The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1899-02-11
TIE FILIPINos.

/
their attack on the American forces
near Manila on Saturday last:
Yesterday, the full facts in regard 10
the Filipino attack on the American
forces Saturday became known, ana
the affair proved TO be even more sefi-
Gus than at first announced. we gave
some meagre details of the fight In
Yesterdays paper but they were ac-
companied by denials from Washing
ton and other points, which threw
some discredit on the news. 1t is now
thoroughly verified, and it is shown
that the Filipinos deliberately attacked
the American army, and that ID Ma
Mia a number of attempts were made
| to assassinate American officers.
The situation has been strained for
some time past, and the Filipinos have
been showing very ugly and hostile
spirit 1t was thought. however, that
the status quo would be maintained.
that the Filipino army would make no
offensive move; and it would have
been far better for Aguinaldo and his
men had they preserved their former
position. But either Aguinaldo, or
Agoncillo, tie agent of the Filipinos in
this country, the Junta, or some one
lse, made great blunder and advised
an attack on the Americans. The at
tack was certainly planned in advance.
The Filipino army was prepared for 1t,
and ready with gun and cannon at the
signal. There is every reason for be-
lievIng that the attempt to break
through the American lines was in
tended to draw the fire of our forces.
and thus give cause for battle, and it
did so. From what the correspond
ents at Manila have said it seems prob
able that the natives have failed
altogether to understand the attitude
of the United States toward them.
They judged us by the Spanish stand
ard, and because our army did nothing,
because it did not attack them but
rested on Its arms until the President
and Congress should have determined
the policy to be pursued In the Phillip
pines, they labored under the delusion
that we were afraid of them And it is
not improbable that they were stirred
to action by their agent in this coun-
try. Agoncillo, who, seeing that the
Philippine crisis was soon to be settled
by Congress, believed that by a hos
tile demonstration now. by an attack
upon our forces, by showing us that
we would have to- embark in war if
we wished to remain in the islands.
they thought they would brighten US
into leaving at once. It is just such a
policy as an ignorant people, who knew
nothing of the United States, would he
guilty of, but it was the most unfortu-
nate policy the Filipinos could have
pursued. 1t was much the same mis-
take as the Spaniards made when the
Maine was blown up. We had kept
our tempers. had been patient up to
that moment, in spite of the Spanish
cruelty and butchery in Cuba, but the
murderous attack on Americans fired
the national heart and sealed the doom
of Spain on this continent. 1t united
all classes, it convinced every one that
Spain must be taught lesson she
would never forget-that this country
could not be insulted and its sons
killed without The severest punishment
therefor.
And the Filipinos must learn the
same bitter lesson. They have invited
their own destruction by their ill-ad-
vised attack without the slightest pro-
vocation. AS they began the fight we
must accept the gauge of battle. The
| A hoA RI ,faia itr in
driving back the attacking Fillpinos,
who suffered heavily in the fight-and
no one eyer doubted the result-but
that will not suffice. The United States
owes 1t to its citizens, to its self-respect,
TO its position before the world, that
these half-civilized natives shall be
taught the difference between this coun-
try and Spain. and learn that we will
not endure for one moment their as
saults. If they will not be patient and
learn that the United States does not
intend to subjugate them. they must
take the consequences of their own
rashness. Had they held off and wait
ed, all would have gone we'll with
them, for there was a growing senti.
ment in favor of orr Withdrawing from
The PHILIPPINES, which would have led
TO the achievement Of their desired in
! dependence. But their folly has
changed this. 1t is evident that the
government of the island cannot be
left in the hands Of men such as the
Filipino leaders have shown them
selves, aud that some strong govern
meDt must take hold there for the
safety of persons and property in the
islands-aud that power is the United
States.
We have been strengthening our
forces in the Philippines for some time
past, anticipating possible complies
tions there, and we now have some
10000 men in the islands, of whom
$4,000 are at Manila aud 1000 at IIoilo;
and there are probably 1000 more
men on there way there. We have,
moreover, twenty-one neu-of-war in
Philippine waters, or on the way there,
under the command of Admiral Dew
ey. The Filipino forces have been es-
,imated at 10000 men, fairly well
armed, but five times that many ma
lives could not stand up against 10000
Americans. The advantage gained in
Il