The Washington weekly post., 1900-09-25
Two Stories from the Philippines.

! less little stratagems of the whole cam
paign thus far has just been sprung upon
the American people through the medium
OF a carefully arranged correspondence
between Secretary Root and the Philip
pine Commission CNO. p now operating
az Manila. The interchange appears 10
have been conducted by telegraph. Mr..
Roots overture is dated August II, and
the commissions response August q. 1t
is seldom that ponderous and august bod
les Of this kind reply so promptly and
comprehensively to an inquiry Of such
wide range. 1t may be. however, that Mr..
Taft had rather expected such a cate
chism about the time when a judicious
answer would be of service 10 the ticket,
and was, therefore, all ready 10 assuage
the Secretary's affectionate solicitude at
the drop of a hat so 10 speak Evidently
the psychological moment had not arrived
when Mr.. Root received the commissions
reply; hence We have had TO wait from
August Il or p to September 20-about a
month-for this most entertaining and
instructive document 1t was worth wait
ing for, however. as will be seen.
OF course the long rigmarole describing
the anxiety of the good F1lipinos for
peace and for protection against the bad
Filipinos is hardly worth considering 1t
is a faithful reproduction of the siren
songs We have been listening to for the
past eighteen months, and serves only TO
raNyfxsffr 81
osity as to the inability of our 6OO00 or
70,0OO troops, backed by an overwhelming
majority Of the natives, to suppress these
scattered bands Of fugitive and demoral-
lied guerrillas - The important feature
of the commissions report-the feature
that MIR. Roots inquiry was clearly in
tended to develop-is TO be found in the
following innocent suggestion:
1T is conceded by all but men in arms, and g
implied in their proclamation, that II the election
confirms the preseat policy the remnant CT nsur-
recton vii: disappear within sixty days Ly the
surrender cf the leaders and the fading out Of the
rank and ile. Ladrones, in part heritage frcm
Spanish rule viii continue. but can be suppressed
by measures The existing lnsurreetion or,aniza-
tion is now maintained With the greatest difficulty
for the purpose stated. The effort Is to mass
enough insurgents to crush one Of our small gar
suit"
There is more of the same kind, such.
for instance. as this:
Policy Of lenleney eliminating in amnesty had
marked effect TO induce surrcnders until defining
of political issues in United States reported here
in full gave hope to insurgent officers SIN in
arms. Of changed policy and stayed surrenIers 70
await result Of elections Disturbances in parts Of
island kept Up and avowed by irsurgent proeIarla-
tion and orders influence election, Ge., &C..
How long have we been hearing this
pltiable rubbish? 1t seems ten years, but.
OF course, it can date back only 10 Feb
ruary. lS99-a year and a half ago We
have been hearing it ever since that time,
however. from Otis, from Commission No.
/. from all the fuglemen and organs OF
the administration, and who believes it2
When Otis returned TO the United States
a few months ago he solemnly proclaimed
the regime Of order, paeiheation, anj
general happiness In Luzon. Not long
afterward the Secretary of War wanted
to know how many men could be spared
for an expedition of humanity and civil-
cation TO China. and our officers in the
Philippines unanimously declared that
none could be spared. but that, on the
contrary, re-enforcements were needed
needed 10 put down these miserable ana
diseredited brigands, for whose destruc-
ton nine-tenths of the inhabitants of the
islands are at this moment praying on
their bended knees.
II is no part of our purpose to accuse
these gentlemen. On the contrary. We
fully believe that they are telling the
truth as they see It. But they are simply
echoing otis-repeaIing the accepted story
in Manila, retailing the gossip OF the
cOurtieFs and the schemers, II all this be
true, why did Gen. Macarthur protest
against a detail from his force TO 90 20
China? Does II require e0.c0o or 70.eO
American soldiers. backed by the SYM
pathy and active aid OF the better classes
OF Luzon, 20 suppress handful OF out
laws and make travel in the island safe?
What sort Of military proposition Is this
that sensible and experienced men should
accept Il without question:
But there l. another witness yet 10 be
heard from-an officer serving on the spot;
q gentleman who 50 far enjoys the re-
speet and confidence OF his fellow citizens
in Indiana that be has been nominated
for Congress during his absence and With
out the slightest effort on his part to Sc
cure The nominatiOn-We refer 10 Capt =.
II. Allen. L. 5. A.. now serving in Luzon.
and In position TO know by actual obser-
walton the real condition OF AFFAIRS Capt
Allen has written 10 his constituents,
explaining the imPossibllity Of his re-