The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-08-29
SOLDIER REFuTEs LIBELs.
A South Dakota Volunteer Writes Of
FiIipIno Conditions.

Filipino Conditions.
Sioux City dispatch to Chicago Inter
Ocean: H. IA. coburn, a member Of
the First regiment, South Dakota vol
unteers, one of the men who have won
glory for the regiment during engage
ments with the Filipino insurgents, in
letter to a South Dakota friend COM
pletely refutes the charges of cruelty
made against the American soldiers by
the sympathizers Of Aguinaldo In this
country, and gives other information
which proves the business, from SOL
dis|s standpoint, of the American at
titudr in the Philippines. Bis letter is
as follows:
well, the volunteers have finally
been started home and are, Of course,
glad OF It, but the kicking and clamor-
ing for their return was done over there
by the antl-expansionlsts and not by
the soldiers here. OF course, the SOL
diers kick and grumbfe little on gem
eral principles, but they do nothing to
hamper or embarraBs the government,
and II such friends Of the soldiers as
Edward Atkinson and others Of his
class should happen around here dur
ing an engagement wouldn't guaran-
tee their safety.
There is a large amount Of lies being
published about how things are going
on here, some being written by soldiers
themselves, which makes hne food for
Popullst papers, which delight In rum
ming down the government. AL ac-
counts OF the soldiers killing women
and children or any one except those
fighting against them are nothing but
lies. A woman or child win sometimes
get killed or wounded, but It is done
Internationally. I have been In four
teen engagements, and under FIRE thlr-
ty-two days In the trenches at San Pc
dro Macatl, and know Of but two wo-
men being killed, and they were in the
trenches with the insurgents and were
killed In a charge.
"a priest was killed at the same time.
The shells OF the warships and field
batteries have heard, killed some. but
did not happen to see It, but that
could not be avoided. AS for the gov
eminent giving over these islands to
Aguinaldo and his followers to govern,
It would be as sensible as to gather
together all the tribes Of Indians In the
United States and put them in state
or two. and tell the Sioux nation they
could run things. There are q good
many highly educated and well-to-do
Tagals, VINO are perfectly competent OF
elf-government, but there are quite a
number OF tribes almost wholly with
out education, and who would about as
leave have roast man for dinner as any
thing else when they are hungry.
II don't believe a white man ever
lived on these islands who would advo-
cate giving them self-government.
Capital and industry would all leave II
the FIllpinos were given the relnB Of
the government. II the United States
withdrew from here, England or Ger
many would step in at once, and the
natives would gain nothing, but would
have another war on their hands.
When this war ends, and peace is re-
stored, the Fillplnos will be glad, as a
good many OF them are now, that the
United States has charge Of things, and
Uncle Sam can then begin one Of the
biggest pieces OF missionary work ever
undertaken by the government, in edu
eating and civiliZlng these people, and
they are able to pay the bill and -four
fish at the same time"