New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-14
MORE LIGHT ON THE TAGALS.

The Manila correspondent Of THE New York
Evening Post" continues his good work in vim
dcation Of the American policy in the Philip
pines. recent letter describes in plain. I'M
vanished detail the incendary outbreak Of Feb
ruary last On that occasion, he says, possibly
q million dollars worth Of property was burned
and between 200 and 800 natives were killed.
Much Of the property destroyed had been con-
tributed to the cause of the revolution, and this
destruction Of it seemed "much like committing
"hari-kari, n species of running amuck charac-
"terstc of the Malay savage" The plan was
to burn the city indiscrminately and to murder
the inhabitants of foreign origin. Coal oil and
the other appliances of incendiarsm were en-
ployed, and Tagal assassins skulked in the
shadows 10 shoot down Americans whenever
they could But the uprising was dismal fail
ure, resulting In little but loss of life and prop
erty to the Tagals themselves and their friends.
1t proved, moreover, says the correspondent,
that no outbreak OF any magnitude is possible"
The only hope of the rebels was that their reck-
less destruction of property would cause other
nations to intervene-a hope that indicates in
the strongest manner the lack Of commOn-sense
which prevailed among the Tagal leaders.
Now. the chief significance of this account of
the insurrection is TO show the hopeless absurd
ity OF all the talk we have recently heard about
the Filipino Washington" and the fitness Of
Aguinaldo's cabal to be recognized as SOW
creign government, and to emphasize the abso-
lutte necessity OF American control unless the
islands are to relapse into utter savagery. To
lken savages whose sole methods of revolt are
arson and assassination TO Washington and La
fayette would be mOnstrOusly insulting were it
rot so contemptibly ridiculous. A mob Of Ma
lays scatters coal oil about n city and sets it
afirc and tries to murder all who seek to check
the flames or succor those in peril And when
the American Government tries TO stop such
devils work our 'anti-imperasts" rail against
1t as comparable with Cortez and Alva and the
spectators of Poland, and declare that our troops
in Luzon are painting the "bloodiest picture in
the book Of time" Such twaddle is put into the
pillory most effectively by this correspondent of
THE Evening POST the policy Of the United
States Government is indicated and the cause
of sense and justice and humanity is served
The keynote Of the situation was admirably
sounded by Professor Woosey. Of Yale mt the
recent meeting OF the American Academy of
Political and Social Science at Philadelphia
Govern we must" Those three words tell
the whole story. There Is no escape from our
responsibility 10 govern those islands. except
through monstrous betrayal of our obligations
to other Powers and of our duties to humanity
Govern we must" And the very manner and
form Of the Tagal opposition to our government
only make the necessity tine more imperative
1t is government against arson. 1t is govern
ment against massacre. 1t is civilization against
savagery. In such choice this Nation could
rot hesitate nor falter without abjurlng its sta
ton among civilized Powers. The choice NAV
impose a burden upon us. IT has already done
so. But there Is reason to think, as "The Even
Ing Posts correspondent assures lis. that the
burden will not be rs heavy as some have af-
fected to fear mo outbreak of any magni-
tude," he says SIS possible" His words have
already been confirmed The Instruction has
not been large, and is swiftly dwindling to in
significant proportions while day by day the ma
tives are focking in increasing numbers to offer
their allegiance to the Government which they
now perceive to be equally irresistible in war
and benevolent in peace Govern we must"
and govern we shall, and the result will be the
result OF all just and righteous government
throughout the world.