The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-04-28
THE OUTLOOK As TO THE PHIL
IPPINE WAR

lISGly III i1d Cl1llClSLAl VI NiC pIOCId-
nation issued to the Fflipinos by the
United States commission. 1t is an as
tonishing document, and, as the Buf-
falo On. V Express says it falls
vastly below h scheme Of reforms
which the Spanish decreed for Cuba
and Porto Rico, and which Cubans and
Americans alike agreed was no suffi-
cient substitute for independence"
The Chicago Record, which warmly
supported the administration during
the war in Cuba, declares that the
proclamation is a proclamation of on
quest, and as such, it must CRATE upon
the sensitive ears of those American
citizens who still regard as eternal n
of universal application the foundation
principles upon which their own insti-
tutions are based"; that the spirit of
kindness which the %conquerer has ever
promised to his not too willing sub
~jects." These are but samples of what
may be met with constantly. The more
that rs known of the details of fighting
in the Philippines and the slaughtering
of the poorly armed and drilled natives
the more horrible and disgusting in the
record. 1t is a disgrace to a so-called
great republic Of 1900, 900 people to be
hunting and s~laughtering a weak peo-
pie who are asking for what the thir-
teen colonies fought England-liberty
and independence-local self-govern-
ment. The soldiers are writing back
telling of the way the Filipinos are
hunted like quails and rabbits, and the
fun is great in shooting them. But
still the Filipinos keep in the field in
spite OF killing. Martin c. Olson, Of
14th Regulars, writes and his letter ap-
pers in the Sioux City (Iowa) Journal.
He tells of the battle of nineteen hours
during the night of February 4 and the
next day, in which I'VE killed about
5000 insurgents, and we lost about 40
killed and 100 wounded" and says:
I'VE can lick them, but it will take
US a long time, because there are about
$50, 900 of the dagos back in the hills,
and as soon as one of them gets killed
or wounded, there is a man to take his
place at once, and We have but a few
men here in the first place"
Much sickness prevails among the
Americans, and a member of the 23rd
Regulars writes that the soldiers want
to come home to America, where they
can be in civilization once more. The
land of the Filipinos has no charms for
them. They are getting tired of hearing
and seeing so much of these half-civil-
ized tribes.
He writes again:
There has not been a night for the
last ten days we have not a fighting.
Our force is too weak, and We cannot
spare our troops. Then we will have
hard fighting, for there are so many
that, no matter how many we Kill or
capture, it doesn't seem TO lessen their
number"
So there is no telling how long the
slaughtering of the enemy is 10 con-
tinue that they may be hot into a
state of grace and made obedient unto
the law Of unrighteousness as expound-
ed by Mckinley and SET. Mckinley has
received an address from Lincoln, Ne
braska, of the people, in behalf of the
First Regiment in the Philippines. They
are asking Cndt the FlrSl NEBRASKA be
sent home and denying the right to
compel them TO remain longer in the
Philippines to do police garrison duty"
Governor Lee, Of South Dakota, has
officially asked the President ID bring
the First South Dakota regiment back
from the Philippines, taking the ground
that their retention in service in the
Philippines is unconstitutional and a
violation OF the law which called the
regiment into organization and Sem
ator Pettigrew supports the governors
contention. Governor Lind, of Mime
sofa, having, he avs, appealed in rain
to the president to hasten the discharge
of the state regiment nov serving in the
Philippines. now asks the Minnesota
legislature to take action. He, too, as
serts that 1.-THE volunteers are being
held contrary to law"