Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1901-01-16
WHERE IS THE TROUBLED

war in the Philippines was TO eno the
moment that the news of Bryan's dc
feat reached the rebels. These were,
so it was said, merely keeping up the
struggle until the election in the hope
of aiding the Democrats to win, with
The expectation that thy would b
given the control OF the islands at
once if that desirable consummation
should be attained. Tnat the Repub-
licals never believed in the truth Of
these assertions was proved by the fact
that the orders for the return OF the
volunteers, which had already been
issued, wsrs revoked the day after the
election, on the ground that the troops
were needed there.
Only a month ago, President Nc
Kinley, basing his words on the buoy
ant reports of the Taft Commission
and the solemn pronLnciamentos Of
General Otis, declared in his message
10 Congress that
.'Our forces have successfully con-
trolled the greater pant Of the islands,
overcoming the organized forces of the
insurgents and carrying order aud ad-
ministrative regularly to all quarters.
BY the spring of this year the effectvt
opposition of the dissatisfied Tagals to
the authority Of the United States was
virtually ended, thus opening the door
for the extension of stable admins
tation owe, much Of the territory OF
the archipelago"
Two months and more have passed
since the election and the rebels ali
must know of Bryan's defeat. But
have they laid down their arms? NJ
they. And now that more troops are
wanted, the mask has been thrown off.
Senator Sewell, of New Jers ~, speak
.ng for the PresiIen IN the army bill,
said in the Senate few days ago:
"Let me say to the Senate from
South Da OF that there is war going
on, very Serious war, 1t is not III
great shocks of battle, which may occur
one diy in the mon.h, but the loss is
equll to II, t,kipg in the aggregate in
month or three month";. Our troops
today are beins denuded by losses
which grow out of the little posts,
where they are turned cut as scouts
and where they are ambusbed and all
that kind of thing. The country has
got to face the 81 uation boldly as to
whether we are to uphold our flag in
the Philippines or Lot. If we are
and l take it that we shall-we GER
tainly must provide the men with
which to do it. The Senator from
Georgia will remember that when the
matter was up for discussion year
ago 1 said, to the astonishment OF
every one, that it would take from fifty
to sixty thousand men several years in
the Philippines. No Jody believed it at
that time, but it has turned out to be
correct, and it will continue to be so.
But, say, there are APO posts or
towns that the army occupies in the
Philippines, which is an immense
country, as you all know, probably
1900 miles long, aud with numerous
islands, eight hundred or a thousand; 1
do not believe that they have been able
to arrive at the number as yet. There
the flag floats and tLere are two COM
panies al post. But if you send out
a scouting party of ten or twenty men
they are Immediately attacked from the
outside. Tney are in very many cases
eitI er captured or annihllated, and that
is going on all through the islands.
That makes war, because ii you will
look at The reports of the general COM
manding you will find that every two
weeks or every four weeks there were
80 many men killed, 80 many wounded,
and so many died of disea: G in hospital.
They are becoming reduced at all
times. That is the situation. I have
sad, aud think it is tue view of the
Secretary of War, that it will take
10000 men in the Philippines for some
time to come"
Here is the truth at lastl W hat is
to be done about it? The administra-
ton must beaware that the cause of it's
enemies is not weakened nor the couf-
dence Of its friends augmented by the
daily reading about all this cost and
killing. To kill rebe'lio by inches and
trust to patient and slow time to bring
back peace and contentment is not
humane or wise P, Icy.
1t cannot be the lack of money. Is it |
the lack Of troops, supplies. trans
portation, ammunition, artillery? Is
it the lack of a competent commander
The public simply does not know
whore the trouble lies. 1t does know
that there is trouble somewhere,
Where is if! How long is this war
|going to Iasts The blame can no longer
Ibe placed on the anti-inperialists, nor
ON fha Democrats who hava cvrantad |