Washington sentinel., 1900-12-15
New Philippine ouestlon.

1t would not be surprising II
there were a change OF policy in
regard to the Philippines in the not
distant future. A new Philippine
question must be faced. Hereto
tore, the question has been whether
the American Government be-
lieved it best "to restore order
there" and assume its responsi
bilities before the nations Of the
world. Now the question that
comes to the front in terms which
cannot be mistaken is whether the
people Of the United States wish 70
maintain permanent hostilities in
that part Of the earth. Since elec.
ton there has been less conceal
ment OF the real situation in the
islands. 1t is not improving, and
there is nothing to be gained by
saying that it is. Even President
Mckinley and his Cabinet are
gradually coming to regard the
outlook, from a military point OF
view, as very serious.
A correspondent oil the New
York EVsHiRg Post has just re-
ceived letter from an old friend,
Who is in the public service in the
Philippines, and has been there
since the American occupation.
He writes that military conditions
are very dark, and that the army
officers in personal conversations
ackno Wedge this. Aguinaldo's
government, he declares, is hold
ing sway over tWo-thirds Of the
country, maintaining courts, COL
lecting revenue, and managing tel
egTaphic lines. The Mohammedan
regions are pacihed and under
American control. Manila and
the garrisoned towns are subdued,
and will remain so as long as the
blue coated soldier patrols the
streets. But the skirmishing par
ties run in very close to the city in
some oi their raids. American
methods Of subjugation, he insists,
are not dissimilar to those en-
ployed by the Spanish in Cuba, and
the hanging and shooting Of Flip
mos are carried on with consider
able freedom. 1t seems to be The
American policy to regard all
Filipinos in arms as bandits, but
TO expect the Filipinos to regard
their captives as soldiers. In fact,
the Filipinos have not dared to
pursue the same methods with
their prisoners that our soldiers
have adopted, because they fear
lest, if they should violate the
rules Of civilized warfare by put
ting captives to death, Ameri-
can public sentiment would be so
aroused against them as to call for
their determination. This word
determination" by the way, is,
IN the opinion OF the writer OF the
letter, the only solution OF the Phil
ippine problem consistent with ad-
herence 20 the present program.
The natives will never give up the
fight, so intense is their hatred OF
the Americans, whom they do not
distinguish from the Spaniards.
Suppose the public comes to
see that this view OF the situation
in the Philippine Islands is the
correct one, what will the Ameri
can people do about itp That will
be something for the Mckinley
Administration alone to decide.
Not even an opposition House can
be elected for two years yet, and
it could not begin work for three
years, as President Mckinley
would not call Democratic
House in extra session. But once
let the facts Of the situation become
widely understood, and the press
ure within the Republican party
would be such that no Admins
tration, least Of all the present one, /
could stand against It.