the rebellion is
crushed there will be entire change of
heart among a large percentage of ma
tives, and they will be quite willing to
carry arms under American officers.
With the $4,000 men now down there
and the additional 25OoO that will be on
the ground when the November campaign
opens, there will be ample soldiery to walk
through the islands. Sixty thousand troops
will teach these Filipinos the lessons they
deserve. But 1t must not be a campaign
of temporiZing. 1t must be aggressive and
persistent from the start. There must be
no let up and no opportunity must be
given the rebels, once routed. to recover.
No Match for Americana.
THE Filipinos are no match for Ameri-
cans on the battlefield. In one instance, at
Caioocan. where the Kansas troops were
engaged, we lost two men, while ] person
ally counted 112 dead Filipinos This is. of
course not a fair comparison, but the
Americans are certainly superior to the
Filipnos in the ratio Of one to six.
The seat Of all the trouble at this time
is the Filip!1o jtnta at Hong Kong This
pernicious little body IS keeping the war
alive. 1t is iii communication with the in
surgents, and 1t supplies Aguinaldo's army
with the hope from which it lives 1t sends
out reports Of fearful disasters to our
troops which never occur. 1t imagines all
manner Of friendly feeling the world over
toward the E'ilipinOS. 1t assures them of
all kinds Of outside support without foun-
dation. and in this manner keeps their
spirits alive.
me FuDlnOS are busiest just cir
cuatiHg reports that the trend of public
opinion in this country is against the Amer
lean procedure in the islands. They are in
formed by this junta that majority of all
the states have pronounced against the pol
icy of the administration. and that they
have only TO wait until the next general
election, when the United States will grant
them their independence.
Character of AguinaIdo.
"Agunaldo himself is shrewd, but not
clever. He circulates and corroborates all
that the junta sends out, and adds to it all
that his cunning imagination can devise.
With him the campaign is a great conf
dence game. If his people could be induced
to accept the situation they would desert
him tomorrow.
LAS long as those fellows think they
have ghost of show Of holding up their
end they will maintain the rebellion: but
If the American army fights them at every
hand | believe they will turn as a whole
and come tiocking into our camp and will
have no further use for that prince of con-
tidence operators, Aguinaldo."
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