The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-08-10
NOT THE HIND OF PROVIDENCE

NOT THE HAND OF PROVIDENCE.
Gen. MacArthur's report of his opera
tions in the Philippines for the year end
ing July, 1901, is a straightforward docu-
ment prepared rather with the pen Of
the soldier than that of the politician. 1t
reveals the situation from the soldiers
standpoint and shows a marked contrast
to the so-called military policy main
tanned under Otis.
From MacArthur's appearance in the
chief command the operations against
Aguinaldo's forces were conducted active
ly and with a view to bringing the in
surrection to as speedy close as pos
sible. Almost every event which trans
pired during the administration of mis-
predecessor tended to confirm the view
that Otis instructions did not look to
anything like speedy ending of the
struggle.
1t requires no particularly careful re-
Prospect of the events to confirm the con-
clusion that the Hanna Mckinley admin
istration utilized the situation created by
the revolt of Aguinaldo for the manu-
facture of all possible political capital,
and to give to the favored reta'ners of
the administration much needed chance
to reap a harvest of coin from the con-
tracts incident to the carrying on of the
existing situation.
There is no longer any occasion for the
maintenance of military conditions.
There has not been since the capture of
Aguinaldo by Gen. Funston. The prin-
cipal aim OF, the administration adj
vecates and defenders will hereafter be
to demonstrate the value of the posses
sions in whichowe have invested so eX-
tensively both in the blood of our peo-
pie and in International treasure.
Gen. Macarthur perhaps unconsciously
contributes his share to this purpose in
his report. The dissertation on slavery
as it is carried on in the Philippines
under the flag of the United States but
outside of the constitution which Gen.
touching affair. He undertakes to assure
the American people that there is no
such thing as slavery in the Philippines.
AT least he starts out with such an idea
in his mind; but his effort is far from
being sustained to the accomplishment
of his purpose, with the result that, in
prevailing parlance, he gives his case
away very badly before he gets through.
Here is what Gen. Kobbe Is represented
as saying in Gen. MacArthur's report on
the subject of slavery in the Philippines:
Slavery, as the term is usually under
stood, does not exist among the Moros
and radical and comprehensive measures
to abolish it would at this time be pre-
mature and ineffective. The slaves and
masters belong to the same race and
live on equal social terms. 1t has been
impossible to obtain any information rec
garding the number of slaves held any
where
Here's where the general shows that
as a politician he is not success. Slav-
cry doesn't exist, he says; but, he adds,
it would be unwise at this time to adopt
radical measures 20 abolish it. The
slaves and their masters live on equal
social terms; but it is impossible to get
information as to the number of slaves.
The imperialist crowd do not depend
upon a blunt soldier like this gentleman
to help them out of the situation in
which they have placed the American
people as flying their flag for the pro-
lection of slavery and polygamy in the
Philippines, while destroying these twin
social crimes by the use of force on this
continent. No; Gen. Macarthur cannot
be depended upon to help out his SUI
periors on this score. A skilled casuist,
not cavalryman, is needed in the under
taking of slurring over so disgracefuI a
situation. In the language of Gen. Mac
Artnurs report, 'the conditions herein
briefly recapitulated, have not been
brought into existence wholly by the
hand of Providence
Il LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS 4 DAN