Page:American Boy's Life of William McKinley.djvu/309

Rh hot-headed declared that McKinley was trying to create an empire, over which he might be emperor. Nothing was further from our worthy President's mind. He simply wished to do his duty, and he considered that it was the duty of the United States to govern the Philippines, and to aid the Filipinos in every way possible, until law and order was restored, and they were educated up to the point where they could do for themselves.

Early in the new year, 1900, the Insurgents became more than usually active south of Manila, and Generals Wheaton and Schwan were sent to drive them back. The Laguna de Bay became once more the scene of several battles, and the rebels were driven away from this lake, and also away from the vicinity of Lake Taal. Batangas was captured, and some of our troops moved both south and west, with considerable success.

In the meantime the campaign on the north had again reopened. The Insurgents were more badly scattered than ever, and could get together a regiment of soldiery only with the greatest of difficulty. There was