Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-27
No Inconsistency rs to the Philippines

1t is the fashion just now In certain cir
Giles. given to annoying the administration
In times of embarrassment. to twit the gov
eminent with the fact that, although 1t has
been repeatedly declared that the war in
the Philippines is over, nevertheless the
proposal to withdraw the troops from the
Islands for the Chinese campaign arouses
official protests.
There is. however. no inconsistency in
the statements and conditions. The war is
over in the Philippines. There is. neverthe-
less. need for large numbers of troops
there. These two facts can stand together
without difficulty or jostling. Both are sub
stantiated by every one who has inquired
at all closely into the condition of affairs
in the archipelago.
General Otis, in the course of an inter-
view with the editorial correspondent of
The Star January last, clearly and suf-
ficienty expressed the situation in these
few words:
While the real war is over. the need of
a large and vigilant army here has not
passed The process of wedding out the
robber bands will be slow and tedious, but
the result is sure.
The present military problem in the Phil
ippines as indicated by General Otis state
ment. is to garrison the towns and to pro-
tect the friendly natives from the ladrOnes
and remnants of the insurgent armies. who
are constantly seeking opportunity to prey
upon the inhabitants, showing particular
animOsity toward those who have accepted
the sovereignty of the United States To
withdraw all the troops from the islands
would be to expose these harmless, friendly
natives to the fury of the thieves and cut
threats who infest the mountains. Such
withdrawal would seriously check the
process Of Americanizing the archipelago.
The people need first peace. then intrCduc
ton to the benefits of American rule. 1t Is
the confident belief that with these two
conditions fulfilled the islands will in
comparatively short time present the spec
tacle Of practically uniform acceptance of
the new flag. with the people far better
able TO protect themselves against the raids
of the bandits. On the other hand, a ma
terial lessening of the military forces just
now will have the assured effect of setting
back this process. in the proportion that the
natives obtain the idea that the Americans
are about to abandon the islands altogether,
being afraid of the insurrectos and indif
ferent concerning the safety of the friendly
tribes and individuals.
While the need of soldiers in the Philip
pines is consistent with the statement that
real war is over there. it is also consistent
with ability to respond from Manila to
temporarily greater need in China. In
doubtedly if some Asiatic emergency abso-
lu-e.y demanded it, General Macarthur
would find a way to spare many thousands
mere Of his soldiers for an expedition to
the mainland of Asia. 1t is unwise to weak
en- our forces in the Philippines as long as
American troops needed elsewhere in Asa
can be supplied with sufficient promptness
from San Francisco. But in a crisis We
could strike hard from Manila. mourning
without hesitation the minor risks involved
in the withdrawal of troops from the Phil
ippines-