Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-09-08
Dewey on Filipino Independence.

gamy, does not bind the United States in
any constitutional or legal way.
Dewey on Filipino Independence.
Naples correspondence London Daily News,
August 81.
Before the Olympia, with Admiral
Dewey on board, arrived in the harbor
had called on Mr.. Iddings, first secretary
of the United States embassy at Rome,
who had arrived here to receive the ad.
miral, and asked him to use his influence
to obtain an interview for the represen-
tative of the Daily News. This he had
the goodness to do, informing me, how
ever, that the victor of Cavite could not
see me until the day before his departure.
Then, after slight delay, was
conducted by a Chinese sailor into his
presence.
Admiral Dewey is handsome man,
and has a sympathetic seaman's face.
His hair is quite white, and his manner
at once frank and modest. He is, indeed,
very modest man. AS he spoke smile
from time to time llghtened up his fea-
lures. In reply to the few words in
which | made my excuse for disturbing
him, the admiral said that in promising
to see me he had made an absolute ex-
ception to his rule. AS fact, he greatly
disiked being interviewed. l was natur-
ally grateful, and said so. Then, after
there had been some little talk of his
stay at Naples, | asked: "Was Cavite,
| in your opinion. admiral, the decisive
action in the war;"
sit was the BATTLE" was the reply,
(which decisively turned the fortunes of
war in favor of the Americans" Then
he added: 1.-The Spanish ships, all the
same fought we'll"
"And the condition of the Spanish
feet?" asked. "Was it In fact so de-
plOrable as to make victory on the other
side certain?'
"Do not believe" said Admiral Dewey,
"that the American fleet was so much
superior to the Spanish. We certainly
had the advantage of more modern
vessels. but naval victory depends on
so many co efficients."
Conversation then, after some remarks
from Admiral Dewey on the United
States navy, and to the various epis odes
of the battle of Cavite, turned to the
question of the Philippines. "Do you
think, admiral, that the islands are
likely to be pacified soon?' The admiral
replied as follows:
IL have the question of the Philip
pines more at heart than any other
|
intimately, and they know that / am
their friend. The recent instruction is
the fruit of the anarchy which has so
long reigned in the island. The in.
surgents will have to submit themselves
to law after being accustomed to no law
at all. believe and affirm, nevertheless
that the Philippine question will be very
shortly solved. The Flipinos are
capable of governing themselves. They
have all the qualifications for it. 1t Is
question of time, but the only way to
settle the Instruction and to assure
prosperity to the archipelago Is to
concede self-government to the inhabi-
tants. That would be the solution of
many questions, and would satisfy all,
especially the Filpinos, who believe
themselves worthy of it, and are so.'
"Selfgovernment for the Philippines
has. however, not many partisans in
America | remarked.
II have never been in favor of violence
towards the F'iliplnos,' replied, or rather
continued, the admiral. 1.-The islands
are at this moment blockaded by fleet,
and war reigns in the interior. This
abnormal state of things should cease,
| should like to see autonomy first con-
coded. and then annexation might be
talked about. This is my opinion, and |
should like to see violence at once put a
stop to. According to me the concession
of self government ought to be the most
Just and the most logical solution"
The admiral spoke with an air of frank
conviction.
"Do you think conflict between Ger
many and the United States over the
Philippines possible?" ut is impossible
to foresee the unforeseeable," came the
reply. "rhen, admiral, you deny the
statements of the Trieste cores ondent
of the New York Herald? 2" II deny moth
ing" replied the admiral, "because to
that journalist | said nothing of the
kind"
Our conversation here came to end and
| took leave of Admiral Dewey, great
ly impressed with the fine face of the
great seaman of the west, who, to
courtesy and valor, Joins modesty with
out limit.