The record-union., 1899-07-15
Intended By the Latter to Include a Gen.
eraI Slaughter at Manila.
Only the Splendid Discipline Of
the American Troops Prevented
Aguinaldo Carrying Out His
Plans-Story Told by Bishop
Thoburn Of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church, Who Has Just Re-
turned From the Orient.

CINCINNATI, July 14-Bishop ]. M.
Thoburn of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, who spent forty years as a
missionary most of the time in India,
is here with his family, some Of whom
are in ill health. The Bishop spent
some time in Manila in March last, and
was an intelligent observer of events.
He says that there is no doubt that
the outbreak between the Americans
and Filipinos were intended by Fill
pino leaders to include general mas
sacre in the city of Manila.
He cited in proof of this that the
testimony of two Filipino servants
who We're summoned to service in the
army by Aguinaldo and who dared not
disobey, but who warned their Ameri-
can employers to keep within doors
that night, as orders had been given
to kill all Europeans found on the
streets. Another evidence was the
finding of 5000 knives stored in a
Catholic Church. Only the splendid
discipline of the American troops pre-
vented the massacre in Manila.
The whole history OF the present
Philippine situation, the Bishop de-
clares, showed such a natural and
logical and even inevitable, course of
events that the United States is bound
to assert it's authority there. Anarchy
and assassination, he declares, would
follow the withdrawal of the United
states forces.
The only trouble lies in the Luzon
Island. All the other islands are peace
full. The Bishop thinks the proper pol
re- iC TO- CT
the men of the islands who are the
natural enemies of the inhabitants of
LuZon to fight Aguinaldo's army. Off
cered by Americans they would quick
ly dispose of the few men that Aguin-
aldo can muster.
Viewing the situation in the Far
East from the standpoint of a mis-
sionary of forty years in that part of
the world. the Bishop was impressed
with the fact that it was the duty of
the United States, forced upon it By
the circumstances of the Spanish war;
to hold the Philippines and to preserve
order and extend civilized government
in that vast region. Moreover, in the
interest of morality and Christianity
he hopes for the dissolution of the Chi
nese Empire, which he characterized
as the most helpless Government on
earth. In that event Russia should
have a portion, giving it an available
Pacific port. England, though favor
ing the integrity of the Chinese En-
pire, already has in mind the valley of
the Yang Use Kiang as it's share The
United States should have it's share of
the coast opposite the Philippines. Such
a division of China would bring I'M
told blessings to the people of that
empire and would advance the civili-
zation of the whole world. The Bishop
declines to discuss the subject from the
standpoint of American politics, but
he says he cannot imagine why the
United States should shrink from giv-
ing up her exclusive policy and hesf-
tate to take her place among the ma
tions when the duty is manifestly
thrust upon her. If China falls to
pieces. as nearly all well-informed peo-
pie believe she WILL it would be un-
wise, if not morally wrong, to concede
that the European nations have d
right to settle the destiny of that great
empire without any reference TO
America. The United States must in
evitably become the dominating naval
power of the Pacific Ocean, and if such
a future is in store for her. she cer-
tainly ought to hold an important sec
ton of the coast line of Eastern Asia.