The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-06-24
SUNDAY, JUNE n, 1900
THE SITUATION IN THE PHILIP
PINES

The various accounts received OF the
political and military conditions in the
Philippines are so contradictory that one
IS at a loss 10 form an opinion about that
complicated problem. We are told by the
military authorities that the inSurrection
IS al an end. We are then Informed that
Filipinos have collected III large bodies
anu are attacking The Americans, only,
however. TO be shot down in the ratio of
100 Flllpinos to one American. Whatever
losses our troops have suffered in camp
and in hospital the death rate on the field
has been al a minimum, and the Filipinos
have certainly discovered that lighting the
Americans was a Very different PROPOSE
ton from fighting the Spaniards.
We do not pretend TO fathon the Orien-
tai mind, nor TO understand how it is that
in the Philippines We find the Igerotes in
horrible barbarian separated by only a
few miles from the Tagals who are re.nre-
scented 10 be highly civilized One thing
IS certain, there is both civilization and
barbarism in the Philippines and a plenty
Of the latter. How Aguinaldo and his
compariots proposed to handle these bar
barians We do not know, but we do not
believe that he would have been any more
merciful or just to them than the A1neti-
cans viii be. II would be an enormous
thing for Aglinalio TO be the dictator Of
the Philippine archipelago and 10 appoint
his military commanders with unlimited
powers in the various provinces and ISL
ands It was a prize worth fighting for,
and if he had dealt only with the Span
iards he would no doubt have succeeded.
But now comes 4 statement that there
has been a meeting in Manila of Filipinos
hostile to the Americans, OF which thirty
were released from Jail in order to oarti-
clpa1e in the deliberations, and that they
haze proposed terms OF honorable
peace comprised in seven propositions,
all of which are of a concinatory and reas-
enable character in the main, exce9t the
seventh, which demands the expulsion of
the triars General amnesty, the return
OF confiscaied property, the employment
of the military and naval Fflipinos, who
win be heroes out of job,'' the aid Of
needy Filipino soldiers. personal liberty.
civil government, all are reasonable de-
fnands, and in view of Spanish methods
of suppressins Instruction their ready ac-
ceptance by he Americans must strike
the Ffiipnos as maryelousty liberal and
generous. And yet there can be no doubt
that those would all have been allowed a
year or more ago for the mere asking.
and without the waste of the blood and
treasure which has been poured out
The expulsion of the Friars is. of course.
10 the American mind an improper de-
naad. The friars have as much right to
live in the Philippines, as long as they
behave themselves, as anybody else and
the Fflipinos have no more right TO de-
,nand their expulsion than they have TO
aemaad the expulsion of the missionaries
and ministers OF any other religious de-
nomination. Il any frar has violated the
law of the land he should be tried and
punished accordingly, and If the law IS that
he shall be depo.tsd. such should be his
fate, but the idea of expelhng a whole
body of men. Irrespective OF their personal
character and conduct, merely because
they belong TO a religious organization, is
utterly repuisire to Americans. and we
haye moi the faintest idea that the author
tiles OF this government will tolerate any
Each suggestion.
No doubt under Spanish rule the f.iars
have grown fatal friars are supposed 10
be fat-and have exercised undue power.
Rnd have abused ii, but I'VE have changed
all that and the friar win be very diff
.enent part OF speech as TO his political
influence under American institutions
from what he WAS under Spanish, and the
1iltpines viii soon learn that the friar
has the same rights as any other citizen.
and neither more nor less.
II this :rTieescent dream of peace in the
Philippines becomes reality Mr.. McKin-
Fey WILL have powerfully snended his hold
upon the confidence of ors people As to
what sort OF government saaii be esSab-
aished IN the Philippine. salat The quail
t'casion of suffrage shat be. whether they