The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1901-01-19
The Philippine war.
From the philadelphia Ledger January 10.

| From the Philadelphia Ledger January 16.
The interesting colloquy between Senators
| Sewell, Teller and Hoar in the Senate the
other day on Philippine conditions should
| give the final blow to the foolish contention
that there is no war in the islands, Before
the election it was said that there was no war,
and that such mere robber bands as displayed
spasmodic activity would dispense after Presi-
dent McKinley's reelection. General Mac
Arthur, however, made a full and frank report
on the situation after election, in which he
declared that the struggle for liberty had un
fled practically the whole Philippine people
against this countrys attempt to subugaie
them While The defenders Of the imperiais-
tic policy were positive before election that
there was no war, they are constrained to take
different position in justifying the demand
for the large army provided for in the Army
Reorganization bill. Senator Sewell's state
ment is in exact agreement with General
MacArthur's report. and is undoubtedly the
truth. He said:
..Let me say to the Senator from South Dakota
that there is war going on, very serious war 1t
Is not III great shocks of battle, which may occur
one day in month. but the loss is equal TO it, TAX
ing the aggregate in month or three months. =
There are 40 posts or towns that the army oc-
cupies in the Philippines, which is an immense
country, you all know, probably 1900 miles long,
and with numerous islands, 500 or 1000; do not
believe they have ever been able to arrive at the
two companies at a post. But if you send out
scouting party of ten or twenty men they are i'm
mediately attacked from the outside. They are in
many cases either ptured annihiated and that
is going OH all through the islands. That makes
war; because, If you will look at the reports of the
General commanding, you will lind that every two
weeks or every four weeks there were so many men
killed. so many wounded, and so many died of
disease j.. hospital. They are becoming reduced
at all times. That is the situation. have said,
and think it is the view of the Secretary of War.
that it will take 1000 man in the Philippines for
some time 10 come"
The losses of our troops in the Philippines
in killed, wounded and deaths from disease
from August 6, 1898, to the end of the past
year were 5760, and of these over 1000 died
of disease In these figures no account is
taken OF those who have been sent home in
vaided, and who have died here or of those
who are in insane asylums. According to the
careful report of General Macarthur and the
statements of those who are pleading for
continuance of the present policy, it will be
necessary TO keep on for years sacrificing the
lives of thousands of our citizens as the price
OF maintaining the miserable policy which is
opposed to our interests and places burden
upon our resources. Beyond and above con-
siderations of expense and of life itself. the
fact remains that the policy of sublugating the
Filipinos is unjust, reverses our Practice and
professions as the friends of liberty, and places
upon the low level with the robber nations,
who appeal to their might as their right 1t
is III vain that Americans may pretend to be
shocked at England's conquest and seizure OF
the South African Republics while this country
is engaged in similar practices in the Philip
pines.