Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-15
SOLDIER REFUTES LIBELS.

Member of South Dakota Volunteers
Writes of Filipino Conditions.
From the Chicago Inter Ocean.
H. H. Coburn, a member Of the LIST Regi-
| ment, South Dakota Volunteers, one Of the
| men who have won glory for the regiment
during engagements with the Filipino in
surgents, in letter to a South Dakota
friend completely 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 just2ess, from soldiers stand
point, of the American attitude in the Phil
ippines. His letter Is as follows:
We'll, the volunteers have finally been
started home and are, of course, glad of it,
but the kicking and clamoring for their re-
turn was done over there by the anti-ex-
pansionists and not by the soldiers here
OF course, the soldiers kick and grumble a
little on general principles, but they do
nothing to hamper or embarrass the gov
eminent, and II such friends OF the soldiers
as Edward Atkinson and others of his class
should happen around here curing an en-
gagement wouldn't guarantee their safety
mere Is large amount OF lies being
punished ABOUT now lnlnSS are going
here, some beng written by soldiers them
selves, which makes line food Tor populISt
papers, which ueiisnt IN running down the
Killing women ana cHliuIen or any one
cept those lighting against them are Moth
ing out lies. A woman child Will some
times get Killed or WounQed, but 1t is done
intentionally. l have been in fourteen
engagements, and under nre thirty-two
Gays IN the trenches at San Pedro MacaJi,
anu l know OF but two women being killed,
and they We're in the trenches with the in
SufSentS and were killed in charge
"A priest was Killed at the same time.
Inc smells OF the WarshlpS and field bat
teries, l have heard, killed some, but l did
not happen to see 1t, but that could not
be aVolued. AS Tor the government giving
over these ISLANDS to Aguinaiuo and nus
followers to govern, it would be as sensi-
DE as to gather together all the tribes of
Indians in the United States and put them
IN state or two, and tell the Sioux ma
tlon they could run things. There
good many highly educated and Weil-to-do
1agals. who are perfectly competent of
seif-government, but there are quite a
number OF tribes almost wholly without
education, ana who would about as leave
have roast man for dinner as anythiry else
Wnen they are hungry.
Il don't believe d white man ever lived
on these ISLANDS who would advocate Civ
ing them Selt-goVernment. Capital and in
oustry would all leave ii the tIiIpInos were
given the relnS OF the government. II the
United States withdrew from here Eng
lahd or Germany would step in at once,
ana the natives would gain nothing, but
would nave another war ON their hands
men TINS war ends and peace is restored
TIE tlnpinoS Will be glad, as good many
OF them are now, that the United States
mas charge OF things, and Uncle Sam can
theh pesin one OF the biggest pieces of
missionary work ever Undertaken ~ the
government, in educating and civiizing
THESE people, and they are able to pay
lne Dill ana flourish at the same time