Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-02-10
REAL FEELINGS OF FILLPLNOS
TOWARD AMERICAN RULE
BY Permission of the Saturday Evening Post.

Senator A. o. Bacon presents in tOday's
issue OF the Saturday Evening Post, Of
PHILADELPHIA an impressive article entitled
The Real, Feeling of the Filipinos.' from
advance sheets OF which The Journal Is
rarmftted to reproduce the following sub
-.-Sa.iaJ summary. Senator Bacon spent
several months in the Philippines and en-
flowed exceptionally fine opportunities 10
observe and study conditions and pros
poets there.
He gives the following results OF his
Observations.
Islands is to be permanent. or for an ex-
tended period. IL Is scarcely 10 be antiei-
pated that the American people viii be
content with an indefinite continuance OF
existing conditions In the prosecution
OF a war into which. IN their view OF II,
they seem to have drifted on an untore-
seen current. they have neither desired
nor recognized Il 10 be a war for the sub
5ugation OF a people. OF one which. at It's
conclusion. should hold an unwilling ana
an unfrfendly people subject. through the
mower OF ever continuing force. 10 the
domination OF the United States. Ameri-
cans are. not only BY profession hut IN
their hearts. loyal TO personal liberty and
% free institutions. and however great
IS their pride in the achievement OF
American arms. and however enthusiastic
they are IN the contemplation OF national
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and OF territorial expan-
sion they viii not be content with any
adjustment OF a permanent or long-eN-
tended tconnectiOn. which does not bring
the Ffliptnos into cOntented and friendly
relations with the American government.
The existing conditions. with the in
DEFINITE continuance OF which IL Is sug-
Eested that our people viii not be con-
tent. are those that ind still. In some OF
the Islands. a state OF active and bloody
warfare. and IN. all OF the remainder OF
the archipelago where the power OF the
Fuipinos has been crushed out, peace
maintained only by the presence and pow
CT OF garris0ns Of American troops; while,
IN the opinion OF many OF those whose
POSITION gives best opportunity 20 form
accurate Judgment. the people In all OF
the islands. speaking generally. are un-
Friendly 70 Americans AID intensely hos
tie to American domination. This condi-
ton IS the more painful IN that It is one
existing after three years OF most costly
var. during which 12oooo soldiers have
been sent TO the Philippines and IN which
the American army has. under most dis
tresslng conditions, with heroism and for
tftude. and uncOmplainingly. met and en-
dured great suffering. hardship and loss,
while the loss OF life 10 the F1lipinos in
hattie. and 10 all classes in the islands
through the privations and disease result
Ing from the conditions OF war. has been
50 vast as 70 be difficult OF realization. ex-
ceeding by very many times the number
generally estimated in the United States.
Not less certain IS their most earnest
desire that. when ended. the Filipinos
shall not be disconnected and unwil-
ling people hostile TO American rule. and
ready and anxious 10 throw IL on at the
first favorable opportunity. either when
the United States may be unfortunately
involved in a war with some foreign
power OF when other circumstances may
seem 20 promise a successful issue to such
effort. Aside from what may be deemed
By some political sentiment. and from
the considerations IN this connection de-
manded by loyalty TO free institutions. the
importance that IN any permanent con-
necti0n the Filipinos shall be TO the United
States. in times OF trouble. an element or
strength and not a menace and a danger,
possesses a gravity which cannot be wise
y ignored. Such an end cannot be ac-
c0mpIished by a servfle and unwilling sub
mission b. the Filipinos 20 the heavy
hard OF power which they cannot success
fully resist. Such submission win doubt
less accomplish the undisputed sway OF
American authority in the Philippines,
but IL viii be q sway over a discontinued
people. at heart disloyal and hostile.
Much IS heard about the pacification'