The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-11-14

A despatch to the New York Tribune
says the election returns produced no APP
preciabls effect In Manila. IL anybody
expected that the guerrilla warfare would
cease when the news arrived in Luzon
that Bryan was defeated, he is evidently
doomed TO disappointment. General
McArthur's report makes 1t perfectly
clear that practically all the natives OF
Luzon are hostile to us and yield obedi-
ence only so far as they are compelled to
do so by forcs. Local native officials,
while protesting loyalty to the United
States, have repeatedly been caught as
sisting the insurgents, and General NC
Arthur plainly intimAtes. IL he does not
directly assert, that the whole population
is disloyal at heart, no matter what may
be the professions that may fall from
their lips. The problem before us Is one
OF reducing the natives to subsection BY
force and keeping them In subsection by
force for great many years to come, since
the election is interpreted as declaration
on the part OF the American people, that
no concession will be made to the Fill
pinos until they have laid down their
arms and accepted our sovereignty. 1t
Is not problem that.will be easily solved
it is to be feared, for several reasons.
The islands are peculiarly adapted TO
guerrilla warfare by reason Of their oil
mate, and their marshy and mountain
Gus regions, which furnish safe hiding
places. The univers al sympathy OF the
people with the guerrillas greatly assists
the latter in their raids and in their es-
cape, for it is the means of affording
them constant Information OF
the movements OF our troops, their num-
Der andItheir condition. The situation Is
not very different from what existed for
several years In the island Of Cuba, where
small bands of guerriIlas were able TO
keep the country in constant turmoil, not
withstanding the Spaniards bad an Cover
whelming force OF disciplined troops upon
the island. or course our troops ar q
much more vigorous and active than the
Spaniards and their officers are free
from the temptations TO keep the
war going which there is reason
to believe often affected the Spanish
officers. Yet after taking into account
I'll our advantages 1t is clear that
we have no easy task before us to paoify
the island and keep 1t paoided. 10000
troops are a good many, but when
spread over an Island as large as
Luzon there must be numerous weak
ooints which win afford guerrilla bands
opportunities for occasional successful
raids. 1t would not be surprising II
mora troops should be needed before the
insurrection is thoroughly subdued. 1t
Is quite evident from the medical reports
hat our army Is somewhat enervated
by the cliTaa%os and that Sc ~~--.os he
relied upon to do SO hard campaigning
in the future as in the past If more
troops are needed the sooner they are
Implied the better. As the American
osopie have decided that the contest shall
go on until the natives lay down their
arm and submit to what we see fit to
i've them they should not grudge any ex
oenditures or any effort which will tend
20 bring these things quickly to pass
The most humane course that We can
pursue under our present policy, both for
our own troops and for the natives, ia &c
provide an overwhelming force and then
push the war with all possible energy
Anything like dalliance would seem to be
serious mistake.