Militarism in the Philippines:

9

plunder, or murder anyone, but, on the contrary, they have always
strictly observed the rules of war, in conformity with the principles
of modern civilisation, and never failed to do everything in accordance with humanitarian principles. General Merritt's honesty
should debar him from attributing to General Aguinaldo, the loyal
ally of America, a claim on the part of the Filipinos for a share of
the booty. His reference to the Filipinos as children is a simple
echo of the Spanish saying, and he, like the Spaniards, may
discover his error too late. Now that the Spaniards are defeated
they are convinced of the great historical mistake which caused the
war carried on by Aguinaldo since I896. The competence of the
natives to govern finds full evidence in the present Administration,
and in the law, order, and morality which prevail in the districts
now under control.
V.
We read in the-Morning Post of November 2Ist, I898:
"THE FILIPINO LEADERS.
' TO THE EDITOR OF THE MORNING POST.
"SIR,-I have read in your newspaper the important statements of the American General Merritt respecting the recognition
of the Filipino Insurgents. He says:'that in talking to the leading
Filipinos he told them that the United States had no promises to
make; ' that 'it was impossible to recognise the Insurgents;' that
he 'thinks Admiral Dewey after his (General Merritt's) arrival
pursued the same course; ' and that ' what was done before is not
for him to comment on.' By these statements, instead of denying
that the promises were made and that the recognition of the Insurgents was a fait accompli, General Merritt confirms it, as made
previous to his arrival. In fact, his utterances are a strong censure
of Admiral Dewey, the only gallant officer who has acted fairly in
the Philippine Campaign, and a public exhibition of his disacreement with the policy adopted by the said Admiral, who, we must
suppose, acted in accordance with the instructions of his Government. General Merritt also affirms that the American Army 'purposely gave the Insurgents no notice of the attack on Manila,' and
he ' was moved by the fear that the Insurgents might loot, plunder,