Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-02
How We Got the Eiephao,


I'm the prosecution of the war with Spain
it is clear that as military movement, as
proved by its success. the thing to do was
to strike at Spain in the Philippine Islands;
and that having conquered her there we
hold the Philippines as result of the war.
Personally. 1 should have been very glad
if. IS I said once before that elephant had
never been put upon our hands. But at the
end Of the war the islands were in our
hands.
The delay in the ratification of the peace
treaty induced Aguinaldo to believe that a
large element in this country was opposed
to the Presidents policy and favored the
immediate Independence of the islands, and
his agent here, AgoncI!lo, encouraged by the
delay, encouraged him in his opinion
one would think, from what some say
that the President had gone out of his way
TO begin an assault and invasion upon the
philippines. On the contrary. on February
u, around that great city of Manila where
HE and property were cOngregated and en-
TITLED to protection. AguinaldD and his fol-
lowers were making their assault, shooting
down our soldiers. creating riot and dis
turbance, endangering life and property
actually lighting the torch and attempting
to burn the city.
No Good Word for Our Heroes
l can hardly believe that even the critics
OF the administration approved of this at
that time or that they approve of the Fill
plnos hiring on our flags of truce And yet
l cannot help noticing that some of them
have no word of sympathy fof our soldiers
ana countrymen, who, in their line of duty
We're exposed to those dangers in and about
Manila 1hey have no word of praise for
the gallant Funston. Yet when Horatius
won eternal fame by swimming the Tiber
he was escaping from the foe; when the
young hansan crossed the Rio Grande it
was to attack the enemy and in the yery
Rlr
atroclous SANDER is invented against the
sood conduct or humanity of our army It
Is source of delight to them.
the President had given strict orders to
Gen. Otis to avoid conflict in every possible
way, and Gen. Otis had so notified Aguin-
aldo. The latter instead of seeking peace
1ui settlement, went on waging war on the
city and on our troops lawfully there In
the discharge of his duty to maintain law
and order, certainly the President was JUS
tined i'll suppressing these attacks. And if
the best means of defense was, for the time
being, to assume the offensive after such
proVocation in order to prevent further at
lacks, he was justified in that
Welcome American Rule.
ION the contrary, have you yet taken
pains to ascertain that the property and
commercial and other interests of the great
city of Manila prefer an American protec-
tGrate? Do you know that one or two of
the Islands, through their own authorities
have officially expressed their qualification
at the American supremacy and sought its
protection! DO you know that if there
could be free and well-informed express
sion of opinion among their responsible citi-
zens, they would largely prefer the shield
OF the United States over them? Do you
Know lhat Agnnaido represents only por
ton of the Filipnos themselves: and that
ne Is exercising the most violent despotism
Wherever his forces prevail? l cannot help
feeling that there has been undue precipi-
latloh on the part of some in failing to APP
preciate the great responsibilities that are
upon the President, and in launching the
most violent assaults upon his adminstra-
ton which is doing the best it can in its
ehueaVors TO preserve order and to estab
1sh a stable condition of things before en-
tering upon the question of further adjust