Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-04-27
One of the Administration Of
ficialS Gives Governments
Views on ANTS.
"SEDlTION," TREASON.'
Gen. Otis Says Volunteers in Philip
pines Have Received "Seditious
and Treasonable kilograms"
Erving ,Yyinslow, Secretary OF the Anti
Impsrialistic League Says President Me-
Kinley Should lie ImPeachcd for En-
ployins the Army and Navy in War with
FiIipinos, Unauthorized by Congress-

Washington, Apri. 25.-The Adminis-
tration officials are indignant toward
the people of the United States who,
they say, are endeavoring, by causing
dissatisfaction among the troops in the
Philippines, to weaken the American
position, with the object OF forcing the
Government to abandon the ISLANDS.
Major-Gen Otis says, in explanation OF
the dissatisfaction among the volun-
teers. that number of seditious and
reasonable kilograms were received at
Manila from the United States for dis
tribution among the troops. A Cab
met officer is authority for the state
ment that there is Il concerted move
ment in this country to prevent, by un-
demanded and reasonable means, the
Government from obtaining possession
of the Philippines. He further says,
ut is the present i,ltention OF the Ad-
ministration to make public exposure
of the plot. with The names of those
concerned in it. when all the details
are obtainable.
There is no concealment of the fact
that the Government was very much
surprised and chagrined over the ap-
parent desire of majority OF the vol
unteers now in the Philippines to re-
turn home ut once. Telegramsreceived
recently from Gen. Otis had said that
the volunteers were cheerful ana en-
thusastc and were unanimous III the
desire to remain while there was light
inc to do. These dispatches were sent
by Gen. Otis. supposedly after he had
made careful inquiry as to the feeling
of the State organizations, ana KNOW
ing how how conservative he Is III all
things. the Administration was salts
tied that it was easy sailing with the
troops. 1t was, therefore, with tne
most intense surprise that the Govern
ment learned that the volunteers, or Il
majority of them. wanted 10 return TO
the United States when peace between
This country and Spain was declared.
Under the terms of this enlistment
they are entitled to immediate muster
out of the Federal service as soon rs
peace was declared, and the provision
of the Army Reorganization act for
the retention OF those volunteers now
in the Philippines for an additional
period of six months was not compul-
sorry i'll its application.
Enough information has been re-
ceiyc from Gen. Otis, taken in conncc-
lion with what the Administration has
| ascertained i'll this country, to justify
the assertion made by II prominent
| official that their is Il concerted move
| ment in the United States to compel
| the Government to relinguish coI}rol
| of the Philippines. Anti-eXpansionlsts
| have been sending letters TO the sol
| ,iiers in the Philippines, urging them
| TO insist upon being allowed to return
| home. 1t is stated on authority of this
| same Cabinet officer that there will be
Il complete public exposure of the per
! sous. but this may be changed TO Il de
| termination To proceed against them
| through the proper tribunals, with n
| view TO furnishing them. To use his OWL
| language: Leaving out of considcra
! tion the other matters involved 1t Is
said that the Government can collect
enough evidence to convict some peo
! pie in this country of the crime of at
tempting to incite United States troop,
to mutiny."
In his telegram Gen. Otis did not tel
the names of the persons in the Unit
ed States who had sent the telegrams
which excited his Indignation. y de
Spatch has accordingly been sent tc
| him askin" him for particulars