The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-29
GEN. WALLACE on THE PHILIPPINE;
QUESTION.


Cen Lew Wallace. who has had expert
ence as a soldier and a diplomat. and
whose intense Americanism no one will
doubt, does not take a rosy view of the
present situation in the Philippines. In
deed, 1t is not a rosy situation. While
much has been accomplished there since
the formal taking over of the islands by
the United States, much remains 10 be ac-
complished. We are making progress all
the time, yet the progress is slow. Gen.
Wallace fears lit will take a thousand
years TO pacify the islands st this rate"
This might do as a figure o. speech. but
not as an expression of deliberate judg-
ment. But many persons will feel inclined
to concur with General Wallace that more
drastic measures should be adopted in the
pacifcation policy. He says:
L believe that the easiest way to end this
war would be to send every hostile Fill
pino captured To Guam, one of the ISLANDS
that came into possession or the United
States by the settlement with Spain. 1t
Is wild, desolate place and would be just
the kind OF place TO keep these men pris-
oners. To my way of thinking every Fill
pino captured should be placed in a corral
and kept until there is a shipload of them.
kept prisoners there until the war is
ended. OF course il would take force
of soldiers to watch these prisoners, but
/ believe that as soon as the hostile ma
tives found that they were TO be sent off
when captured it would have a salutary
effect on them, and this would have a ten
dency to cause them TO quit fighting.
This has the merit of originality. and
would at least do away with the amigo
practice under which Filpinos are friends
and suppliants one day and soldiers and
murderers the next England has had no
trouble with the captured Beers whom she
has sent to ST. Helena, and they are much
further advanced towards pacifcation and
British citizenship than IL they had re-
manned in South Africa A republic has
much right to assert its sovereignty
and enforce its authority as has a mon
archy If we could send Geronimo and his
captured Apaches TO the Dry Tortugas We
could with equal justice send captured Fill
Pine insurgents to Guam and let them
sweat out their hostility TO the United
States under new sky. A really strong
government would not hesitate to do this.
and there is no reason why the United
States government should not be as strong
any other.
General Wallace thinks the standing
army of the United States should be in
creased to l25, 900 men, with 5000 stationed
in the Philippines until the islands are
pacified. In as far as this represents the
idea of a more vigorous policy in suppress
ing the remnants of the instruction there
and compelling the people to submit to the
rightful authority of the United States a
great many people will approve the sugges-
ton. There is neither economy, humanity
nor craftsmanship in dallying with the
present situation. 1t should be brought TO
an end as soon as possible at whatever
cost, and the sooner 1t is ended the less
will be the cost. The question of ending
it is up to- Congress, and that body will
fail in its duty if the present session ends
without some vigorous legislation in this
direction. The people getting tired of
the present phase of the Philippine ques-
ton and want it ended. For that purpose
the most drastic measures will be the most
welcome.