The evening times., 1899-01-16
The Philippine CommissiOn.


The proverbiaI patience of the American
people is to be sorely tried again By Presi-
dent Mckinley. and the only hope of ulti-
mate relief is in the bcldness of Aguinaldo.
If that lf-appointed dictator of the Phil
ippines is persuaded by Germany to assault
the Americans at Manila the situation may
| be cleared up in a way to uphold the
honor of the American Republic. Other
wise. we are doomed to months of brigand
| supremacy and German intrigue and
! possible surrender of the Philippines in the
| end.
| Ii is now decided that the Presidents
| proclamation is to be annulled so far as
| it declares the purpose of this Government
10 be the subjugation by force of all law
! less bodies of men who refuse TO lay down
their arms. A commission to Investigate
and report ON the situation is TO be ap-
pointed. While Admiral Dewey and Gen
eral Otis are to be members, the civil au
thority is to be supreme. and, therefore, a
civilian is TO be its chairman.
What is there to investigate? What
possible information can the commission
acquire for the President that he does not
/ possess? What can it do, as conciliatory
commission, that the President has not
! done by the issue of his proclamation? If
it is 70 determine whether we are to retain
or relinquish the Philippines it should have
been appointed before the meeting OF ;he
Peace Commissioners. When the Presi-
dent directed Judge Day and his associates
10 insist on Spain's surrender OF all title
TO these islands, the question was decided.
OF AguinalGo's claims We know all that
is necessary. II cannot be forgotten that
whatever Indebtedness we may have in
CURED in his case was discharged when
he organized a government, of which he
proclaimed himself the dictator. without
the consent of the great body of the peo-
pie OF the Philippines. He derives his
authority from nobody, and is entitled to
no recognition. All the commissions in the
world cannot make the situation appear
anything but what we know ii TO be.
! 1t is beyond all doubt that the long
policy OF neglect under which nobody was
authorized to cultivate the friendship of
The Filipinos for the Americans. or even
TO assure them that our intention was not
to restore Spanish sovereignty, was the
10. Prominent citizens of Manila appeal
ed in vain TO American representatives for
! some authoritative expression as to the fate
/ of the archipelago. In their uncertainty
1 they encouraged or did not discourage
| Aguinaldo. The old women in trousers,
the antiquated Federalists of secluded New
England, and the foreign born agitators,
who would deny TO other foreigners the po-
litical blessings they enjoy under our in
sttutions. fostered the hope in Aguinaldo's
mind that the American people would be
divided on the question of expansion and
that by bold resistance he could intimidate
President Mckinley, who lacks decision.
The agents of Germany at Hongkong un-
derstood the conditions, and advised and
assisted the outlaw chieftain and held out
the promise of more material support when
/ il should be required.
There is no reason TO doubt that if the
President had directed General Otis to
suppress all outlaws with a firm hand
Germany would have retired and Aguin-
aldo would have fed. The halting policy
has bolsJeTed up the decayed statesmen of
the Senate has delighted Germany and
strengthened the rebels. 1t has distressed
Spain, because it gives over her captured
soldiers to the prolonged cruelty of Aguin-
aldo and il has caused no little humilia-
tion and concern to friendly England
/ There has been a hope that soon the Pres
/ ident would act, or that an attack on Ma
Mia would force him to act. This is dis
sipated by the appointment of a concilia-
tion commission which will take a month
TO reach the scene, another month, at
4 least, for conferences with Aguinaldo's
representatives. and still another month
/ in which TO report that the rebels refuse
10 consider any terms except the recogni-
tion of Aguinaldos government which
was never authorized by the people. By
that time the rebels will have been placed
on a better war footing by Germany.
which may be willing then to openly es-
pouse their cause.
/ At any rate we are forced to submit to
! months of open defiance of American au-
thority, unless Aguinaldo makes a heroic
effort to drive us out of the Philippines.
1t is very fortunate for timid President
! that the American people are patient.
Once more The Times scores a journalis-