The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-03-28
The slaughter of the Filipinos, it

The slaughter Of the Filipinos 1t
seems, is going steadily ON, and, &C.
sording to censored dispatches from
danila. the wounded Filipinos found
IN our lines do not receive much atten-
tion. But the country ID evidently get
ting aroused ON the subject and 1t
seems that Senator Mason, Of Illinois,
has returned to Washington from Chi
cseo, and viii remain III Washington
for q few weeks attending TO depart
mental matters lie hes accepted al
invitation to spoek in Boston in April
before q Republican club in opposition
to the policy Of holding the Philippines
lie says
Il learned from the Presidents
speech before the Home Market Club OF
Boston, that the Philippine problem
was in the hands OF Congress and would
he settled by the Legislative branch OF
the Government. So thought | would
come TO Washington and be here In case
it should happen that the President
cared for the judgment Of Congress on
this matter. ltind pronounced change
of sentiment among men with whom /
talk. Substantial business men who
three months ago were red hot for ex-
pansion now say they have had enough
II il ask them how about the pres
tige Of their country, and they say they
care little about prestige derived from
cOnduering men with arrows In their
hands, but that the taxes resulting are
what they fear The idea OF calling
these Filipiuos rebels, as some OF our
newspapers persist in doing, is unjust.
They have never taken the oath OF ale
glance 70 the United States. They
wanted independence from the start,
and have said 60 They will always
hate us, and nothing is 10 be gained
bv conquering them. Even II we do
overcome them they will turn around
ard poison our people have just
learned from the surgeon general sofiice
that 81 per cent. OF our men ont there
are afflicted with q lOathsOme disease.
This is bad beginning for our army.
Il am not high moralist and not
50 much opposed to stealing in itself ;
but do question the Judgment OF a
man who steals red hot stove that he
is in no position to carry of. Such q
thief is fool The attempt OF the
United States TO steal the liberty OF the
Filipinos is of me same sort. believe
the American people are waking up to
this question.
And on the same day Senator Stew
art, Of Nevada. after visit to the State
Department. said, with a good deal Of
warmth
That he was convinced that the
property and personal rights OF the peo-
pie in the Philippines are not being
protected by the forces OF this coun.
try. He went on TO say that he had
been 10 the State Department relative
10 the case Of the OOrtes brothers, who
came here to appeal FOR the restoration
Of property 20 their family, this prop
erty having been confiscated by the
SpaulaIus.
Senator Stewart declared shat he
did not like the information he receiv-
ed. as it indicated that the property
confscated by the Spaniards is not be-
ing restored by the officials OF this coun-
try. The Senator declined to 90 into
details except to say that he Is going
TO look more closely into the informa-
tion he has received.
90 / have been in favor Of retaining
the Philippines. he said, but my
mind is beginning to change. y
Both Of these items are from the Wash
ington. D. c. Star. which has been =
most persistent supporter Of the Preii-
dent aud his policies