The position in the Philippines appears to be this. The
insurgents are masters in most of the islands, and in the in- terior of Luzon, but have no particular purpose except to be free of Spain. They have "elected," or at least got together, some sort of Council, in which a large majority desires annexation by the United States, while their most prominent leader, Aguinaldo, a brave and enterprising but profoundly ignorant man, would prefer independence with himself as the actual ruler. The Americans confine their authority to the neighbourhood of Manilla, Luzon being within a fraction as large as England and Wales, and await the decision of Wash- ington, where as yet the inclination is to annex Luzon and " protect " the remaining islands,—an impracticable plan. The Spaniards, on their side, are nominally seeking to keep the Philippines, but really desiring to give them up, with pecuniary compensation for all but Luzon, which they know, they must lose. The Americans dread having to keep a large army so far away, and are not aware that if Manilla is. safely held they can organise a Tagal army without difficulty. The Tagals fight very well, are docile, and like regular wages very much.
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