Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-08-18
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS
FACTS AND OPINIONS GATHERED
FROM CONTEMPORARIES.
WHAT THE VOLUNTEERS SAY.

what returning volunteers say it will not
check the tide of expansion which is
rolling along the Pacific coast" If he
means by this that imperialism is so
rampant in his section that the people
will not listen to reason and will not
consider facts that are not to their
liking, so much the worse for them and
for the country. for there has already
been more than enough of policy and
performance based upon transformation
and directed by the brawling of such
lingo statesmen as Doolittle, who think
the United States can lick all creation in
minute and are in duty bound to do it,
but whose patriotism finds expression in
shouting steadily while Others do the
/ fighting.
We have been terribly deceived, to our
serious discredit and everlasting damage,
as to the Philippines. 1t may be too late
to correct the plumbers we have made.
We have paid and must continue to pay
heavy penalties for allowing ourselves to
be stampeded by greed, sentiment and
noise into campaign of conquest 5000
miles from home with the notion that we
were going on pleasure excursion.
But we certainly owe it to ourselves now
/ to secure all the information we can and
shape our course hereafter by the light
of reason and sense. We have had lies
enough. The truth, however unpleasant,
will do us good.
About the only reliable witness as to
the Philippines and the situation we are
facing there are the returning volunteers,
who now that their mouths are unsealed
testify to the things they have seen and
| the facts they know. No one puts any
more faith in the tales of Otis and the
commissioners. The news which cor
respondents would send is either sup
pressed or distorted by the censor at
Manila, and those still in service upon
Luzon naturally avoid mourning the
wrath of the governor-ge general by writing
letters which brand as false his official
dispatches. But the volunteers, as soon
as they set foot in their native country,
talk freely. and after making due al
lowance for their feelings their state
ments are to be taken as trustworthy,
Especially when they agree, as they
generally do.
And what they say will have tremend-
GUS influence, Mr.. Doolittle and the rest
of the fire eating ingoes to the contrary
notwithstanding. For example, The
Nebraska regiment was as fine body of
men as was sent to Manila and it has
seen as much service as any upon Luzon.
1t began the fighting on the 9Th of Feb
ruary and has participated in most of the
battles since. Its colonel was killed
beading an advance against the rebels
.and its roll numbers 204 less than it did
at first. OF those that remain more than
100 have been brought home wounded.
1.-The regiment arrived at San Francisco
Hast week in command of Colonel
lMumford, who said to the newspaper
men who interviewd him. 81 don't think
you will see any of us returning to
Manila very soon. Only one of the regi-
ment re-enlisted. Wait till we are mus
kered out and we will talk" Others
talked then and there. A few quotations
from the San Francisco papers show
how:
H. c. Shaw, Company C-The islands
are not worth fighting for. 1t will take
millions of dollars and numberless lives
to overcome the natives. Under present
regime it is doubtful il we can put
down the rebellion.
F. Kuhn, CT don't think the islands
are worth the expense and loss of life
already entailed, not TO speak of the
losses that are bound to follow. 1t will
take twenty years to subjugate the
people. l never would 90 back. The
Filipnos would not make good citizens.
f. P. johnson, Company Give should
never have undertaken the task. | never
would return to the Islands under any
circumstances. The Filipinos are too
treacherous to make good citizens.
NJ. j. Head, C-By no means are the
islands worth fighting for. We should
never have started the work. Two years
bf good hard campaigning with 100000
men might end the war.
w. L. Gilbert, Company K-The cam
palgn has been productive of very little
good as compared with the loss. Unless
competent general is placed in COM
mand we never will be able to hold the
Islands peacefully.
Corp c. Campbell C-The task of
acquiring the islands will be tremendous.
1t will take at the very least five years
more of fighting, and even then there
will remain great deal to be done. The
Stands are good enough for the natives,
but not for foreigners. | class the
people lower tnan the INDIANS ana III
fintely more difficult to deal with.
w. C. Brownell, C-The biggest mis-
take the government ever made was in
attempting to subjugate the Filipinos.
of course it can be done by extermin-
htion. No white person will live in the
Islands longer than he has to.
Frank N. Harrison, G-The islands are
pot worth fighting for. 1t will take
from five to ten years with good COM
handler to end the war. Otis will die
before he accomplshes that result.
Julius Thaldall, C-The islands are not
worth war. Under present conditions
I'VE can never conquer the natives. No
white man cares to live there.
This is not pleasant reading but what
FOOLS we should be to brush it aside as
Unworthy of consideration.-Mirr q
Farmer.