The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-01-11
A Shot That Told.
HE IMPASSIONED reply of
Senator Hoar to the indict-
Il ment SO eloquently drawn by


Senator Beveridge against
the misguided Americans who have
been encouraging Aguinaldo and his
colleague revolutionists to resist our
military forces showed that the shoe
pinched. This was what Mr.. Bcveridge
said:
Reluctantly and only from a sense
of duty, am forced to say that Amer
ican opposition to the war has been
the chief factor In prolonging it, Had
Aguinaldo not understood that in
America. even in the American con-
gress, even here in the senate, he and
his cause were supported; had he not
known that IL was proclaimed on the
stump and in the press Of a faction in
the United States, that every shot his
misguided followers fired into the
breasts Of American soldiers was like
the volleys fired by Washington's men
against the soldiers of King George,
his insurrection would have dissolved
before 1t entirely crystallized. The ut
terances of American opponents Of the
of Aguinaldo. and repeated in eXagger-
ated form among the common people.
The Filipinos do not understand free
speech, and therefore our tolerance Of
American assaults on the American
president and the American govern
ment means to them that our president
Is In the minority or he would not per-
init what appears to them such treas
enable criticism. 1t is believed and
stated in Luzon, Panay, and Cebu that
the FillpinOs have only to fight, harass,
retreat, break up up into small parties,
If necessary, as they are doing now, but
by any means hold out until the mex,
presidential election, and our forces will
be withdrawn. All this has aided the
enemy more than climate. arms, and
battle. Senators. l have heard these
reports myself; I have talked with the
people; l have seen our mangled boys
in the hospital and field; have stood
on the firing line and beheld our dead
soldiers, their faces turned to the pitt
less Southern sky; and, in sorrow
whose voices in America have cheered
those misguided natives on to shoot our
soldiers down. that the blood of those
dead and wounded boys of ours is on
their hands; and the flood of all the
years can never wash that stain away"
What corroboration is there for this
assertion? Does it stand alone or Is IL
reinforced? The testimony of Otis, of
Barrett and of Lawton emphatically
sustains it and not q word of denial
has come from a reputable source
among the thousands of American
soldiers stationed in the Philippines.
Surely If the belief did not prevail on
the firing line that the American task
was being complicated by the support
which a faction at home has extended
to the insurgents there would be some
man honest and brave enough among
the soldiers at the front to say so
frankly.
The charge is not brought against the
senior senator from Massachusetts OF
against his anti-eXpansionist colleagues
that they are conscious of the mischief
they have done or that they have been
prompted by unworthy motives Free
concession Is made of their honest in
tent. But the fire innocently kndled
/ in an inflammable place burns just as
rapidly and does just as much damage
as the fire which Is kindled maliciously.
The evidence Is overwhelming that
Senator Beveridge spoke the exact
truth in respect to the responsibility
of Senator Hoar and his associate
abettors of Aguinaldo: and it is proper
that the country should grasp the full
significance Of the truth as thus set
forth.