The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-04-15
A Dignified But Singing Rebuke
from C. D. O'Brien.
CONCERNING THE PHILIPPINE POLICY
Attorney Refutes the Sophistry
of the Newspaper.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press, an ex-
pansonist organ edited by Nova Sco-
lan OF !Anglo-Saxo pedigree, made the
following editorial reference to Hon. C.
D. O'Bricn in its issue OF April 6: "Mr
G. ID. O'Brien seems disposed to mix
his politics with his duties as president
OF the Thirteenth Regiment Auxiliary
association to Il degree which at least
tends to cnivcn the monotony OF its
discussions. He is OF opinion that our
boys might be in better business than
in Staying the wretchcd Filipinos.' This
would seem to imply that in Mr..
O'Brien's opinion what our boys should
have done. in order to show a proper
style OF American Christianity, was TO
have stood up in a row and let them
selves be slain by the Fiipinos without
protest or resistance. Not an American
shot was fired at them until they under
took TO shoot down our soldiers. And
because we repcllcd their unprovokcd
attack on our troops and tllrasl,cd them
as they deserved for the bloody war
they inaugurated and waged against our
little army, Mr.. O'Bricn thinks our boys
might be in better business than to
teach our assailants to behave them
selves and to pay due respect TO the au-
thority of the government Of the United
States"
Next day the following reply from
MIR. O'Bricn appeared in the Mckinley
organ OF spoliation and conquest:
"lf your editorial assertion that Mr..
CD. O'Brcn seems disposed to mix his
politics with his duties as president OF
the Thirteenth Regiment Auxiliary as
socalion.' because | stated at meeting
oi the association that our boys might
be in better business than in Staying the
wretcllcd Filipinos,' permits of a reply
from me, | beg to say to you that the
statement which did make and which
| take this occasion TO repeat, is not in
my opinion attributable to my politics
or to the politics OF anybody else, but is
the opinion OF an American citizen upon
a condition OF affairs which to my mind
republic. but to every citizen thereof
Nor do think that you arc justified in
stating that in my opinion our soldiers
in the Philippines i'll order to show a
proper style oi American Christianity
should have stood in 4 row and let
themselves be slain by the Filipinos
without protest or resistance.
81 trust that you will be able to spare
enough oi your valuable space to enable
me to demonstrate that my statement
was neither an expression OF my political
opinions, nor did it justify the inference
which you seem to draw from it, AS l
understand the situation it is briefly
this: During the existence OF the Span
isll war Admiral Dewey destroyed fleet
oi our then enemies, which he discov-
cred in the larbor at Manila. Immcdi
atoly thereafter land force OF from six
to seven thousand men were dispatched
by the administration for the Philippine
islands, with the avowcd purpose of
capturing those islands from the Span
iards and defeating the Spanish troops
stationed there. AT that time the inllab-
itants OF those islands we're in full re-
bcllion against Spanish authority and
had been carrying on war against
them, which was at least as effective as
that being prosecuted by the Cuban in
surgcnts against the same authority in
Cuba. Upon the landing of the Ameri-
can troops in August last the city of
Manila surrendered to them after
slight conflict with the Spanish troops.
and since that time that city and other
points in those islands have been held
by the American troops. From the date
of the surrender of the city OF Manila
up to the present time large and nu-
mcrous reinforccments were poured into
the Philippines, until at the time of the
recent outbreak, occurring on the day
before the treaty of peace was to
be passed upon by our senate, our
force in the Philippines aggregated about
10000, of which 10000 were regulars
and 10000 volunteers. From the time
OF our occupation of the city OF Manila
by the first detachment Of troops in
August, 1898. until the outbreak of hos
tilities on Feb. q last, if l remember
| corractly tlhara wae co far aS I have