The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-11
rxwI.n AMnnlcAx FRlENDs.

uNWIsE AMERICAN FRIENDS.
The Impression derived by Gen. Joe
Wheeler az to the sentiment Of the nom
combatant Ffiipinos seems to be justi-
ned by the experience our forces are
now having. Gen. Otis telegraphs that
as the troops proceed through the coun-
try the Inhabitants. OF their own accord.
Join the troops in repairing the trail
and carrying subsistence. This - not
80 much proof of the friendship OF
the natives as 1t Is an indication OF
their belief that Aguinaldo Is defeated.
A less agreeable reason for believing
that the leader Is In danger Of capture,
or at least that he has no longer q
sembiance Of an army. Is to be found
in the death of Gen. Del Pillar, who
commanded Aguin6ldo's bodyguard, The
misfortunes Of war have included the
loss Of many good men, and among
them may be counted the young general
who has Just been killed. He died de-
tending the path which would have led
to the capture Of his leader. ana SO
proved himself not only worthy OF the
death OF soldier. but justified the
good opinion formed of him by the
American commissioners who had deal
ings with him.
Sd long as there was any doubt about
the Auccess Of the United States in the
conflict in the minds Of the ignorant
native population, they would be in con-
slant fear OF vengeance on the part Of
the insurgents should they show any
favors to the Americans. The terror
inspired under such circumstances Is
perhaps natural and we see a counter
part Of Il in the border towns OF Cape
Colony, Just as we saw 1t in Cuba.
When we read, therefore. that either
Aguinaldo's men or United States troops
are received with great rejoicing on
their entrance to town we may set
1t downato the credit of the victor and
not necessarily to any particular love
for the incoming force.
: Having made this admission, 1t can
easily be shown why there Is likely to
be more sincerity in the welcome at
forded to the United States soldiers than
to the insurgents. 1t has become well
known now throughout the island that
Uncle Sam pays for what he wants.
while "a pitter experience has brought
with equal force to the people the
knowledge that Aguinaldo exacts con-
tributions wherever he goes. This dif-
ference In methods would appeal most
strongly to the helpless people in the
.cuunfixa districts. but even in The cities
the people now begin to comprehend the
superiority of civilized government oyer
: the rapacity Of . Spanish office-holding
oltkarchy or the lawlessness Of insur-
gent dpmination.
~ The most cruel wrong inflicted upon
thS-Elnsnnos is that by the injudroious
friendl.%ho held out the hope thatsby
resisting long enough they would pre-
vail. Had Aguinaldo's deluded follow
ers been convinced that it was hope
less to drive out American authority
by forcs, they would have laid down
their arms long ago ana terrible blood
shed would have been saved. Proinis-
ing young lives like that of Gen. Del
Pillar, would have been spared to t4ke
part in the new life which is to CONS to
long oppressed people.
Men such as Atkinson have much to
answer for. At their door must be laid
the blame for all the acts Of defiance
and the necessary discipline which cir
cumstances made possible only at, the
point of the bayonet.