The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-09-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.


military forces in the Philippines,
came to town the other day, he had
a great deal to say about the stu
alton IN the archipelago. The
general, however, framed his COM
ment with hopetulness rather than
emphasis. Between the lines of
his interviews there was food for
thought. He stated, among other
things, that the army of forty
thousand men in the Philippines
would probably be none too many
for some time to come. This is a
bold admission that the civil gov
eminent established with such an
ostentatious flourish of trumpets
is tar from able to stand on its own
legs. Largely by inference, Gen
eral Macarthur attributes the
armed uneasiness Of the Filipinos
to the sudden transition from
Spanish to American institutions.
1t is difficult to comprehend how
the substitution of the good tor the
bad can engender such opposition,
especially among those who have
been groanlng under the burdens
and iniustices of the latter for CEN
turtles.
Unfortunately, the bill of partic-
lars showing why the Americans
and the Filipinos are not in accord
at the present time is left largely
to the imagination of the persons
interested in knowing. While all
must contemplate with certain
amount of satisfaction the growth
of civilizing and reforming influ-
ences in the islands, it seems that
there ought to be way of settling
differences of opinion on questions
of public policy other than the con-
tinued determination of the weaker
disputants. A simple friendly ar
gument will often do more to open
the eyes OF the benighted than
whole battalion bent ON slaughter.
For some time the lethargy in
political circles here has been pro-
nounced. Senator Hannas cavort-
ing Presidential boom, however,
has almost managed to establish
normal wakefulncss in those quar-
tiers where curious structures are
sometimes built from political
straws.
The boom has become so obstrep-
erous that several aspirants have
felt obliged to dodge. Therefore,
the shrewd Ohioan, without appear
ing on the scene, has succeeded in
getting into print am explanation
to the effect that he is perhaps
more deeply amused by the antics
of the boom than any other man,
woman or child in the United States.
The story goes, and it appears
as having leaked from confidential
source, that Mr.. Hanna's sole object
in permitting his name to be used
is to preserve from rust the marvel
ously successful machine hitherto
established by himself for political
purposes.
1t is alleged that Senator Hanna
intends to refrain from being the
next President. There are those,
even in his own party, however,
who are not sure of the matter. 1t
is known that he admires the White
House, outside and inside. He has
never been accused of not being
ambitious. The buzz of the Presi-
Dental bee is soothing and alluring.
Even his opponents have admitted
that he is the logical Republican
candidate. And there is no doubt
that he intends to be the controlling
factor in the next national conven-
ton of his party if he is alive when
that body is called to order.
Notwithstanding the public SEN
sation of wearnlness, the Samp-
son Schley controversy continues TO
demand that it shall be noticed.
Forecasts, denials, speculations,
reports of progress and differences
of opinion related to the dispute
are forced into prominence with the
regularity of weather predictions.
A day or two since it was an
nounced that Sampson would re-
main in his New Hamshire retreat
by his friends in Washington. It
was declared that physical weak
ness would prevent his appearance
before the naval court of inquiry.
Now an anonymous naval official of
high standing declares that the
father of the controversy insists
upon facing the tribunal in order
to substantiate the charges against
Admiral Schley. While Sampson
may be physically unfit to stand
the seige of the Washington tri-
bunal, there is no doubt as to the
construction the people would place
upon his absence. They were al
ready recalling the fact that he was
somewhere else when Schlev re-