The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-05
WHY NOT BE HONEST?

In his message to Congress the
President said that war terminated
in the Philippine Islands last spring.
In his annual report the Secretary
of War refers to 1.-The distribution OF
troops in the Philippine Islands to
over 400 different posts" After re-
viewing the difficulties in the way of
securing peace and control in the
islands, Mr.. Root says.
''The facts which / have now stated
indicate that we require permanently
an army of about 10000 American
troops, and that during the present
conditions in Cuba and the Philippines
about the present number of 100000
are required. Provision should be made
for a minimum force of 10000, and
with an authorized maximum of 100,-
600, and with authority to substitute
for American troops serving in the
islands ceded by Spain, as that shall
become practicable, native troops I'M
der the command of American Off
GERS"
During the recent Presidential cam
paien we were told that as soon as
Bryan was defeated, the Filipinos
would Law down their arms and peace
would reign supreme. Now the Presi-
dent says that peace has reigned since
last spring and Mr.. Root tells us that
during present conditions in Cuba
and the Philippines" 100000 men will
be required. As Cuba needs only a
few soldiers, the plain truth is that it
will require large army to maintain
American supremacy in the Philip
pines. There can be no other mean
ing.
Why not be honest about it now?
Why keep up the fable that there is
no war in the Philippines when the
need of soldiers there is the basis for
a permanent increase in the army
from $4,000 to 10000, and a present
increase to 100000? There was no
war in Cuba against Spain when we
interfered, in the meaning of war as
used by Mr.. Mckinley and Mr.. Root.
The Cubans were pursuing the que
rilla" methods which the Filpinos are
employing. And yet we called that
war i'm Cuba. We do not call it war in
the Philippines because, having Off
cially declared the war closed, the adj
ninistration is trying to live up to- the
fiction, even while it demands an in
crease in the standing army from
$4,000 to 100000 mainly to put an end
to what it calls guerilla warfare. If
the Philippine warfare" calls for co.
600 troops, how many would be needed
in case of war?
Why not be honest? Why not say
sovereignty and are at war with us?
That is the plain truth as the demand
for troops shows Why not say so?
The voters in the late election virtu-
ally authorized the administration to
shoot civilization into the Filipinos
with Calling gun, and to secure ODE
dience to our authority. We are shoot
ing the Filipinos because they demand
the right to govern themselves. Why
are we so squeamish about avowing it?
And we are doing this in the hope of
finding a market for our products.
That is business. Kings and rulers
have before this shot men down Ito
make a highway for trade" We are
doing the same thing now, and yet
we continue policy of self-decer uon
that is so transparent as to deceive
nobody. Why? Because Mr.. Mckinley
is unwilling to frankly avow that he
is doing what he is doing, and is try
ing to put the conscience of the Amer
lean public to sleep while great
standing army and a brutal colonial
policy is permanently saddled upon
the country.