Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-05-11
THE PHILIPPINE TROUBLE.

According 10 ex-Consul Wldman,
who has studied the Philippine question
from the city Of Hongkong. the follow
ers Of Agunaldo have established o
regular reIgn OF terror IN Luzon. Hc
thinks the American forces there are
entirely inadequate, and that more
troops must be sent there. n the inten-
ton is TO bring the trouble to a peaceful
conclusion. lie SAYS the insurgents
are constantly receiving arms and Chat
the Americans are not always having
the better Of the argument
The story is at variance with the re-
ports Of General Otis as we'll as the
statements OF the officers and men un-
der him. 1t has lately been said pub
licly that some OF the officers ere anx-
lous 10 leave the service because OF the
inactivity and monotony that are Its
chief characteristics This would indl-
cate that Gen. Otis is right. But be-
tween the contradictory statements
the American public can only guess at
the real facts.
Consul Wildman's story gives new
force to the censure OF the present
policy. It is claimed that the official
reports have been falsihed and that the
disturbances now occurring are OF
far more formidable nature than APP
pears IN the dispatches. The censors'
who Tor some time have felt themselves
sinking In the swift current OF public
opinion. seem eager TO grasp at any
little twlg that promises them some de-
Law I'm their final fate. They seem 70
think that as long as there is a bandit
roaming about, armed with the Knife
Of an assassin and using ii wherever an
opportunity Is afforded, this coun-
try Is at war with the
Fflpinos can II reasonably be ex-
pected that the islands, for centuries
the scenes Of deDredatlons under
weak government, should at once be-
come more free from lawlessness than
certain portions Of the United States
itself? is Il not rather TO be expected
that for a long time TO come IL Will
take the cooperation Of the civil and
military authorities Of this country 70
stamp out brlgandage and other forms
OF lawlessness?
In the meantime. a definite declara-
zion as 70 the future Of the Islands
should be agreed upon by the represen-
tatlves OF this nation. And when that
declaration has been made all divls-
ions and contentious on tina, subject
should end. The constant agitation by
demagogues is more injurious 10 the
cause OF peace I'm the Philippines than
Aguinaldos manlfestoes. For they give
color 20 the false statements that the
bandits have an influential party OF
friends in this country, who eventually
VIII see 10 Il that the government pol
icy is changed. In this hope they are
holding out, magnifyng every highway
robbery into an engagement" and ey-
cry attempt at assassination into
military attack" Party fight on such
an issue can only result IN prolonga-
ton Of a condition which all patriots
must dcplore.
A unanimous declaration Of policy
would probably be the best aid the
military authorities could obtain In
their work OF paclhcationi this ac-
complshed It would be easier for the
country to arrange the affairs Of the
Islands in a manner compatible with
the dignity OF this government and the
best interests Of the people most I'M
medlately concerned.