Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-09-20
The Command in the Philippines.

The Command in the Philippines.
1t is a noticeable fact that Washing
ton correspondents have been consider
ably less confident in predicting a
change of commanders in the Philip
pines than was the case fortnight ago
There appears to be a growing feeling
that the immediate direction of affairs
in the archipelago will be permitted to
remain, for another season at least, in
the hands of General Otis. Color is
lent to this growing belief by the fact
that the war department has re-
request Of General Otis for "A more
staff officers. This it is thought would
not have been done had it been de-
cided to relieve him of his command.
From this, too. it is argued that 1eh-
eral Otis has determined to turn over
i'll Il large degree the details OF civil
administration that were such a hahdi-
cap to him last season. and devote his
attention more exclusively to the direc-
ton Of the forces in the field. If he
can do this successfully he may quick
ly regain the public confidence. There
is little doubt but what he has come in
for n large amount of undeserved
criticism. and doubtless the Judgment
Of his countrymen would have been far
more charitable could they have fully
understood and appreciated the actual
conditions confronting him. The
greatest difficulty in his way appears
to have been an over sanguine tenn
perament which led him into the blum
der of predicting results that did not
materialize. This failure of his
prophecies seriously undermined the
confidence of the American people in
his ability to successfully deal with
the problems confronting him-and it is.
doubtless, true that the great majority
of them would today prefer to see some
other man in command of our forces
in the Philippines.
If the administration with its great
anxiety to end the Filipino rebellion as
fuller knowledge of existing con-
ditions. to leave General Otis where
he is for the coming season it is safe
to assume that it has the best Of rca-
sons for this decision. one thing is
certain it is the duty of all friends of
the flag to give those charged with the
task of maintaining in the field its
power and its prestige a united and
cordial support.
There is one element of satisfaction
in the existing situation. aside from
the determination to make the war an
aggressive ana vigorous one 50 far as
our forces are concerned. This Will b.
found in the utter failure of the Fill
pinos to secure foreign recognition
outside a few traitors in this country
of the Atkinson stripe they appear t.
have found no friends in any part of
the world. Even the willy AgonciIlo-
VINO fled from Washington after the
attack of his home compatriots upon
the American forces, has, it is said re
turned to Aguinaldo and reported the
complete failure Of his mission. At
the present time the only hope of this
sclf-constituted dictator, and his mis-
guided followers appears to rest with
the Democratic party which they be
licve, following it's record in Hawaiian
affairs, would. if in control Of the
United States government, pull down
the American flag. recall our forces
from the field, and crown Aguinaldo
Lord High Mucky- Muck of the Philip
pines. 1t will be seen that their con
c"ption of the true condition Of affairs
in this country is decidedly hazy for
even the Democratic party, with all its
tremendous capacity for laundering,
would scarcely dare to make a break
like that.
t'liil ~ 10 Sdiu tllcl inc ucSlblcdDlt
band of traitors who are working
against their country's cause, have not
hcsitated to convey to the Filipino
leaders assurances that such would be
the outcome Of the struggle in which
they are now engaged, if they would
only keep up the fight"
paiSn in Luzon is destined to be short,
sharp and decisive, and that before an
other summer this question will be
safely removed from the realm Of
politics. 1t is Il contamination devout-
ly to be hoped for by every true
| American.
The Baltimore American wei says
that one taste Of the whipping-post in