The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1900-01-04
THURSDAY, JAN. 4, 1900.

THERE has been no lack of condem
nation of those enemies of the admin
zstration and it's policy in the Philip
g1ines who have been SO eager and in
such haste to thrust their criticisms
abefore the public. 1t has been urged
that such methods could not but en-
courage those who had inso1ently at
lacked the American flag, and in so
much as it did so, become responsible
for American lives lost in the struggle
with those insurrectionists. But 1t
seemed impossible to bring the solemn
truth Of the charge home to those who
were guilty or those who were to all
appearances Indifferent. It did not
seem possible that the feeble and iso-
lated grumb1ings of few DISCONTINUED
caaes could exercise SO potent an inf1u-
euce upon an enemy circumstanced, and
already overwhelmingly defeated as
Ag7aina1do and his followers seemed to
be. Bit at last the situation has been
stated IN terms that leave no oppor-
7euuity for doubt and under circum-
stances that must make it's terrible
truth painfully plain to all. short
-eine since Gen. Lawton, one of the
most able officers in the army, was
killed, shot through the body, while
seQ&ing his forces against the town of
srSbig. A month before his death he
wrote the following letter to friend
in this country:
-44yf am shot by Filipino bullet, it
might as well come from one of my
own men, because / know from OBJ
Serwat6Ons confirmed by captured pris-
,ouers that the continuance of fighting
Il chiefly due to reports that are sent
gut from America"
And again:
~I would to God that the truth of
this whole Philippine situation could
gbe known by every one in America as
1 know it. If the real history, inspira-
ton and conditions of this insurrec-
ffou, and the influences, local and ex-
3erua1, that now encourage the enemy,
as well as the actual possibilities OF
these islands and peoples and their re-
Nations to this great East, could be I'M
,eferstood at home. we would hear no
more talk of unjust shooting of gov
eernment'' into the Fi1ipinos, or of
hauling down our flag in the Philip
uiues. If the so-called anti imper1al1sts
7vou1d honestly ascertain the truth on
the ground and not in distant America,
they, whom I believe to be honest men
u11isiiformed would be convinced of
the error of their statements and con-
clusions and of the unfortunate effect
OF their publications here"
This letter must stand as an appeal
TO the sober Judgment and patriotism
of the American people, just as the
1ifeless bodies of Gen. Lawton and
hundreds of his fellow soldiers will re-
main mute, but irrefutab1e accusa-
-4ion against the malicious ignorance
of the Atkina1do, who share the
shame of it. Gen. Lawton wrote not
as a theorizer or guesser, but as one
who, by virtue of his intimacy with the
prevailing conditions and the people
concerned, and by accurate knowledge
gained by continued observations on
&uG Spot WdS dU1S 10 uCd1 Will IIC
facts. This consideration, together
with the. passionately sincere and al
most prophetic spirit of his letter make
1T doubly convincing. He does not say
more than others who knew the facts,
had said before, but owing to his posi-
aion, he not only appreciated the error
a11ore keen1y, but he felt its do1eful eff
fleets more deeply. There can be no
doubt that the influence of Gen. Law
1ou's letter will be such as to curb far
afler ignorant criticism of the govern
nnent's work in the Philippines. The
only regret is that it has come so late
and after Gen. Lawton, and perhaps
snany others had become its victims. !
EVER since the civil war the loose
w4aSS 0f tIiS Government IN the m a tier