The San Francisco call., 1899-07-20
THE PHILIPPINE SITUATION.

! y FTER the pretensions OF Spain to the Philip
| \ pine archipelago had been purchased by the
United States, under the treaty OF Paris, Tor
twenty million dollars The Call frequently invited the
attention of the Government the fact that, to Sc
the actual possession OF the islands under the
transferred claim OF divine right would require an
army OF not less than one hundred thousand, and
probably of five hundred thousand, 1t also sug-
gested that if the policy OF permanently holding this
Asiatc acquisition, either a colony or as terri
torial appendage to the United States should be
adopted as our soldiers were mainly citizens and had
been educated and trained in the American concep-
ton of liberty and independence, it would probably
become necessary to replace them by army OF mer-
cenaries.
The cheap labor press in which the Examiner is
included, the mperialistc press, which embraces all
the agencies OF American speculation and OF British
pressure, and the humanitarian scrubs who smear
hypocrisy with civilization, literally howed roared
and rohed at the mouth over this essentially practi
cal view of the Philippine situation The idea that the
experience of the decadent Roman republic could be
duplicated in the United States was derided in
suit to the Anglo-Saxon combination through which
freedom and Imperialism were be forcbly identified
throughout the world The Declaration OF Indepen-
dence was satrized a presumptuous assertion OF
principle contradcted by universal fact The constl
tuition was described as short under-garment,
through which the limbs of Columbia were unduly
exposed The whole conception OF an American re-
public limited in its territorial to this continent
and spreading the seamless folds OF organized human
sovereignty from to sea, treated as dyna-
mtca explosion Of which even the echoes were dy-
ing as the blend OF British imperialism and American
democracy spread their rainbow hues the Aslatc
continent.
The verifcaion of the antcipations of The Call has
been unexpectedly rapid No one doubts now that it
will take at least hundred thousand men to drill
American principles into the hides Of the Filiplnos.
They are an obstinate well a numerous people.
When dsarranging the artistic perfection OF
King Georges wig they were confronting the i'm
maculate symmetry of Spanish chivalry. And now, in
1900 they absolutely refuse to acknowledge that they
are our purchased chatel, and in the face OF per
sistent effort to impress them with the necessity OF
unconditional surrender to canonical boom Of
American civilization thrust sentimental
declarations into faces and ask whether our in
dependence was joke or reality.
The situation is really peculiar. If climate, soil
race and all the other elements of Asiatic imperfec
ton are actually to be conquered and subjected for
ciby to institutions, temporarily interpreted
an enormous increase Of military force is imperative
But as The Call ventured to predict the citizen sol
diery of country have stomach for protraCted
work of subjugation. They have performed wonders
of valOr and of endurance They have proved that
intelligent citizenship overcome almost insur-
mountable obstacles. But the work of assmilating
the Tagals, the Vscayas, the Negritos, the Malays
and the Mahometans, who constitute the mixed
population OF our most recent colony, dependency
territory, acquisition, or by whatever other name it
may be called, rles their good red American blood
and they unquestonably prefer to be relieved and
return to their prosaC occupation OF developing
American civilization the continent which has been
impressed with the signet OF American liberty and in
divduaty.
Naturally the imperalists have turned to the Ameri-
can troops Of African descent If they would only
cheerfuly the task OF subjugation the deadly
Roman parallel would be complete But they dis
sent. They remember the Civil War; with all its an
tecedents They have been filled with the magnificent
eloquence OF Abraham Lincoln, of William H.
Seward, OF Salmon P Chase, of the great founders
and leaders OF the Republican party. They have un-
patrioticaly omitted to forget that by proclamation
constitutonally enforced, liberty and equality were
made universal heritage within the bounds Of this
republic. And, while they enjoy and flourish under
American institutions thus developed to their logical
result they object to disparage the theory they love
by practices they abhor They are men and patriots
and they will do their duty. But they would greatly
prefer recognize in the Filpinos the same ties Of
human brotherhood that have indissolubly united
them to their Caucasian fellow citizens.
To the ordinary human mind the Philippine situa-
ton is perpexing. The only possible solution has
been suggested by the Examiner, the organ of fusion
Democracy, the wholesale and retail dealer in ma
tional policies and in detailed hysera. Let Major
General Otis be replaced If President Mckinley
should inadvertently the editorial letter that has
been addressed to him and should act upon it. the
problem would be solved.
Meanwhile, however, the American people are
deeply interested in the question whether live in
republic or are on way to empire.