The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-01
THE PHILIPPINE QUESTION.
What the Testimony of General Mer-
rift Brssght out.

The Philippine question continues to oc-
cupy large share of attention in the
campaign, much to the embarrassment or
the Republicans. The Democrats are not
letting slip any opportunity to impress on
the minds of the people just what the
present Philippine policy Of the President
means, and where ii is leading the country
The Democratic Congressional Committee
has given out the following interesting
document. which throws much light on
the Philippine question:
In carefully prepared statement
printed in the New York World" on his
return from Paris, December is, 1898.
General Merritt said:
60 The United States should retain con-
troll of the Philippines. II is a moral OBJ
legation thrust upon us.
The Filipinos are not competent 10
govern themselves. | am certain that the
United States can rule the Philippines
without encountering any serious diff
Guilty.
I believe we should adopt the Eng
lish colonial SYSTEM which think is the
best in the world. The Philippines should
be ruled over by a military resident, or
governor, having practically absolute
power. If the governor is not a member
Of the army, l am persuaded that our
government Of the Philippines will be a
failure, for the reason that politics will
creep in. government by politicians
would be a calamity. Politicians would
seek to Yankeeize the FiliDinos. and that
would be the greatest possible tlunder.
- There is no real room for labor in
the Philippines. 1t goes begging there
now. The man with small capital might
win riches; but the great profits will be
lz fy hn aT,1
the crude, rich country.
'' Aguinaldo is a very shrewd young
man, and has the sense TO surround him
self with advisers WHO are very able and
clear-headed men. l had some corre-
spondence with him which showed him
TO be a master OF diplomacy. | did not
write to him personally, of course. but
directed that communications should be
sent to General Toral, enc of his sub
crdinates.
when I was ordered to Paris to give
what assistance | could to the peace
commission, took with me an enormous
amount of data that | had collected |
appeared before the commission for two
whole days, and each member In turn
questioned me at great length. | think
1 may say without violating any conf
dence that what | told the commission
eTs influenced them considerably 1t
may De Jnul an enormous responsibility
rests upon my shoulders for the part /
have played in connection with The
Philippines, but l do not think the
burden of whatever may come will be
greater than l can bear
October 4, 1898, General Merritt ap-
peared before the United States commits
sion and testified. On pages 367 and 1868
Of Senate documents No. G2, we find the
following sworn testimony By General Mer-
rltt:
The whole correspondence (between
General Anderson and AguinaldO) was
deprecated by Admiral Dewey before / got
there, and l suppressed the whole thing
after l arrived, because it was not the
wish Of the Government tc make any prom
ises TO the insurgents, or act in any way
with them.
Rather early after my arrival there
at Manila, l had teiegraphed to the War
Department of the possible trouble that
might arise with the Insurgents, and asked
for Instructions as 10 whether | should
consider them as enemies and treat them
accordingly in such case To that request 7
had no reply, and the consequence was I
had to mix diplomacy with force In order
TO avoid tilt with them. | knew. II
bloocshed was once had, that would he the
end of an amicable status there, and TO