Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-17
THE "SeDTTLE" ISSUE
0,G 80
Democrats I; Ignorant of Phil
ippine- Conditions.
Il
THREE YEARS. CHANGES
PEOPLE coNTENTED WITH AMER
ICAN SOVEREIGNTY.
Another General Uprising Impossible
Situation is Being Accepted
With tranquility.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star

MANILA. P. l., May q, 1902.
Now that the democrats have apparently
decided on making "scuttle" tie principal
plank of their Philippine platform, it may
be well to inquire dispassionately just what
| support such a policy finds in existing con-
| ditions in the islands. The outlook must
| needs be broad one. for among a people as
diverse as the Filipinos, and actuated by
such a variety of impulses, it is compare
| lively easy where the end sought is purely
partisan, to find support for almost any
| view desired.
The wide discrepancy observed in certain
instances in the testimony of witnesses be-
fore the Senate and House committees
which puzzled those anxious to get at the
facts-was due not so much to mental quail
tiles and point of view as to the particular
season or epoch when the impressions of
the witness were formed and to his oppor-
tunity for a general survey of the situation
rather than particular features of it. 1t
must be borne in mind that the face of
things changes rapidly here, not only by
reason of the somewhat impressionable and
unsteady character of the people, but be-
cause of the rapid extension of civil govern
ment and American institutions throughout
the islands. The influence exerted over the
people by the army of school teachers and
civil employees scattered throughout the
provinces, representing as they do different
thoughts and ideals from those possible un-
der military occupation, has already been
far reaching. The effect of the transfer
nation now being worked, with all its pres
ent effect and future possibilities on the
thought and attitude of this people toward
Americans, cannot be understood by those
who formed their conclusions a year or
two years ago, when war existed, and when,
from the very nature of things, our pres
ence was distasteful to the people.
Changing Conditions
1t is here that President Schurman of
Cornell makes his mistake when attempt
ing to give expression to the present atti-
tude of the Filipino people in matters polit-
ical. He assumes to speak with authority
and his utterances are given considerable
weight both account of his present
position and by reason of his connection
with the first Philippine commission. AS
matter of fact, however, that commission
reached the islands Immediately after the
outbreak of the instruction in 1899 re-
manned for about four or five months.
practically cooped up in Manila, and then
went home While its members gathered
considerable information and data concern
Ing the natural resources of the islands,
etc., the thought and attitude of the people
at that time, when the plaIs and purpose
OF our government toward the Filpinos
were completely misunderstood form
poor basis to qualify one to speak eX cath
tuId upon the Flll1pplne question.
The three years that have elapsed since
that time have worked changes of which
President Schurman takes no account and
which can be appreciated only by persons
on the ground who have kept in close touch
with the progress of affairs. This same
proneness to take second hand and OBJ
solete material upon which to expound the
law and the gospel of the Philippine stu
alton Is observed in the outbreaks of dem
ocratic senator's and representatives, and
of an opposition press, when they grow
hysterical over the "perfidy, injustice and
oppression of our government in these
islands and become fearful at the thought
of crushing the spirit of liberty from a
brave and patriotic people
Views of Americans at Manila.
When it is said that such views and such
expressions find absolutely no sympathy
among the Americans now in the islands it
will likely be charged that this Is due to
self-interest While personal considerations
no doubt influence ones position upon GER
tain questions (as evidenced by the partisan
position of senators and representatives
upon this very subject, the unanimous SEN
timent prevailing here cannot be explained
upon any such theory. The true !explana-
tion however 1t may be dtscredited by
those who wish to think otherwise, is that
those on the ground appreciate the real
situation. They see and know the Filipinos,
and have a practical knowledge Of their
they realize, as none other can, just what
has been done and Is being done by our
government looking to the advancement
ana betterment of this people. 1t Is under
stood. OF course, that the democratic lead
ers are fighting for self-preservation, and
are reaching after much larger constitu-
ency than the few pioneer Americans who
are seeking to uphold the honor of their
country in these Islands. 1t is conceived,
however, that If our democratic friends,
hard pushed as they may be for an issue,
could realize the utter righteousness, to
say nothing of the injustice, of their
charges against the work of our govern
ment among this people, they would modify
somewhat the character of their adjecttves
and thus relieve themselves Of the contempt
which Is felt for their foolish and misbegot-
ten utterances by those who are in posi-
ton to know the facts and speak honestly.
The Present Situation.
Let us consider briefly just what the pros
ent situation is and what foundation or en-
enlargement it offers to the advocates Of a
"scuttle' policy. In the first place. despite
the efforts and the influence Of the "antis"
TO the contrary. the, war is over. From
APART to Tawi Tawi peace has settled over
the Islands. Every zinsurrecto leader has
surrendered, and each would now consider
1t personal affront should any subordi-
nate attempt to seek glory In the field
where his superior had failed. AS matter
OF Iact. there has been. no war In the true
sense for almost two years.
The so-called ''fnsarrectos' have put In
their time lodging our troops and making
me miserable to such Of their own country
men-and they were the great majority
who favored peace. People in the states
have digniied the tactics of these isolated
guerrilla leaders into heroic defense of
liberty. Such leaders. however, represented
no organization. mo . general sentiment
among their people. So long, however, as
they Were able to levy supplies and to
terrorizze non-combatants into refusing to
give information as .tos their whereabouts.
!: was practically impossible to run them
down. The nature Of the country. their
habit of scattering at, the approach OF
troops. and the impossiblity of distinguish
Ing one class Of natives from another, made
the task of reaching them almost hopeless
The mass Of the people have and had no
conception whatever Of liberty or independ-
ence What they want Is peace and quiet
for they are not warlike, nor are they given
70 the strenuous life. They WERE however.
between the upper and the neither millstones
In the hills were ambitious generals" with
an armed rabble of lawless natives at their
heels visiting with torture and death those
who assisted the Americans or rallied to