The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-09-30

mis- morning news rom the Phil
iUuines is the most unpleasant that
has reached Us from the islands
In "A long time. We have become
accustomed To the periodical recur-
renee OF hostiHties which. disagree
able as il may be. has seldom
involved disaster 10 the American
forces. But when we read Of a full
company of our troops being surprised
and twO-thirds of them slaughtered
The feeling impaired is something akin
l. a shock. Ii is not easy for US at this
distance clearly to appreciate the sit
nation in that widely scattered archi-
Ielago. We might be able To do SO if
the news reports and official advices
were Invested Of their rosy coIoring
and confined TO sober realities But if
a week passes without an engagement
we are enthusiastically assured that
the war is over. and that the FilipinoS
are thoroughly loyal and c0ntented. So
often has this been done only to have
the sweet dream of peace quickly and
Tudely broken, that it has had the eff
feet Of making the people uuduly sus-
piciOUs OF all reports from that quar-
ter.
There seems TO be no good reason to
doubt that the higher class Of FTipi-
nos. and particularly those living in
Luzon, are fully prepared TO accept
American sovereignty as the only prac-
iicable solution OF the problem of gov
eminent But these may not be more
than One-haf Of the total population,
the remainder being made up Of uu-
meTOus tribes. and representing many
types of people not So very far advauc-
Cd along the pathway of civilization.
It is these classes. living in remote isl
ands and provinces. who cause the
trouble, and they seem To be capable
Of making a good deal of it, II given
the opportunity.
II may be that nothing can be done
e. create Immediately condition of
perfect peace in the Philippines. Some
az the elements 10 be dealt with are Of
a most uncertain character. But there
are three things which can be done:
First. the United States officials can
stop reporting that peace reigns every
time the guerrilla bands retire into the
jungies for a brief interval Of rest:
second, the Government can discon-
5inue the withdrawal Of troops until it
- is known that they can be spared; and,
third, a policy can be established that
will remove every just cause for com
plant on the part Of the natives. In
dealing with these people it must b re
mcmbered that there is a vast differ
ence between having the better classes
referred to simply acquiescent and
having them earnestly loyal. In the
former case their influence with the
lower classes is wholly negative; in the
latter it is affirmative and potential
Put we cannot reasonably expect any
class of FiHpiuOs 20 be surchaTged with
patriotic devotion 10 the American
Government. when they are treated DIS
interiors, ruled in imperialistic fashion,
and in every way regarded as a CON
Cuered people.
Il is small satisfaction to an iutelH-
gent. educated Filipino to be treated
10 rhapsodical defamation about con
stitutiCnaI liberty i'm America. when
there Is none OF il for him. We have
been trying long enough TO restore
peace by imperiaIistic methods alone,
let us now drop those methods and APP
ply the great constitutional principles
which lie AT the very foundations Of
the Republic. such course is dictat-
cd 10y every consideration II justice as
well as OF political eZpediency. II can
DO no possible harm and il may be pro-
Cuctive Of great good.