Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-01-18
APARTMENT QUERY.
wants TO Know "How Long Is This Phil
ippine War G0inQ to Last ?"

|
Can the administration give any en-
couraeement to the hope that the wal
In the Philippine will be ended during
The present year? 1t began early in
February, 1899. 1t has lasted almost
two years Wehave won many victor
les, we have killed or captured good
many of their troops. We have not con-
quered them, we have not restored
peace and order to the Island Of Luz
Oh. nor inspired the natives with re-
spect for our authority. We cannot
nice the truth by calling it guerrilla
warfare. or by saying that hostility is
now manifested only by rowing bands
or unorganized cut throats. Surface
appearances lend support to these ex
tenuating phrases, but rebellion has
not been crushed and the conditions OF
WEI exist. We have hot captured or
Killed Aguinaldo, who is the inspiring
cause of the trouble.
Ihe American people are plainly
tired of this Philippine war. They
cannot follow with understanding or
satisfaction the petty and ineffective
Cam mpalgnlng of our troops They cam
uot understand why decisive opera
Glons are not planned and carried ont
Ihey ind it HARD to exclude from
their minds tie suspicion that some h
where incompetence is deferring the
of order and putting off I
ne day when the civilizing work of 8
building up can begin. They are c
WARE that the nature of the country f
ND the disposition of the TagaI make c
ur work difficult. The perplexities +
I the British in South Africa furnish Il
N Illustration of how hard it is to take n
IL the fight out of an imperfectly civil.
.ed enemy who has the run of his own A.
ountry. But the Filipinos are iDfe So
'or TO the Beers in courage, capacity. n
nd equipment. The nation is snr. R
rised and disappointed that General ir
lacArthur has not sooner finished the ar
ork passed Oh to him from the hands IA
- - en otls' th
Every step and every measure taken to
salnst the rebel force of Aguinaldo w
rs been necessary and justified. The tb
ar is that they have not been wisely to-
ken or with asutficiently stern reso in
zion. We need hardly say that we of
I'VE not spark of sympathy with the no
ckless anti imperiaIistic enemies of Hi
e administration. Their bue-light kn
llcy and their utterances have tend
TO encourage resistance to our au .+
orlty and to prolong the war. When Iea
sulnaldo's forces attacked our troops viii
became our duty to fight them to bev
point of determination, If they Cr,
uld not haul down their rebel flag h..
ort OF determination. But why does ow
JAKE US such an unconscionably long tbr
ne to teach them reason and obedi. tb.
,e? ,-.
~ 'ia'ioh nnusG oe aware cha
1t the case of its enemies is not weak wb.
ID nor the confidence of Its friends dvi
by the daily reading about ing
this cost and killing. TokiII rebel II
by inches and trust to patience and tho
time to bring back peace and con- hoo
tment is not humane or a wise -. b
Icy. 1t cannot be the lack of money. 70 u
t the lack of troops. supplies, trans toll,
tation, ammunition. artillery? Is hrot
he lack of competent commander? div
public simply does not knw where in, t,
trouble lies. it does know that ua
re is trouble somewhere Where is - .,
How long is this Philippine war as h
-o w iN' ~. 1lHeo. love