Bisbee daily review., 1902-01-18
CEN. fUNSTON'S OPINION.

Brigadier General Fredrick Fun ston, the noted and brave kansan has returned from the Orient, where he distinguished himself by the capture of Aguinaldo and performed other deeds of valor which have endeared him to the American people. General Funston does not paint the conditions in the Philippines rosy hue, but on the other hand, confirms what other distinguished officers coming from that country have said concerning the many serious obstacles that the United States must confront in firmly estab- fishing a peaceable government in that country. In an interview in San Fran cisco, General Funston talked freely and among other things said:
 "The situation in the Philippines is . knotty problem. It is one for great minds to ponder over, and nearly every problem that confronts the na- tion has its two sides. Personally, do not think that in the present gen. eration it will be possible to bring the natives under the absolute control of a civil government.
 "I believe that for the next two years it will be necessary for the United States government to main tain a strong military force on the islands in order to exert a strong moral influence on the natives. The troops will not, perhaps, be compelled to suppress or oppress the natives, but the fact that they are there will pre- vent an uprising. For the next two or three years think it will be necessary to maintain a military force of 10000 men in the Philippines to keep the insurrection down. After that period has elapsed, if there are no signs of trouble, think that a force of 10000 men will be enabled to maintain order and prevent an uprising.
 "The Filipinos, while I do not be- lieve that, as rule, they bitterly hate the American people, are certainly not very fond of us. The difference iu race aud language and the fact that they have absolutely nothing in com mon with ou- people make their final consent to be peaceably governed by us a hard matter to bring about.
 Nearly all the educated F.lipinos, the professional Al men and wealthy land owners, are political agitators and schemers of the worst sort. They would not hesitate to embroil the Phil ippines with the United States for al- most an indefinite period if by so de- ing they could gain their ends and secure their independence of the is lands, thereby getting control of the various departments of the gotern- ment, especially the finances, in order to give themselves the opportunity to steal.
 ''If one would except a very few men, of whom Chief Justice Arellano is the type, there are DO prominent Filipinos who have any sense of po- litical morality. Their only idea of public place is that 1t gives them an opportunity to oppress their enemies, reward their friends, or to fill their own pockets with public money.
 ''In my opinion the greatest possible mistake that could be made by the United States in dealing with the Fili- pinos would be to give them any form of elective legislative assembly com posed of people of their own race. A Filipino legislature would merely give opportunity for number of pes tilential agitators to keep the country stirred up and in state of turmoil by holding out to the people vain hope of ultimate independence.'