The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-10-04
ARTHUR ROPES. General Editor
Dewey on the Philippines.

Islands, the FlllplnO lnsurrectloh' Une
Filipino's capacity for self.government,
his capacity as compared with the
Cuban, etc., etc. He is also reported
as declaring that he could not stand for
any interview giving his opinions on
political subjects and the Philippines.
al disown," report makes him say on
his arrival at Sandy Hook, "any view
ascribed to me on those subjects"
But the newspapers of the day fol-
lowing the Admiral's arrival contained
a report of an interview he gave the
newspaper men. The reports OF his
comments on people and affairs in the
archipelago are breezy and unconven-
tional, presenting in free and easy
way so much of his opinions as he
chooses to disclose before reporting to
the President at Washington. An in
teresting thing respecting the Admir-
ALPS expressions of opinion is the rap.
ture they seem to create in the bosom
Of, particularly, the mugwump branch
of anti-imperialists and the critics of the
governments management of affairs in
the Philippines. But there is a gal
vanic glassiness in these professions
of satisfaction with what Admiral
Dewey is reported as saying that bellies
their genuineness. 1t is very cold COM
fort the rabid and seditious anti
imperialist and indiscriminate con-
temner of his country and its govern
ment gets out of Admiral Dewey's
expressions of opinion.
The Admiral declares emphatically
that the insurgents 'can't hold out
against the army and navy" The end
of their resistance "has got to come,
they can't stop it," The sources of
their supplies "must be stopped, and
the insurgents will then be of little
strength" There is nothing of the
"up anchor and sail away from Manila"
nonsense in the views given to the
public from the deck of the Olympia in
New York harbor.
o. the much mooted and important
matter of the capability of the Filipinos
for self-government the Admiral is
thus reported
"Do you consider that the Filipinos are
yet capable Of self-government, at least
enough 80 to allow Of the withdrawal OF
American forces?"
mo, they are not, but in time they will
be. 1t is bound to come out right. Bound
to- replied Admiral Dewey, decisively.
IT will say this much, though, for the Fill
pinos. They are more capable OF govern
ing themselves than the Cubans are. Some
of them, doubt not, are now capable Of
administering affairs, but the great major
ity of them have the crudest ideas of an
honest and efficient government. Their
greatest fault is this: They don't know the
meaning of the word honesty or course,
like all Malays who have had educational
advantages, they are wonderfully capable
OF initiative construction and are admirable
artisans when trained"
This is about the size of the soberest
judgment among the people of the
United States. The Admiral does not
claim omniscience or regal immunity
from error of judgment. "You know"
he said to the men around him, " as
much about the Philippines as do.
Any intelligent American citizen who
has followed with the right interest
what has happened there since we
whipped the Spanish feet knows as
much of that problem as / or any man
aboard ship" There is great deal in
following any subject with the right
interest" That sort of following is
radically different from a set purpose
to discard righteousness and seek only
partisan political capital in what has
happened in the Philippines since
Dewey "whipped the Spanish fleet"
Comment cannot add effect to the
high lights in this portrait Dewey
paints of the anti'imperialist Wash
ington:
"Aguinaldo is nothing but fgurehead
He is only of average intelligence and abil
ity. The brains are back Of him. In Ma
Mia he is held at his true worth, and Their
they know who is responsible for what sue
cesses, If any, that have attended the effort
of the Filipinos to rebel against our gov
eminent. Aguinaldo was only clerk il
the navy yard at Manila before he took tn
field against the Spanish. The men VIII
actually have the most influence among tn
Filipinos are a number of lawyers, unquet
tionably able men,"
OF late General Otis has been tn
bete noir of the unpatriotic crow
which is persistently nagging the gov
eminent and encouraging Aguinald
to continue in his rebellion, in the BIZ
lief that, as he declared in recent prt
clamation, "some of the States hav
declared for him, particularly the Den
ocratic party" The sole criticism AZ