The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-10-11

SEATTLE, WEDNESDAY, OCT. II.
GEN. OTIS.

GEN. OTIS.
The Post-IntelIigencer regrets that its
columns should havs been made an ave-
nue for the thoughtless and inconsid-
crate expressions Of returning soldier.
broadly iniimating that Gen. Otis Is
wanting In honesty. II was the one
false note In the joyous outpoursng OF
welcome to our valiant volunteers. 1t
ought not to have been said. and 1t
ought not to have been printed.
It has been the practice OF many
newspapers to interview the volunteers
as they landed at San Francisco on the
question Of Gen. Otis competency. and
their testimony as rule has been ad-
verse to him. 1t Is 10 be remembered.
however, that II Is a common military
often deems himself entirely capable Of
passing Judgment ON his commanding
officers, and, II he can do II without
risk. he does not hesitate 10 give his
opinion. It's value In not great because
the opportunities of q private for OBJ
tanning complete survey OF q sftua-
ton are limited. and his individual for
tunes and experiences are apt to infiu-
ence and control his point of view.
1t is perhaps unfortunate that the
public knows so little In detail about the
Philippine campaign: and what little 1t
about. Gen. Otis displayed singular
want OF tact In his attitude toward the
newspaper correspondents. and made
every one OF them exceedingly hostile
toward him. The censorship was not
exercised merely to withhold information
likely to be valuable 10 the enemy: the
newspaper men distinctly charge that
their reports were mangled and distert-
ed. 10 keep from the American people
knowledge they were fairly entitled to
have. and to cause the reporters to say
that which they did not intend 10 say.
hNt WhtAA Nacs ais ta'#ts At iEt~
ters that have escaped the censor they
have outlined just what this knowledge
WAS. The United States In not a mill
tary despotism. aud It's citizens will not
tolerate any policy that enables a COM
handing general 10 keep them In
the dark as 10 his movements and
methods. as well az To deceive them.
unless it appeals TO their own sense OF
what Is right and prudent. In brief the
newspaper men charge otis with mutt
iating their reports and covering up the
facts In his own interest and In the sup
posed political interest of the national
administration. and not because their
publication would have been harmful
Ia the American campaign In the ISL
anas.
The newspaper men in the employ Of
American papers in and about Manila
are Americans. and unauesticnaeiy are
loyal supporters az the American cause
They have not at any time assumed
that they were immune from their clear
obligation 10 disclose nothing of Gen
OTIS plans. ana 10 write and publish
nothing~lf II were yoidatio-dessg nesi
to inform the enemy. OF 70 give HAN ala
and comfort. az course certain nosori-
oas conditions might exist that Ia them
selves would be helpful 20 the enemy.
ana Of which he mig3}t b. fully awarv f.
SO that no newspaper couia fairly he
expected so isynora them. Within cer-
tain well-avflaeSl limits the sound policy
I'm VAR Is 10 tell tha truth. and it,ll Il
fully. Ii Cen OTIS had IA sonle degree
relied upon the discretion and patriot
ism OF the corrts Q0ns5e utss hs xssals
Doubtless have found that he hAa small
caese e. complain As II IS. she Anaegi-
can public knows that theirs Is al least
e serious dispute arnenE persons who
ought - knew "a - what ara the act
uaI conditions IN the islands. ana they
knew that this general uuevrs alntx has
it's origin IA TIE arbitrary censorship
scherse. II there had been ~ svstrt.s~
sions. or at least Il there had be~yl only
moderate restrictions. Gen Otis would
probably have found tia; sAe .ullie
Judgment 81 his efficiency would nog D.
50 seriously divided.