The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-07-21
are not falling over each other in c
their efforts to enlist. :.
Where Rests the Blame7

Of the administration carrying on
the war Of conquest in the Philip
pines, the true facts are leaking
out and falling into the hands of
the American people. They con-
tradict to a marked degree the dis
patches of Gen. Otis and present
a picture justifying the vigorous
protests which the anti-imperialists
have made since the commission
of this national crime began.
American operations in the arch
lpelago are at a standstlll until
the end of the rainy seaso next
December, while the "pacihed'
territory has been reoccupied by
the Filipinos, The remains of the
gallant volunteer regiments are
coming home and the true situation
is being given to the people. Otis
rosy assurances that lone more
crushing blow" would bring tpeace
within forty-eight hours" have
vanished and no one-not even
the optimistic general in charge
dare now even predict when the
end shall come. The force is cost.
ing the nation S1,ooo,ooo per day,
this burden to be increased by an
additional force.
1t has been said that hos1ilities
in the Philippines were precipita-
ted by the Filipinos themselves,
and the American troops were
forced to defend themselves against
the attacks of the natives. THE
UNION sincerely wishes that the
blame for this tragedy could be
thus placed, but facts make it i'm
possible. That the Filipinos had
been our allies in driving the Span.
ish from the Philippines cannot be
truthfully denied. AS to how hos.
tilitles began on February 4th las,
and who was responsible for the
clash, a letter written by F. w,
Sylvester and appearing in the
New York World may shed some
light. Mr.. Sylvester is a member
of the firm Of Louis Spitzel & Co.,
one of the largest merchant anc
shipping houses in the far East,
contractors to the Chinese govern
ment, agents for the Maxim-Nor.
denfeldt Gun and Ammunition Com
pany, of London, the Thames Iror
Works and Ship-building Com.
pany and other firms of like stand.
ing. Mr.. Sylvester returned tc
London lately from Manila and
Hongkong. He has intimate per
sonal knowledge Of Aguinaldo and
his followers. 1t was he who solo
Aguinaldo arms through Consul
Wildman. Heis recognized as one
Of the highest authorities on trade
conditions in the east. No other
man has had such opportunity tc
learn the exact facts. Being at
Manila when hostilities opened he
was in position to learn the exact
situation and of it he writes as fol.
lows under date Of July 1, 1899:
I am an American, with patriotic
sentiments az strong as those OF any
American citizen. l was on the mos
intimate terms with all the Filipino
officials from Aguinaldo down, ane
therefore you must agree with me that
any statement l make is without bias
The foundation Of all the trouble lies
in the policy adopted by the admins
tration when sending General Merritt
to the Philippines. The policy was tc
ignore the Filipinos-a policy not only
nnwise, but mad. Things had gone
too far.
II q proper OF less aggressive polio,
had been pursued at the outset every
Filipino would today be loyal to the
Stars and Stripes.
The Filipino leaders were taken ovel
to the Philippine islands in an Am sri
can war vessel. American officials en-
couraged them to organize an army te
fight the common enemy.
Although General Merritt's policy
was to ignore the Filipinos, he never
raised any objection to their fighting
In front OF the American troops. AL
though Aguinaldo and his followers
could not understand the General.