The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1899-03-08
SITUATION is SERIOUS.
A LONG AND COSTLY WAR WITH
FILIPINOS CERTAIN.

Conducting the Kind of Warfare Against
Us That They Did Against SPAN. Islands
Cost n Great Deal More Than They WuI
Ever BE Worth.
We might as well make up our minds
that we have a very serions situation in
the Philippines to face. When the
treaty with Spain was signed in Paris
the impression prevailed in this country
that the Filipinos, recognizing our be-
nevolent intentions, would welcome our
rule until such time as they were pre-
pared to assume the management of
their own affairs. That impression was
mistaken one. The Filipinos are not
going to permit us to manage their po-
litical affairs, and if we do so we must
establish our authority by force. That
is so evident that there is no room for
question.
And it looks as if the war which we
are waging against the Filipinos would
be long one. 1t would be short one
if it were possible to meet all OF the
forces of the Fiipinos in open battle,
but they understand the situation too
we'll to come out into the open and risk
their cause 10 one or two great engage
ments. They intend to conduct their
war against us just as they conducted
their war against Spain. They hope by
their guerrilla methods to finally tire us
out and drive us from the country.
We have already quite large army
and very considerable navy in the
Philippines, and there is a call for more
troops and more vessels of war. There
need be no surprise if these calls should
be repeated. The sickly season is rap
idly approaching, and when it comes
the hospitals will be filled With our
troops. They will not be able to con.
duct vigorous campaign in the jungles
and swamps to which the insurgents
will retire when they are vigorously pur-
sued.
The administration has decided upon
a vigorous campaign, with the hope of
ending opposition to our rule before the
sickly season begins. That is undoubt-
eddy the proper course to pursue, but it
is doubtful if the result hoped for will
be attained. The insurgents are in a
position to carry on long war, and that
is the kind we are likely to have. What
it will cost no one can predict with any
degree of certainty.
One thing can be depended upon, and
that is that the Philippines will cost us
great deal more than they will ever be
worth to as. We have agreed to pay
Spain $4,000, 900 to retire from tn EN-,
anu we have also agreed to pay the cost
of sending the Spanish troops in the is
lands to their homes. 1t is pretty safe
to say that the Philippines have already
cost us $40,OO0,0J0, not counting the
lives that have been sacrificed there.
And yet our control in the islands is
practically confined to Manila.
We are disposed to accept the state.
ment of the President, made in his
Home Market speech at Boston, that he
has no policy in respect to the Philip
pines, and that he stands ready to carry
out whatever policy congress sees fit to
adopt Assuming that such is his posi-
II n, and that he speaks for his party,
it seems to us that the wiser course to
pursue is for congress to tell the coun-
try at once what its policy in respect to
the Philippines is.
| If we are in for long and costly war
| in these islands-a war which NAV in
volve us ia complications with one or
more of the powers of Europe-lt is
| important that the country should be
united, and that the Filipinos, as well as
our own people, should know just what
the issue of the war is. AS long as
there is room for the charge that imu
perialism is aimed at, and that the war
is intended for the benefit of capita, ,sts,
the difficulties in the way Of raising
men and money for establishing our au.
thority in tie Philippines will increase.
II, as the prospect now is, the war is to-
be long one, the exact purpose of it
ought to be made clear. Doubt means
confusion and hesitation, and while
they exist vigorous campaign is practl-
cally impossl ole.-Savannah News,