The Philippine-American War

1899

Recruiting for the new volunteer army has been successful. The Secretary of War feels justified in saying that before the end of the rainy season in the Philippine Islands — the first of November — there will be fifty thousand American troops in the field. The President believes that the force will be sufficient to end the war. Otherwise he would have called for a larger number of soldiers.

It is a matter of common comment that the people are tired of the conflict, and wish to see it ended. Those who regard the war as an immoral attack upon a people who deserve their independence have been reënforced by politicians who think they see in the Philippine difficulty an opportunity for party success. Beside these two classes are many supporters of the administration who are apprehensive lest their political opponents are correct in their estimate of the effect of the war upon the result of future elections.

On the other side there is no enthusiasm for the war. It is merely regarded as a painful national duty. The number of those who would withdraw the army and navy and leave the Filipinos to decide their own fate is probably very small. Unless the body of the people should accept their opinion, the only practicable course is to prosecute the war vigorously and to end it quickly.

Carrying on a distant war, carrying on any war, is new business to the American people. They do not like it, and only accept its cruel, distasteful burdens when they must. Must is an uncomfortable word in its relation to some of the experiences of life. Many a peace-loving citizen cannot see how a proud nation can perform the duty to the world which it undertook in the Treaty of Paris, without first overcoming opposition to its authority in the Philippines. It is here that the imperative most seems to force acquiescence.