Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-12-12
GENERAL cHAFFeE's REPORT

~ writer in the Encyclopedia Brit
annica. speaking OF the Philippines
| Islands, says: AS the number of
the Philippines is believed to exceed
l.400, and the larger islands are in
several cases only beginning to be ex-
plored, 1t is impossible to give a def
mite statement of their land.area.
Nor is 1t in regard to their area
alone that our knowledge is defective
Though for three centuries tn A.. great
er part of the territory has been nom
inally in Spanish possession, tho IL.
terror OF some of the larger islands
has never been surveyed; several of
the native tribes, especially in Mind
anao, are altogether Independent,
the geology of Luzon, the best known
of all the archipelago, is to a large
extent matter of conjecture; and the
visit of passing botanist or natural
list is enough to add facts of primary
Importance to the register of flora or
| fauna"
| 1t Is yet less than three years ago
that Admiral Dewey sailed into Ma
Mia bay and shattered the power OF
Spain, but If we may trust the obser-
vation of some of the Democratic
congressman who have recently visit
ed the islands, 1t is a matter of sur-
prise, grief and national humiliation
that the islands are not thoroughly
civilized as Arizona or the Dakotas.
and that all the people in all the is
lands are not capable of understand
ing and appreciating the motives of
the Americans and the principles Of
free government. In those 80 months
the war with Spain has been brought
to an end. the lingering negotiations
of peace completed. three separate
armies have been sent from the
United States the attempt of Aguin-
aldo to establish himself In authority
over the Philippines has been sup
| pressed. two military commissions
have been sent to the islands and
civil government has been establish
ed, revolt and brigandage have been
suppressed, one after another the
chiefs have been captured, and the
Americans have gradually extended
their authority through the island.
At the present time the report of
General Chaffee. now In supreme
military command of the Islands
shows that only two provinces in LII
zon and the islands of Samar. Min.
doro Cebu and Bobol constitute the
area disturbed bv anv organized force
of insurgents. 1t should not be sup
posed from this that the rest of the
islands are closely under American
i
provinces Of Luzon, for the islands
Of Negros. Panay. Teyte Masbate.
and some others, But the great is-
land of Mindanao remains practically
nnexplored except along the coast.
lust as IT was In the davs OF Spain
and the same is true Of paIawan. the
known of the larger Islands OF the
| group.
| What has been done is marvellous
and in full keeping with the general
reputation OF the Americans for en-.
ergv and thorouehness At the pres.
ont time the islands are more thor.
ouph1v and completely under Ameri
"an control according to our best In
formation. than thew were at anv
tnne under the control OF Spain. with
this additional difference that while
The Spanish rule tended Inevitably
towards oppression. disturbance and
revolt. the American control has as
Its objects peace, civilization, good
government, education and the pro-
gress of the islands and their inhabi-
tants in every way.
| Under the circumstances there need
be no disappointment felt because
General Chaffee and the Democratic
visitors agree In declaring that the
American armed force must be main
tained in the Islands for many years
to come. No one ever expected any
thing different. Unless the Islands
are to be allowed to relapse into alb.
solute barbarism. American or Euro
pean soldiers must be kept there in
sufficient force to maintain Caucasian
laws and Caucasian governors Spain
required large army there, and
would have required one even II its
policy had been less cruel and oppres-
sive than 1t was. AS long as there
were wild Indians. 1t was necessary
to maintain regiments for the pro-
lection of our North American from.
tier. and there will be American sol
diers in the Philippines until all the
islands are civilized. or until the civil
lied islanders become sufficiently pow
erful to protect themselves from
their eighbors-Colorado Springs
| Gazette