The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1900-01-18

whose fate would not risk bringing
down on others. Their names ard res
idences are here in this book, and will
be gladly given to any senator or to
the senate in executive session.
Senator Beveridge here reat to the
senate extracts from a great number
of interviews with natives and mer-
chants in each of the islands.
"we will Hold II Fast, and Hold IL
HOrevcr.'
Here, then, senators. is the situa-
tion. Two years ago there was no
land in all the world which we could
occupy for any purpose. Our COM
merce was daily turning toward the
Orient. and geography and trade de-
velopments made necessary our COM
mercial empire over the Pacific. And
in that ocean we had 10 commercial
naval OF military base. To-day we
have one of the three great ocean
possessions of the globe, located at
the most commanding commercial,
naval and military points in the east
ern seas, within hail of India, shoul-
der to shoulder with China. richer in
it's own resources than ary equal body
of land on the entire globe, and peo-
pied by a race which civilization de-
mands shall be improved. Shall we
abandon it? That man little knows
the common people of the republic.
little understands the instincts of our
race, who thinks we will not hold
it fast, and hold it forever, admins
tering just government by simplest
methods.
Otis Defended.
The military situation, past, pres
ent and prospective, is no reason for
abandonment. Our campaign has
been as perfect as possible with the
force at hand. We have been delayed.
first, by failure to comprehend the
immensely of our acquisition, and,
second. by insufficient force; and,
third, by our efforts for peace. In
February, after the treaty of peace.
Otis had only 3,722 officers and men
whom he had legal right TO order
into battle. The terms of enlistment
of the rest of his troops had expired.
and they fought voluntarily and not
on legal military compulsion. Those
who complain do so in ignorance of
the real situation. We attempted
great task with insufficient means; we
became impatient that it was not fin
ished before it could fairly be COM
menced; and I pray we may not add
that other element of disaster. paus-
ing in the work before it is thorough
ly and forever done. That is the
greatest mistake we coulu possibly
make, and that is the only real danger
before us. Our Indian wars would
have been shortened, the lives of sol
diers and settlers saved and the In
dams themselves benefited, had we
made continuous and decisive war;
and any other kind of war is criminal
because Ineffective.
This, too, has been Spain's course
in the Philippines. Never sufficient
troops; never vigorous action, pushed
to conclusive results and permanent
peace; always treating with the re-
bells while they fought them; always
cruel and corrupt when spurious
peace was arranged. This has been
Spain's way for three --undred years
until insurrectiCn has become Fill
ipino habit. Never since Magellan
landed did Span put enough troops
in the islands for complete and final
action in war; never did she intelli-
gently, justly, firmly, administer gov
ernment in peace. AT the outbreak of
the last insurrection in August, 1886,
Spain had only 1,5OO Spanish soldiers
in all the philippines, and 700 of
these were in -lanila. In November
of that year she had only 10000 men.
The generals in command of these
were criticised and assailed in Spain.
The Spanish method has always been
a mixed policy of peace and war, a
contradiction of terms, IN impossible
combination rendering war ineffective
and peace impossible. This was Conn
pos plan. 1t was Blanco's plan.
Those who would make it cur plan
will inherit Blanco's fate and failure.
True Military Policy.
Mr.. President, that must not be our
plan. This war is like all other wars.
1t needs to be finished before it is
stopped. am prepared to vote either
to make our work thorough or even
to abandon it. "A lasting peace can be
secured only by overwhelming forces
in ceaseless action until universal and
absolutely final defeat is inflicted on
the enemy. 10 halt before every arms
ed force, every guerrilla band oppos.
ing US is dispersed G extcrminated,
will prolong hostilities and leave alive
the seeds of perpetual insurrection.
Even then we sho.id not treat. To
treat at all is to admit that we are
wrong. And any quiet SO secured will
be delusive and fleeting. And false
peace will betray us; a sham truce
will curse us. 1t is not to serve the
purposes of the hour, it is not to salve
q present situation that peace should
be established. 1t is for the tranquil
ity of the archipelago forever. 1t is
for an orderly government for the Fill
ipinos for all the future. 1t is to give
this problem to posterity solved and
settled, not vexed mad involved. 1t is
to establish the supremacy of the
American republic over the Pacific
and throughout the east till the end
of time.
1t has been charged that our con-
duct of the war has been cruel. Sena-
tors, it has been the reverse. l have
been in our hospitals and seen the
Filipino wounded as carefully, ten
derly cared for as our own. Within
our lines they may plough and sow
and reaD and 90 about the affairs of