Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-01
LIKE CHILDREN.
The FiIipinos Are Not Ready
for SeIf-GOvernment.
Gen. Macarthur Gives the Senators
Points on the Situation.
Committee Finally Decides Not to
Subpoena Asuinaldo ct Ais.

Washington, April 3C.-Major General !
Mace arthur, today, gave further tesu-
mony before the Senate committee on ,
Philippines. He explained his state
ment made, yesterday, that absolute
chaos would result should Independence
be given the F'ilipinos and the United
States forces be withdraw by saying
that the people of the Philippines, be
ing less prepared for lf-government
and administration than any of tn"
Latin American republics at the time
of their emancipa ton from Spain, their
own unaided efforts to accomplish self
regeneration would in all probab iiity
prove abortive.
The people of the Philippines he said,
have rudimentary ideas and aspirations
and are therefore in an essentially
plastic condition which under the tu-
titiOnary control of the United States
would in his opinion admit of "a rapid
molding of the body polite into consis-
tent, self-supporting commonwealth
Even the best thinkers, he said among
the Filipinos have no conception what
ever of the practical mechanical Efforts
whereby the results they are all anX-
ious to attain can be successfully ac-
complished.
: American withdrawal from the is
lands would in his opinion. result in
THE permanent failure of Republican
institutions in the east and fraticidal
war which would continue until sup
pressed by some exterior force.
The broad generalization, he said, is
reached that the United States must
retain the archipelago as a tuitionary
annex; that we must plant our institu-
tons here. that we must contend for
commercial supremacy and perhaps
combat for political supremacy to over
come the inherent difficulties of the sit
uation which will require the most pro-
found efforts of constructive states
manship.
Senator Patterson asked if he would
apply the same views with respect to
Japan, and Gen. Macarthur said that
if Japan should come into our hands in
a clean manner and with q clean con-
science, pure morals and with the same
definite purpose we have in the Philip
pines. We should by all means keep it.
He save it as his conscientious belief
that the presence Of the United States
in the Philippines is an unmitigated
benefaction to the people.
DO you mean the Filipino people
tnat are itII awe dlitt tHt'y nave bttll
subiugated?" inquired Senator Patter-
son.
Gen. Macarthur declared that he did
not mean that there has been any UNI
usual destruction of life in the islands.
THE destruction said he. lis simply
incident to war and, of course. en-
braces n very small percentage of the
total population, which is dense
irt V I'd
one province" remarked Senator Pat
terson.
Replying to this statement, Gen. Mac
Arthur informed Senator Patterson
that if he preferred to believe that he
tMacArthur) could not help it,
We have as much right to believe
that from an American officer who is
the civil governor and who is there in
the province as we have to believe
YOU" replied Senator Patterson. which
brought the retort from Gen. MacAr-
thur:
You can believe what you wish and
l Will believe what l wash"
General Macarthur referred to his
many efforts to bring about cessation
of hostiities and stop the boodshed
These efforts, he said, We're directed to
Aguinaldo through some of his friends
because in his opinion Aguinaldo was
the incarnation of the revolution
Gen. Macarthur said the disparity be-
tween the killed and wounded of the Fi.-
ipino and American forces was due to the
fact that the Fiipinos know nothing Of
the double sight on their rifles. Senator
Patterson wanted to know it, mat
ter of fact, the contacts between our
troops and the Fiipinos We're not simply
assaults and pursuits. . "A
Gen. Macarthur denied that this was
so. saying that since the affair has reach
ed the guerilla state the United States
troops have had the greatest difficulty liz
finding the Filipincs. so that whenever
the Filipinos attacked it was in the ma
Y ture of a surprise, the Filipino posting
himself in thick mountain gorges and fir
first. Under these circumstances our
anSrs and men would go in after them
AmeNen the natural supremacy of the
that cA showed itself and every man
ResponRe reached was killed.
Carmack C>to n question by Senator
he assumed Macarthur said that when
DDS adopted inVnsibility for the meth
did so without csturng AguinaIdo lie
thorities at washifNring with the au-
Gen. Funstons, he N The plan was
Arthur assumed the ana ne tMac-
approving it. At no time Xnslpiiity OF
Arthur replying to an inqufk Gen Mac
ator Patterson did he violat6pm Sen
of civilized warfare. His position rules
subject. he said, was emphatic. \this
Gen. Macarthur was then excuseGN
til tomorrow and the committee went h
to executive session.
By'a strict party vote the committe
refused to subpoena Mapor Corneliu
Gardener. Aguinaldo, Sixto Lopez an
Mabini. The question of sending a sub
committee to the Philippines to continu
the investigation was passed over.