The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1899-08-23
No Blame Upon Otis.
Ofi:ials Lay all Responsibility Upon
Congress.

and Treasure in the Philippines.
Administration officials have come
to the conclusion that the time has
come to make it plain to the country
where the responsibility for the pres
eut condition in the Philippines lies
Concerning General OTIS position at
Manila, a statement made by high
official CT the administration in a let
ter to one of our ambassadors abroad
may be accepted as an authoritative
view. In this he says:
Instead of criticising General Otis,
the country should place the respor-
sib;lity for the expenditure of lives
and treasure in the suppression Of
the Philippine insurrection upon Con-
gress for its delay in ratifying the
treaty OF peace and in defeating the
passage CT the Hull army bill.
From the date of the signing of
the protocol until the ratification of
peace our troops were occupying the
towns and country falling into our
possession in the war with Spain.
Under instructions state of status
quo was being maintained until the
pleasure of the Senate could be made
known.
"While maintaining this condition
the insurgents under Aguinaldo, with
ont warning on their part or provoca
ton on ours, on the 4th of February
attacked the First Nebraska and the
several engagements about Manila
followed. At this time General Otis
had an army of over $4,000, $4,000
Of which were volunteers.
Goa the "a of March, twenty-six
days later, Congress, by Act approved
that date, declared:
THAT the President is authorized
to enlist temporarily in service, for
absolutely necessary purposes in
the Philippine islands, volunteers,
officers and men, individuals or by Or
ganiz 4tion, now in those islands and
about to be discharged, provided
their retention shall not extend be-
yond the time necessary to replace
them by troops authorized to be main
tained under the provisions of this
Act, and not beyond period of six
months.
The enlistment Of this force was
not practicable, the majority Of the
officers and men desiring to return
home, they were willing and did re.
main until regular regiments were
sent TO relieve them, and in the seve
raj engagements fought by General
Otis army showed great courage, and
their general conduct was of a kind
that will forever commend them to
the appreciation of their countrymep;
at the samctime they were, by law,
entitled to their honorable discharge,
and they, no less than their friends
at home, expected this to be done
with as little delay as possible.
"Wbile they were willing, brave and
efficient, they did not make an army
upon which General O.is could reas
onably or fully depend for extended
active campaign or even occupation.
Now General Otis has an army Of
regulars Of over 10000, and over
5000 on the sea, and over 5000 re-
cruits for the regulars making ready
to sail frcm San Francisco; so that
by the 1st CT September be will have
over 81, ,0O0 effective, with the new
volunteers to follow as fast as Tie
ships can carry them: that will give
him 1900 effective; and for the first
time be will be in a position to plan
and carry into effect a vigorous cam
paign against the insurgents.
General O;is should not be held
responsible for the delay in the rati-
Gcstion CT the treaty Of peace any
more than the executive of the war
department.; no more is the response
bility for The delay and the defeat OF
Of the Hull bill, the prompt passage
of which would have obyiated this
embarrassment and useless expense
of lives and treasure. A review of
the debates and the dilstory tactics
on the Hull bill are of interest to
those looking for the real cause of
lack Of more active work in the Philip
pine campaign.