The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1902-12-11
PEACE IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Rights of Liberty aud Government
Reach Limit of Advisa biIity.


On July last, on the 126th anniversary
Of the Declaration of Independence. peace
and amnesty were promulgated In the
Philippine Islands. Some trouble has since
from time to time threatened with the
Mohammedan Moros. but with the late in
surrectionary Filipinos the war has entirely
ceased. Civil government has now been
introduced. Not only does each Filipino
enjoy such rights to life, liberty, and the
pursuit OF happiness as he has never before
known during the recorded history OF the
Islands, but the people taken rs a whole
| now enjoy a measure OF self-government
greater than that granted to any other
Oriental by any foreign power and greater
than that enjoyed by any other Orientals
under their own governments, save the
Japanese alone. We have not gone 100 far
In granting these rights Of liberty and self
government: but We have certainly gone 10
the limit that in the interests OF the Philip
pine people themselves II was wise or just
to go. To hurry matters. to go faster than
the people of the Islands. No policy ever
entered into by the American people has
vindicated itself In more signal manner
than the policy Of holding the Philippines.
The triumph Of our arms. above all the
triumph Of our laws and the principles. mas
come sooner than we had any right TO ex-
pect. Too much praise cannot De given 10
the army for what II has done In the Phihp-
pines both In warfare and from an ad-
ministrative standpoint In preparing the
way for civil government; and similar creuit
belongs to the civil authorities for the way
In which they have planted the seeds OF
self government In the ground thus made
ready for them. The courage, the unfinch-
ing endurance. the high soldierly efficiency,
and the general kind-heartedNess and hn. i.
manity of our troops have been strikingly
manifested. There now remain only some
1900 troops In the Islands. All told, over
100000 have been sent there.
Constructive Statesmanship.
Taking the work Of the army and the
civil authorities together. 1t may be ques-
toned whether anywhere else In modern
times the world has seen n better example
OF real constructive craftsmanship than our
people have given in the Philippine Islands.
High praise should also be given those
Filipinos in the aggregate very numerous,
who have accepted the new conditions and
Joined with our representatives to work
with hearty good Will for the welfare of
the Islands.
The army has been reduced to the mini
mum allowed by law. II is very small for
the size of the nation, and most certainly
should be kept at the highest point OF eff
fciency. The senior officers are given scant
chance under ordinary conditions to eNcr-
else commands commensurate with their
rank, under circumstances which would fit
them TO do their duty in time Of actual
war system OF maneuvering our army
In bodies Of some little size has been be-
gun and should be steadily continued.
Without such maneuvers 1t Is folly to
expect that In the event of host!ities with
any serious Zoe even Sndli army corps
could be handled to advantage. Both our
officers and enlisted men are such that we
can take hearty pride In them. No better
material can be found. But they must be
thoroughly trained, both as individuals and
in the mass. The craftsmanship Of the
men must receive special attention.
l urgently call your attention to the need
OF passing bill providing for a general
stan and for the reorganization OF the sup
ply departments on the lines Of the bill
proposed by the Secretary Of War last year.
When the young officers enter the army
from West Paint they probably stand above
their compcers In any other military serv-
Ice Every effort shrould be made. by train
Ing by reward Of merit, by scrutiny into
their careers and capacity. to keep them
Of the same high relative excellence
throughout their careers.
The measures providing for the reor-
ganization Of the militia system and for
securing the highest efficiency In the na-
tional guard which has already passed the
House. should receive prompt attention and
action.
Naval Maneuvers and Their Object.
For the first time In our history naval
manervers ON d large scale are being held
under the immediate command OF the ad-
miral Of the navy. Constantly increasing
attention Is being paid to the gunnery Of
the navy, but II Is yet far from what 1t
ahonld b ! earnestly -ur4e that tho In