Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-03-22
PRESIDENTS POLICY.
Filipinos to be Subdued First and
Then Dealt with Cen
erOuSly.

Washington, D. c., March 20.--Presi
dent McKinley's policy, civil and mill
tary, for solving the Cuban and Philip
pine problems is being worked out stead
lily and speedily. Briefly stated, that poi"
icy is:
1. To deal with Gen Gomez for the
ing the so-called Cuban Assembly.
z. To withdraw United States troops
as fast as possible from the localities
pacified in Cuba, under home rule.
). To administer to the hostile but de
iuded followers of Aguinaldo, by force of
arms, q lesson expected TO teach them
the futility of further resistance to the
United States.
4. Having restored order from Ma
Mia to MalolOs, then to proceed by the
ala Of commissions and conferences with
the more enlightened Filipinos to map
out programme for the future, which
will be accepted by the Filipinos, and be
communicated to Congress early next
session
There is no fear Of an outbreak in
Cuba. The Assembly's blow aimed at
Gomez marks the end of that body's in
nuence. But the events of the past
three weeks have convinced the PreSi-
dent that unless vigorous effort is made
TO change the status of affairs about Ma
Mia the situation which confronts the
United States will soon become analo-
gous to the position the Spaniards held
prior to the advent of Admiral Dewey
upon the scene
The defiant attitude of Aguinaldo. COM
munlcated in recent expressions through
the Hong Kong lunta, is an indication of
the fact that he has inspired his follow
ers with the belief that the Americans
are ar IN a worse, plight than were the
Spaniards, and that it is only a question
OF time when the Filipino sharpshooters
ana the malignant climatic conditions
VIII reduce the American forces.
1t Is necessary, therefore. the President
thinks, to give the bumptious Filipino
and his ignorant followers a taste of ap-
gresSlveness which will disabuse their
now entertain, and which make the task
OF the Americans more difficult
Inc president entertainS the ODinion.
based upon the adYices which he has re-
celVed from his officers in Manila, that IL
ASulnaldoS army can be given Il sound
thFasnlng and the American authority es-
tabllshed beyond cavil in the territory
around the city, the work of coming to an
anlcaDie understanding with the infuen-
ual F1HplnOs will not present insuDer0 bla
difficulties. He is strengthened in this
pellef by the result Of the labors of the
Americans III Negroes and Panay
1t IS evident from the friendly receDtiOn
which has been given the American rep
resentativeS who have visited the other
islands that there is 40 general spirit of
hostility against the Americans through
out the Philippines. The President thinks
that II Gen. Otis could have had his re-en-
forcements in time to swiftly follow the
defeat OF the attacking FilipinOs several
weeks ago and have given them vigorous
punishment, the situation would have
been cleared
With the arrival of Gen Lawton and
the relntorcementS, Gen. Otis is in a DO
Sltlon to carry out the wishes Of the
President, and the confidential adyices
received by the war department from him
show that he is preparing to do So
Among war department officials no fear
is entertained as to the outcome of the
impending struggle. Every skirmsh in
which the cOntending forces have been
engaged has shown that the advance of
the Americans cannot be successfully re-
sisted. The forte Of the Fiiipinos is in
sharpshooting and night bushwhacking,
and not in standing up before an advanc-
ing column of Yankee soldiers. 1t is eX-
pected that Gen. Otis will pursue the
enemy until they are completely over
whelmed.
The difficulty heretofore has been that
the Americans could not follow the re-
treating natives far from Manila because
the city would then be left insufficiently
protected. With the force now available
it will be possible for Gen. Otis to garri-
son Manila and still have enough men
to chase the insurgents until they are
completely dispersed.
The civil branch Of the Philippine pro-
gramme of the President which is to fol-
low the carrying out of the military fea-
ture, will be negotiations with the Fill
pinO leaders, excluding AguinaldO. for
the maintenance Of Il status quo until
the 4 mprican CONGRESS- has acted