The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-06-15
WHICH SHALL IT BE
Possession or an American Protec-
tOrate over the PhilippinesP
THE PEOPLE MUST DECIDE.



TO the Editor OF the Inteiligencer.
sIR:-The two great political parties
In the United States Will soon send del
egates to nominating conventions; rep
resentatIves that win not only exer-
else the function of naming the can
dldates Of their respective organiza-
lions, but who will also hear the re-
sponslbIllty for the enunciation OF
party platforms and principles,
Never have questions of greater i'm
port to the American people and the
world at large come up for the consId-
Grafton OF these assemblages. and mo-
where is the issue of their delibera-
lions awaited with greater interest
than in the Philippines. That is, by
the American civilian and soldier ele-
ment. for the more intelligent Fllipi-
NOS have already become convinced as
to the main point at issue, viz. Amer
lean retention. and look forward to.the
coming election aB possibly serving to
determine the governmental methods
and instruments. But to the American
citizen with knowledge Of our con-
stitutlon and governmental principles,
the situation bears another aspect.
namely, that 1t remains with the people
OF the United States TO decide whether
the Philippine Islands are to be re-
tanned as absolute and permanent colo
Mai possessions, or whether they are to
be granted their Independence under an
American protectorate as soon as peace
is established and safety to CONNER
cial Interest assured.
These the Final Alternatives.
That these are the final alternatives
that will confront the American voter
is no longer a question of doubt in the
minds of those who have studied the
conditions. The scheme Of autonomy or
semi-lndependence under American
sovereignty would be failure here and
one need only glance at the experience
Of Great Britain and other nations that
have put 1t in operation in their Malay
colonies to he convinced Of the truth
OF this assertion.
Just now, news comes from British
North Borneo that Kudat, the second
town in the province, has been attacked
by Malay Insurrectos and many cIti-
gems, including women and children.
brutally massacred at time when
Governor clifford supposed all trouble
at an end, owing to the death Of Mat
selleh, the "Agulnaldo" of that coun-
try, and was sending most optimistic
reports to his home government In re-
gard to conditions there. Nor do we
have to go to Borneo for examples of
Malay disposition and methods. We
have them in abundance here.
Proposed Sack of Manila.
Although the instruction is now
practically suppressed, and there arc
no longer organized forces of the enemy
in Luzon, the American army is losing
an average of from two to three men a
day through treachery and ambuscades
alone, and for the last few days the
MANILA papers have been full OF the
proposed sack of the city and massa-
Gre Of all foreign residents by Insur-
gents now within the American lines.
The wholesale deserton of their en-
ployers by the ''muchachos" was ia
ken as an evidence that the Insurrec-
ton was gaining recruits. This led to
the arrest of several suspects and the
discovery of plan for wholesale butch
cry and loot by the Tagals, and at pre-
sent the utmost diligence is being ex-
erclsed by General Macarthur to pre-
vent their plans from being carried
out. Such an outbreak would be
promptly suppressed, but not without
innIctlng much suffering upon lnno-
cent persons and the probable loss OF
life by such foreigners as could be
found in unprotected places,
That the natives would sanction such
n nefarious plan Of action is sufficient
evidence that they are not far enough
advanced in the scale Of civilization for
admission to American territorial citl-
zenshlp with It's constitutional rights
and privileges. and that they do not
desire or appreciate them.
Must Have American Protection.
II this fact be granted, It is apparent