Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-07-06
The PhiIippines--A Retrospect.

The PhiIippines--A Retrospect.
Now that the magnitude OF the
Philippine task is understood and the
government is making preparations to
send a very large increase in torce to
Gen. Otis, the anti-expansionists arc
taking the opportunity to beat their
tom-toms more furiously than ever.
Burning with indignation over the un-
holy war being waged BY our blood
thirsty troops against the poor Filipi-
nos who are lighting for liberty as our
torefathers fought, they are denounc-
ing President Mckinley ms an oppres-
sor and tyrant and demanding the
withdrawal of our forces forthwith
from their unrighteous work.
At this juncture, perhaps it will be
worth while if we review the eircum-
stances that have led up to present
conditions in the Philippines, find
where, if anywhere, we could or
should have done differently; and why
a prolongation OF the war is iustifiable
To get at the origin Of the present
troubles, We must go back a number
of years, to a time when the Philip
pines were almost as unknown TO Us
as the south pole. We used TO read
of the instruction OF the natives
against Spanish rule and not un-
naturally our sympathies were with
these unknown people, fighting as the
Cubans were, for freedom. The war
ragged with great fierceness for a
time, but finally it was announced the
year before we interviewed for Cuba
that Spain had suppressed the rebel
lion, The particulars came out later.
She had, in fact, bought off the rebel
leaders at a heavy expense in cold
cash, with the understanding that they
were to leave the country. The lead
ers gone, the insurrection collapsed.
When our war with Spain broke out,
she was in as complete control of the
Philippines as she had ever been,
1t CHANGED that the outbreak of war
found Spanish war squadron in the
harbor of Manila, the capital of the
province. 1t CHANGED also that when
Dewey found that fleet. under orders
to destroy it wherever it was, so that it
might not harass our Pacific coast, it,
was in Manila harbor that the battle
was fought and the Spanish fleet sunk
At Hong Kong, from whence Dewey
sailed to Manila, were the leaders of
the former rebellion against Spain,
who had sold out the year before.
Dewey took them aboard and convey
Ell them back, no doubt for the pur-
pose of allowing them to renew their
attempt to drive out Spain. Among
these leaders was Aguinaldo, who has
become the head of the present native
movement. He was put ashore and
the natives who quickly rallied about
him after the Spanish power had been
broken by Dewey, were armed with
guns from the American fleet. Before
our land forces arrived, the rebels had
overrun almost the whole island. the
Spaniards being threatened by foes
within and without, retiring to Manila,
Here they were beleaguered by the reb-
els. but could have held out indefinite
ly against them alone.
When news of the Manila naval
triumph arrived here, the question
arose as to what we should do next
Few if any there were in that hour of
triumph to propose sailing away. A
rich Spanish colony lay at our feet. In
war, it is a maxim to strike your
enemy wherever you can. To have
lost this opportunity would have been
folly. Possession OF the Philippines
was certain to weaken the enemy and
bring us a more glorious triumph An
other thing, we had set out to loosen
the fangs Of Spain from her bleeding
subjects. Here was a people whose
yoke was as CALLING as ever Cuba's
was. Would it not be criminal to sail
away and leave them without the aid
that Providence had seemingly tender
ed them? 1t was decided to send
troops to effect the capture Of Manila.
Slowly these were assembled within
striking distance Of the capital. With
the arrival Of these troops. began a
change in the demeanor Of the rebels.
They grew suspicious of our acts and
our motives. They had assumed. ap-