The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-07-22
A HARSH CRITICISM OF o11s.uc

The joint protest of eleven Ameri-
can correspondents in the Philippines
against the censorship OF Gen. Otis has
reached this country by the way OF
Hong Kong. The newspaper men who
complain OF his methods depresent the
Chicago Tribune and Record, the New
York Herald and Sun, the Scripps-M
Rae Association and the Associated
Press, and all of them are worthy of
every confidence.
The Minneapolis Times assures its
readers that it is acquainted with seven
of them, and that in point of veracity
it has no hesitation in placing more con-
fdcnce in their report of the Philippine
situation than in any reports emanat-
ing from Otis, Alger, Corbin, or Nc
Kinley himself. That being so, it is
no wonder that their Round Robin has
attracted widespread attention not only
in America but throughout Europe.
The correspondents charge Otis with
suppressing news to cover his own fail
ures, and declare that the dispatches
sent by him have presented an ulta-
optimistic view" not shared by the gen.
eral officers in the field. They say that
he under estimates 'the tenacity of the
Filipino purpose" and that his state
ments regarding the willingness of VOL
unteers to remain longer in the service
are unfounded. They deny that "the
situation is we'll in hand" as reported
by Otis, and believe he errs when he
says the insurrection can be speedily
ended without greatly increased force.
Before sending their protest the cor
respondents called upon Gen. Otis and
asked him to be less rigid in the censor
ship of dispatches. He first threatened
to arrest them, but afterward relented
and promised to let everything pass
that would not prove detrimental to
the interests OF the United States"
But as the Chicago Tribune remarks,
thus far the censorship exercised by him
has been detrimental to the interests OF
the United States, for the people have
been kept in ignorance of the true state
OF affairs in the Philippines.
Notwithstanding the censure that has
been hcaped upon Otis within the past
few days, the Irish Standard is inclined
to be lenient with him. In the first
place, he is totally incompetent for the
responsible position he occupies. He is
only third-rate general who possesses
none of the qualifications of the COM
mander of large invading army. He
has never commanded larger body OF
men than a regiment. He has been
kicked into prominence by the admin
istration as Slafter was in Cuba.
What better results could have been ex-
pected from a man of his small calibre?
We are strongly OF the opinion that
Otis has been instructed from Washing
ton to keep the American people in the
dark about the war of inhumanity in the
East The news was not suppressed to
keep the Filipinos in the dark, for they
are in position to learn the strength
and movements OF the American forces
on the islands. Gen. Otis himself is
reported to have said that the news
was withheld in order that the admin
istration, which is responsible for the
war, may not 'have the people OF the
United States by the ears"
When the American volunteers reach
home we will get correct news about
Otis bungling campaign in the Philip
pines. He certainly ought to be re-
tired, and more capable man should
be Immediately appointed in his place.
1t will not do for Mckinley to keep him
there until the whole country cries out
against him as it did against Alger. II
he retains him he will be apt to get the
whole. people OF this country "by the
ears. The American correspondents
know their business and will report
nothing to damage the American cause
abroad. The censorship should be re-
Taxed, and the press. OF the country