Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-11-28
That Charge Of looting Churches.

General Funston of Kansas, didn't
ming rivers and charging Filipino in
trenchments. He finds that not only
the flag, but the American soldier in
general and himself in particular have
enemies at home as well among Aguin-
aldo's followers, and he is as fearless in
facing one as he was the other. A re-
cent issue of Donahoe's Magazine had
an article by contributor calling
himself John ]. Sullivan of San Fran
cisco, in which General Funston was
charged with church looting and sac
rilege in the Philippines. This made
this little Kansan mad clear through,
for the charge was utterly false and he
didn't relish being called church thlef.
So he began to investigate and he finds
that there are IL John j. Sullivans IN
San Francisco most of whom are bar
tenders with one or two coal passers
among them. The only one who has
ever had the slightest connection with
journalism is boy who is in charge of
an elevator in a newspaper office.
The general has come out with
signed statement expressed in the Wig
orous English of which he is capable.
showing the falsity of the charges
made by this unknown Sullivan. He
shows that some of the alleged desc
crations We're a physical impossbility;
he and his regiment We're somewhere
else al the time. Ordinarily" he says,
Il would not think it worth my while
to notice such a tissue of lies as this
young puppy has RECALLED US with" He
continues
| have put a check of $1,000 on the
bank of California in the hands of my
aide, Lieutenant Il. j. Mitchell, Fortieth
United States Volunteer Infantry. now
at the Occidental hotel and | chal-
lenge John ]. Sullivan, whichever one
of him il is. the editor of "DonahOe's
Magazine" the editor of the san
Francisco Monitor" or any other per
son who takes up this case. to put
up an equal amount, and | challenge
these people to prove by evidence that
would pass in any police court. that ]
ever took. connived at the taking of
or knew of the taking of any article
sacred or otherwise from any church
in the Philippines, or that my wife
received from my hands or from those
of anyone else. anything taken from
any church. the judges to be three
Jewish residents of San Francisco, to
be selected by Rabbi Noorsanger any
money forfeited by either party go
ing to the California Red Cross Society.
Unless this challenge is accepted in As
hours, | hereby brand the editor Of
'Donahoe's Magazine, the editor OF
the San Francisco Monitor" and this
particular one of the eleven John J.
Sullivans in San Francisco. as liars
and blackguards of the first water"
This is pretty strong language but
there is a large excuse for It. AS a
matter of fact most of the church.
desecrating in the Philippines has been
done by insurgents,-the same insur
gents who amused themselves a few
years ago by torturing Spanish priests.
This fact has been recognized and pub
licly stated by some of the highest
Catholic authorities in the country,
Archbishop Ireland among them. But
some enemies of Funston have tried
to lay the outrages at his door. 1t IS
an abominable injustice and shame
that the desperate "anti-imperialists"
should be trying to saddle the crimes of
Flipinos and Chinese upon our brave
American soldiers. Some of our fight
ing men may not be of the Sunday
school variety, but they don't loot
churches.
10 a Sh !