Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-10-05

lures of peace to Gen. Otis, but that
the latter declined to treat with them.
He refused to reeugnize any COM
munications coming from AguinaIdo
as the head Of the Philippine pro-
visional government. Which serves to-
recall to mind that during the early
stage of a memorable conflict that
occurred over hundred years ago,
Gen. Sir William Howe persisted in
refusing to officially recognize one
General George Washington, in COM
mand Of the Continental army, and
addressed letters to him as George
Washington, Esauire.' These letters
were returned unopened. and not only
was Gen. Sir William Howe constrained
to come down from his high horse and
acknowledge the official existence Of
Gen. George Washington, but his
government, some years later, recog-
nized the government Of the infant
Republic on this side of the Atlantic,
of which this same Gen. George WASH
iDgton was President
1t is unmanly to thus attempt to
humiliate the people OF the Philip
pines in their oyertures for peace.
Why should we insist upon an UNI
conditional surrender? Can any charge
Of fear or cowardice rest against this
great country, which is now deliriously
honoring the great man who made ap-
parent to the world the mighty prowess
of our navy? a,aWill we impair our
power. or affect our national dignity
BY recognizing even form of govern
mentin the Philippines in the interest
of peace? Is 1t not to be presumed that
people who have been fighting for
liberty and independence for over three
hundred years have at least semblance
OF government which our representa-
tives can recognize in order to establish
negotiations that may end the war
without further bloodshed9
"We desired peace, but peace with
independence aud honor, "7said General
Aleiandrino, one of the ENJOYS, while
conversing with representative Of the
Associated Press, He impresses one as
dignified and dispassionate, and as a
keen man Of 1.-THE world, the same
authority continues. The general was
educated in Europe, and designed the
remarkable intrenchments from Manila
to Tarlac. While, reticent concerning
his mission, his conversation, in an
interview, throws an interesting light
on the Filipino view of the American
attitude. The report OF the interview
continues: Il.
How dong can the Filipino army
and people withstand 60,000 American
troops?'' was asked.
Fighting in our way,n was the
answer, we can maintain state of
war and the necessity for large
army of occupation indefinitely. You
Americans are holding few miles
around Manila, "a narrow line of rail
road TO Angeles and circle OF country
around San Fernando. But you are
ignora1t Of the resources of Luzon.
We hold the immense, rich, productive
Northern country from which to draw.
Our people contribute the money and
food which maintain our army, and
this Is done at q minimum OF cost.
lit ~ an interesting question, = con-
tinued Aleiandrino, what the cost to
the American people is of maintaining
the. American troops in the Philip
pines. We do not, of course. know the
amount but ii must be excessive. We
perceive what an American soldier
requires in this climate. On the other
hand, a Filipino exists with handful
Of rice and pair of linen trousers.
We do not have3te pay our soldiers,
and can practically hold up their
wages as long as we desire. Even
without our present supply Of arms
and ammunition we could keep Your
army occupied for years.
fWith an expense that grows daily,
bow long will your people stand iii
The Filipino people do not wish to
continue the fighting. We have no
army contractors We have no business
men making profits from the main
tenance of our army. There is nothing
IN it for US, nor arc our salaries large
enough to keep us fighting for money
and position. Y
This is history repeating itself. Who
can forget the sufferirgs and priyations
OF the American army at Valley Forge
during that fatefui winter Of 1777.1s?
Who that read it will ever forget the
pathetic story of Francis Marion re-
ceiTing the ENJOYS from the British
army with q feast of sweet potatoes
roasted in the embers of a camp fire
) And yet the American colonies, despite
these sufrerings and extremities.
achieved Independence against the
powerful British Empire. s3
1t is not to be assumed, however.
that history will repeat itself to the
extent Of the ,Filipinos wrestling in
dependence from the United States by
force of arms. We are too powerful for
that. We maintain the war until
the last native OF the island is OK.
terminated. fs
But, qui bono? Is it not the part Of
manhood, of national honor, to treat
With the REPRESENTATIVES, of these brave
people, to sink the bubble of renog-
nizing the sovereignty that they are
fairly entitled to by three centuries OF
brave fighting, and bring the war to a
speedy end, without insisting upon
crushing them into the depths Of
humiliationf ae.,.g
Come, Mr.. Mckinley, it is up to
you. Upon your decision, your com
nand. rests the future. You made
this war, in defiance OF the Consti
tuition and without the sanction Of
Congress. End it at once.
10 insist that the Filipinos are unfit
for self-governmenti is to justify all the
o1trageSand oppression of Spain,s nus