The Washington times., 1901-10-21
tneulp,iop Statement.
Our Philippine Policy.


It is reported that the War Depart
ment intends Immediately to despatch
re-enforcements to the Philippines. 1t
goes without saying that this action
will command general approval Amer
lean sovereignty has been establish
ed there, and it must be sustained by
whatever military force is necessary.
If General Chaffee has not enough men,
more should be sent to him at once.
On this point there is no room for ar
gument At the same time, it is unde-
niable that The policy which has ere
ated this necessity is fairly open to
serious criticism.
There can be no question as to the
validity OF our title to the Philippines.
By every recognized rule of information
al law bearing upon the subject, the
American claim of sovereignty is with
out a flaw. Such being the case the
Government was justified in using all
the force necessary fully to establish
its authority. From the first, the peo-
pie of the United States have been led
10 believe that this was being done. In
fact. they have been assured repeated
Iy that it had been done, that armed
resistance had been completely crushed
out, that peaceful conditions had been
restored, and that the natives were con-
tented and even loyal The frequent
renewal of hostflities after these roseate
reports had the effect Of making the
people very distrustful Of all official
statements relative TO the military sit
uation in the islands. When, however,
Aguinaldo was captured, and shortly
afterward the army of occupation was
considerably reduced, the feeling of
doubt began to give way. and the be-
lief became general that the war actu-
ally was over.
This belief was strengthened by the
Inauguration of the so-calIed civil
government" Very shortly, however
it appeared that this government was
more civil in name than in anything
else. 1t was 10 all intents and purposes
the creature of the War Department
The fact that Governor Taft is
civilian signifies nothing. So is Secre-
tary Root. Nevertheless, he is at the
head Of the military department CT the
Government, and the civil administra-
ton of the Philippines is directly an
swerable to this Department. More
over, the Taft government had scarce
ly been officially proclaimed when it
was found necessary to return Several
provinces to the exclusive control of the
military commander. 1t was announced
that conditions in Southern Luzon and
elsewhere were so disturbed as to make
civil administration impracticable This
Was appointment, and once more
was public faith in the serenity of
Philippine affairs badly shaken. Then
came the disastrous fighting in Sarnar,
an island ir close proximity to the
southeriy point OF Luzon. Had the
trouble in Samar been merely a sudden
and unexpected outbreak, the American /
people would have been inclined to re-
gard it as one Of the unavoidable Incl /
dents connected with the establishment +
Of a new sovereignty in that quarter. [
But no sooner did the news of the dis (
aster to the American troops reach 1
US than the War Department gave out 4
a statement showing that there never |
had been peace in that island, and that
there for months.
In view Of all these things. it is i'm
possible 10 resist the conclusion that
the method Of dealing with the Philip
pines has been radically wrong. So far
as the military situation is concerned. a
mere lun in the fighting has been re-
garded by the American authorities as
equivalent to an ending of the war, and
as jUsufying . reduction of the military
force.
As a matter of fact, nothing in the |
avowed policy Of the American Govern |
ment has been calculated to create a /
feeling Of contentment and loyalty in 4
the Filipino's mind. How can he be |
expected to turn with love and rever- !
ence 10 the American flag when it 1
means nothing to lin but subjection /
TO an alien people, of whom he can .
never be an integral part? Clearly, in
dealing with those people true states
Elanship required that every Just cause
for complaint should be removed. The
military force of the Republic should
have been adequate for every need, but /
at the same time the necessity for such |
force should have been reduced to min
imUm by assuring the F'ilipinos that |
they should be treated as American
citizens in all respects, and with every |
safeguard of the Federal Constitution
thrown around them.