The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-12-02
80. 1898
"ssesa..ruotins" The Philippines
The Baltimore Sun says;

The Baltimore Sun says;
Statements made by Representa-
tive Hull of the House Committee on
Military Affairs. indicate that no ma
terisl reduction Of our standing army
win DO practical for some time II tne
Administration policy Of imperialism
IN fastened permanently on the country
In m interview printed in q Washing
ton newspaper. Mr.. Hull is quoted as
follows: Ny own view lie that IL will
be some time before we can withdraw
any large portion Of our army from
tho Philippines. II seems probable
we shall require quite large force to
garrison those islands and to enforce
Law and order. l think 10 will DC
found necessary to maintain = reserve
army In this country. ss our soldiers
win probably not be able to stay In
The Philippines the year round. In
addition, 10 seems TO me that we
must keep 9 considerable force in Cuba
foz some time 90 come These state.
ments are significant. because they are
made by an Administration man, who
g doubtless we'll informed as to the
views of the President. and who. as he
says, 'in matters affecting the military
establishment 10 In favor Of following
the Administration Despite our al
legged successes in the Philippines,
therefore, and Gen. Otis persistent
claim that the Filipino Army has been
scattered and organized opposition no
longer exists, there seems 10 be little
doube that the Administration will
keep an unusually large force in the is
lands to assist In the work Of pacifca-
tion and benevolent assimilation. 10
round numbers, about 65. 900 American
soldiers are already 10 the Philippines
or on the way to the islands As Mr..
Hull says it will be impossible to with
draw any large portion Of this force
our army 10 the Philippines, while
the work Of reconstruction is proceed
Ing. will probably be twice as big as
the entire standing army OF the United
States before the war with Spain.
''Mr. Hull refers TO the necessity Of
keeping @ considerable force in Ouba
for some time TO come, and II to en-
phasize the need Of continued occupa'
tion OF the island, sensational reports
have been sent out from Havana Of the
possibility Of an uprising Of the Gu
bans. II IL limited shat some OF our
proteges have already taken to the
woods for the purpose Of organizing =
rebellion and that there may be seri-
Gus trouble In the event American au-
thority over she Island IL maintained
much longer. Such rumors, whatever
foundation there may be for them, in.
dicase that the Cubans are not entirely
satisfied with our course, but it is
highly improbable that their resentment
would take the form Of open revolt
against this Government. They have
BEEN given the most solemn assurances
By Congress that they shall be free and
independent. and there Is no reason TO
believe their hopes will not be realized
or that the pledges made BY Congress
will not be carried out TO the letter
The declaration Of Congress has not
been modified In any respect. although
the snspioions Of the Oubsns may have
been aroused by our policy In the
Philippines. as well as by the oovetous
chances which certain ardent imperial
lists and annexationists are directing
toward the Gem of the Antilles On
the whole. however, the American PEG.
pie are advocates Of Cuban indepen
dence, and will insist that the declara-
tion Of Congress be carried out in good
faith. Mr.. Hull's statement In regard
30 the continued American occupation
Of the island indicates, however. that
the independence Of Ouba is still q
matter of the remote future. and that
American authority will be supreme
for some time TO come. OF course. II
she Uuited States is to maintain a
standing army Of 100 900 men, the nee
oes.ity for such large military estsb-
lishment must be justified. and the al
legged unsettled conditions in Cuba and
the Philippines will be about as good
pretext as any which the Administra-
tion can devise.
whatever the fnal decision Of the
American people may be in regard to
imperialism, the fact remains that for
smother year at least the country will
remain on q war footing. Agninaldo's
army. as Gen. Otis reports. may have
vanished In the air, and the Filipinos
may be 'tnmbling over themselves. in
their esgerness to embrace benevolent
assimilation. But. although the Fill
ipipos hosts may melt away into moth.
ingnsss. our army will remain with ms
100. 900 strong. 20 keep up burden Of
taxation. and TO furnish material for
the psnsion rolls Furthermore. in
our eagerness TO become q world.
power, and to have voice In the set
element Of the Far East problem we
may be led into complications which
win Involve further increase Of the
army for political reasons. as was ex-
planned when our naval force at Ma
mia was recently strengthened far be-
yond the necessities Of the situation
there. II there are many members Of
Congress in favor Of following the
Administration in matters affecting
the military establishment. and If the
Administration continues to drift