The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-09

OF interviews with natives and mer-
chants in each of the islands, These in
terviews are printed following this
speech.l
I'VE WILL HOLD TT FAST AND
HOLD IT FOREVER"
Here then, senators, is the situation.
Two years ago there was 10 land in all
the world which we could occupy for
any purpose. Our commerce was daily
turning toward the Orient, and geog-
raphy and trade developments made
necessary our commercial empire over
the Pacific. And in that ocean we had
no commercial, naval or military base.
Today we have one OF the three great
ocean possessions of the globe, located
at the most commanding commercial,
naval and military points in the east
ern seas, within hail of India, shoulder
to shoulder with China, richer in it's own
resources than any equal body of land
on the entire globe, and peOpled by a
be improved. Shall we abandon it
That man little knows the common peo-
pie OF the republic, little understands
the instincts of our race. who thinks
we viii not hold it fast, and hold it
forever, administering just government
by simplest methods. We may trick
up devices to shift our burden and les
sen our opportunity; they viii avail US
nothing but delay. We may tangle con-
ditiOnS by applying academic arrange
mentS of self-gOvernment to a crude
situation; their failure will drive US to
our duty in the end.
MILITARY STTUATTON-OTIS DE-
TENDED.
The military situation. tsast. present
and prospective, is no reason for aban-
dOnment. Our campaign has been as
perfect as possible with the force at
hand. We have been delayed first by
a failure to comprehend the immensely
of our acquisition, and second by in
sufficient force; and, third, by our eff
forts for peace. In February, after the
treaty of peace, Otis had only 1922 Of
fcers and men whom he had a legal
right to order into battle. The terms of
enlistment of the rest of his troops had
expired, and they fought voluntarily
and not on legal military compulsion.
Those who complain do SO in ignOr-
ance of the real situation. We attempt
ed a great task with insufficient means;
we became impatient that it was not
finished before it could fairly be COM
menced; and I pray we may not add
that other element of disaster, pausing
in the work before it is thoroughly and
forever done. That is the graVest mis-
take we could possibly make, and that
is the only danger before rs. Our In
dian wars would have been shortened,
the lives of soldiers and settlers saved,
and the Indians themselves benefited,
had we made continuous and decisive
war; and any other kind of war is GRIM
inal because ineffective. We acted to-
wards the Indians as though we feared
them, loved them, hated them-a ming
ling Of foolish sentiment, inaccurate
thought and paralytic purpose. Let US
now be instructed by our own expert
ence.
This. too, has been SPANS course in
the Philippines. Never sufficient troops;
never vigorous action, pushed to conclu-
Sive results and permanent peace;
they fought them; always cruel and
corrupt when q spurious peace was ar
ranged. This has been SPANS way for
three hundred years, until instruction
has become a Filipino habit. Never
since Magellan landed did Spain put
enough troops in the islands for COM
plete and final action in war; never did
she intelligently, justly firmly, admin
lister government in peace. At the out
break of the last insurrectlOn in Aug
ust, 1896, Spain had only 800 Spanish
soldiers in all the Philippines, and 700
of these were in Manila. In Novem-
Der of that year she had only 10000
men. The general in command Of these
We're criticised and assailed in Spain.
1t is characteristic of Spain that the
people at home do not support but criti-
else their general in the field. The Span
ish method has always been a mixed
policy Of peace and war, a cOntradic-
ton of terms, an impossible combina-
ton rendering war ineffective and peace
impossible. This was CampOs' plan 1t
was Blanco'S plan. Those who would
make it our plan will inherit Blanco's
fate and failure.
TRUE MILITARY. POLICY.
Mr.. President. that must not be our
plan This war is like all other wars.
It needs to be finished before it is stop
ped. I am prepared to vote either to
make our work thorough or even now
to abandon it. A lasting peace can be
secured only by overwhelming forces in
caseless action until universal and alb
solutely final defeat is inflicted on the
enemy. To halt before every armed
force, every guerrilla band opposing US
is dispersed or exterminated. will pro-
long hostilities and leave alive the seeds
of perpetual instruction. Even then
we should not treat. To treat at all is
to admit that we are wrong. And any
quiet so secured will be de1usive and
fleeing. And a false peace will betray
US; sham truce will curse u.s. 1t is
not to serve the purposes of the hour,
it is not to salve a. present situation that
peace should be established. It is for
the tranquility of the archipelago for
ever. 1t is for an orderly government
for the Filipinos for all the future. It
| is to give this problem to posterity solv-
ed and settled, not vexed and involved.
It is to establish the supremacy of the
American republic over the Pacific and
| throughout the east till the end of time
| It has been charged that our conduct
/ of the war has been cruel Senators, it
/ had been the reverse. I have been in
| our hospitals and seen the Filipino
wounded as carefully, tenderly cared
! for as our own. Within our lines they