Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-19
FlLlPlNOs LAUDED.
Natives-Quiet. Temperate
md Able.

and Able.
NEW YORK, Jan. 1S.-General Charles A.
Whittier, who returned recently from Ma
Mia, says:
Nothing in the world is easier of settle
ment than the situation in the Philippines.
1t could be settled in three days"
General Whittier went to Manila with
General Merritt. and there served as COL
lector until the end of October. He re-
turned by way of Paris, and on his arrival
in this country recently his first duty was
TO make his report to the officials in WASH
ington. This done, he now feels that he
is sufficiently freed from official obligations
to speak of affairs in the Philippines. His
position there gave him ample opportunity
for observing the conditions in the islands.
In the first place." General Whittier con-
tinued there is a wide ignorance OF the
wealth of the Philippines, and the character
of the Filipinos. The natives are not ig-
norant; they are not savages. They are
adept at manufactures, and as accountants.
mariners and railroad operatives. They are
quiet, most temperate, and have shown
great ability in their military AFFAIRS.
with firmness, accompanied by diplo-
macy and tact. think it the simplest mat
ter possible to bring them under our con-
troll.
I'VE may give them offices of minor i'm
portance, both military and civil. and try
the experiment for whatever number OF
years may be necessary, until they develop
their capacity for governing, and we can
then be guided by. that.
Il saw Aguinaldo on October q, three
days before leaving Manila. He said his
people We're about equally divided, one
half favoring absolute independence, the
other half favoring an American protec-
torate. ! said to him. in reply to those
fayoring independence: The fact is. 1t
must be the wish of all of you to develop
the country. To do this. roads must be
built on scientific principles. railroads must
be constructed, sanitation will be neces-
sary. You have no money or credit; you
have no navy. The islands are SO rich
as u prize that. apart from quarrels and
schisms between the different tribes. for
eigners are most likely to take from you
portions Of the possessions from time to
time
"Aguinaldo replied: The civilized world
would never permit such thing To
which ] replied: How has It been In
China, where England, Russia; France and and
Germany are striving at all times to take
parts, of the. country? He had no answer
for this.
Ca>>- limo. Joined the conference at this point,
ana after talking awhile with Aguinaldo.
expressed very strongly his opinion that
the two could move their people to the
acceptance of a protectorate:
"AgunaIdo and Buen Canine added ex-
pressions Of pleasure at my visit, as they
rather given the cold shoulder by Ameri-
cans since the day after the fall OF Ma
Mia. when they were assured of our friend
My view is that. after the signing Of
the treaty in Paris communication should
have been established with them. and I
have no doubt that an understanding could
have been arrived at with no impairment
of our dignity, and with no suggestion that
We were going to give up the islands. at
least for the present.
President Mckinley of the commission to
investigate the conditions in the Philip
pines. General Whittier replied: II think
it is most excellent thing: In letter
to the secretary of state written last Sep
tember, l recommended that such a COM
mission be sent there to study and report
upon the conditions political, social and
material Of all the islands. and later, in my
testimony before the peace commission in
Paris. made similar recommendation.
II then suggested that a bureau of sci
ence. with the ablest chief of staff to be
obtained. should at once be established to
comprehend the departments Of geology.
zoology. botany and ethnology. and also a
and or depart
ent commission seems to fulfill all these re-
quirements.
1T might readily assimilate to the Brit
ish colonial system, and it will! be easy for
it to determine which of the many forns
may be. advantageously used. The British
colonial empire has forty distinct and inde-
have elective assemblies and responsible
governments. The remaining twenty-nine
are divided into many classes.
In any form Of government under a
protectorate 1t would be of advantage prob
ably to make one of the native leaders a
commissioner of native affairs. In this or
any event the governor general alone. or
with the commission. should have absolute
| power"