Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-07-14
Mirror and farmer

One by one American soldiers who
have seen service in the Philippines are
returning to this country to recover the
health and strength they have lost, and
from them we are getting the true story
of the situation upon LuZon, which
differs immensely from the information
which we have received in the Gems ored
dispatches of General Otis. One of the
latest arrivals Is Capt. Charles A. Nc
| Question, member of Otis staff, and for
time the health officer at Manila, who
reached San Francisco Tuesday and
gave the press of that city an interview
which confirms in all essential par
ticulars what others who have preceded
him have said. His report is, In brief
that while our soldiers have shown
themselves the best in the world and
have accomplished wonderful things,
nothing decisive has come of their
achievements because they were not able
to hold the territory they have conquered
and are being forced back to Manila,
which will soon be in state of siege
again; that while we have sacrificed
good many men and killed several thou
sand Filipinos. we are practically where
we we're when the war began; that the
peace commission has proved total
failure; that the climate in the interior is
so deadly that half our army will be in
capacitated by sickness during the wet
season; that the volunteers have all had
enough of the war, are anxious to re-
turn home and will not be induced by
bounty to re-enlist; and that new men
sent to take their places will be at a
disadvantage because they are not ac-
climated From these facts and FROM
the knowledge he has gained of the char
acter and purposes of the natives he con-
cludes that from 100, 900 to 100000 men
will be necessary to conquer and hold
the archipelago we bought from Spain.
We do not need to tell the readers of
The Mirror that this unwelcome news
does not greatly surprise US. We have
never been able to see any good reason
for supposing that the civilized people of
the Philippines desired or would accept
willingly our domination or that their
subiugation could be accomplished In few
days. though the agency of peace COM
mission or the dress parade of small
army. We have felt that history and
reason and prudence warned US not to
conquer and civilize and Christianize
eight millions of savages and semi
barbarans in month, year or a
decade; or to do it at all by bombarding
them with spelling books and bibles
We have apprehended from the first that
the purchase of these Islands meant a
long and bloody war of determination
broken perhaps at intervals by patched
up agreements with the tribal chiefs, but
certain to continue, as the Indian wars
have, year after year and century after
century. And what we have believed
we have said, at the risk Of offending
some good friends who have accepted
the fairy tales of Otis as history and the
l-I.x h..
peans of final victory.
But this is of the past, which cannot
probably be considered now. The needs
of the present and future are the prob
lens and they center in an army of al
least 100000 men which should be
secured at once, and in our opinion be
put in command of some one besides
Ots-of man who can see things as
they are and tell the truth about them.