New-York tribune., 1899-03-16
THE ITTZON CAMPAIGN.

The news from Manila is highly gratifying.
That is not as those afflicted WIN loiS'o! -
mus falsely say. because it is news OF heh'ins'
of the killing and wOundlnG OF leW ol our SUI
ders and of many Of the Iagals, put oecause
II ,s news of progress on the only road tha' can
lead TO stable and equitable peace. NO cNiii%cu
man rciojces in the slaughter OF felloW-meh us
such Rut II ever there be occasion when acuoh
which may entail slaughter is necessar! the
rationol and humane man likes TO see that ac
tion taken in the way which will insure the
loast slaughter and the most benefccnt results
In this case II Is necessary TO take action Tor
the suppression of brigandasc and the restora-
,,op Of law and order. Such action may-n
fact does-necessitate fighting. just as police
sunnression of a riot in the streets Of New
York would do With that necessity before us.
Il is gratifying to see that it is being assumed
and dealt with in the way calculated 10 give
the best results with the least cost.
Gratifying too IS the news. because 1t shows
that orr troops are meeting no formidable oD-
stacles. either in foemen or in climate ana 'hat
.ho ,r,col warriors are not as numerous nor as
stronr rs they were recently said to be. 1t would
no foolish 10 attempt to minimize even now the
toel; which IS before us in the pacibcauon ana
government of the Philippines. But at least IN
view of current news it is high time to dismiss
the fantastic exaggerations of little While ago
We were told that the whole Filipino people
vni,od ond harmonious. with well-organiZed,
free and enlightened republican government
were resolved to resist to the death any al
tempt of this wicked Nation to usurp their liber-
tics Instead. It is now made induDltaDly e'l-
dent that only small part of one tribe OF
ho
whole IS dsafrected, and that It has no govern
ment worthy of the name. and actually 10 IT,
sponsible head for the osensible leaders are
continually declaring that they are forced ior
ward by the people, while the people say with
equal vehemence that they are forced into liielr
action by the leaders. 1t is not the flhplno
people as n whole with which we have 10 coh-
tend. but petty gang Of chronic malcon'eh'S'
who do not speak for the mass OF the popualloh
of the islands. They may give us some IouUle.
as they are now doing. But the mon VINO couiu
chase North American Indians for a thousand
miles over mountains and deserts ana hnaly
capturc and subdue them are not to be palled
bv half-brecd Malays with tasselled Walking
sticks.
An admirable commentary on imhppihe al
fairs is provided in the current news IRON
Cuba. The antics Of the Cuban Assehoi! r'-
veal uncrringly to all observers the worthless
ness of that body, and the vast injustice tha'
there would have been in recognizing II as the
sovereign authority in Cuba and the laWiul
head of the Cuban people. 1t Is seen that II Is
n selfish. irresponsible body, neither command
ing nor deserving the confidence of the people,
and that the only way TO deal with ID j. 10
/ ignore It so far as possible, and to suppress il
If necessary Well. there Is no conceivaple
Ground for regarding the Tagal "Government
as one whit more respectable than the CUBAN
Assembly. All that we know Of II marks it, IN
deed. as far less worthy Of serious considera
ton 1t would. as all men see. have been al
awful blunder to treat the Cuban Assembly as
n sovereign Power. With that warning hetorf
II. this Government is not gong 10 commit
similar but worse blunder in Luzon.