The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-16
SOME OF SENATOR HoAR's FACTS.

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Now that the Senate. by the Lodge reso-
luton. has asked the President to give all
the official reports and orders which may
cast any light upon the Philippine con-
troversy, the discussion of the topic in
the Senate might be suspended until the
President supplies the information. But
IL Is not information or facts that the
Aguinaldo senator's desire. For in
stance, Mr.. Hoar. who has made
an honorable record in the Senate.
ignoring official facts. but by asserting
that men like Admiral Dewey and Presi-
dent Schurman have not only said things
which they did not say, but had said the
opposite. In his reply to some statements
made by one Quigg at a public dinner in
Boston, Senator Hoar set forth ten facts
and called General Otis, Admiral Dewey
and President Schurman. of the Philippine
commission. to establish them The sena-
tor does not quote the statements of these
witnesses.
The first fact which Senator Hoar gives
is that Aguinaldo is an honest patriot
and brave man." Admiral Dewey, the wit
ness whom Mr.. Hoar would call, describes
Aguinaldo as the INSCRIPTIONS tool of ADLER.
men. and characterizes his government as
"a severe military despotism." Mr.. Hoars
second fact is that Aguinaldo was the
chosen leader of the people of the Philip
pine islands" President Schurman, whom
ment made Sept. Is and subsequently pub
lished, said: "It is the Tagalos that in
habit some of the provinces about Manila
who are resisting the authority of the
United States. The insurrection is not
national uprising" Professor Worcester.
President Schurman's colleague on the
commission, said: 1T is a great mistake
to suppose that We are fighting the Fill
pinos as a whole. At least so per cent of
the population detest the war. 1t is kept up
est difficulty" The third fact of Mr.. Hoar
is that the people of the Philippines from
the beginning desired independence, and de-
sire 1t now" refutation of Mr.. Hoar's
alleged facts is furnished by those whom
he expects to sustain his statements. The
report of the Philippine commission on this
point contains the following:
Upon the arrival of the troops COM
manded by General Anderson at Cavite,
Aguinaldo was requested by Admiral
Dewey to evacuate that place, and he
moved his headquarters to the neighbor-
ing town of Bacoor. Now for the first
time arose the idea of national indepen-
dence. The landing of the Ameri-
can troops at Paranaque on July 10 so
exasperated the revolutionary leader that
he wished to attack at once, but was de-
tered by lack of arms and ammunition.
Another of Mr.. Hoars facts is that the
F'ilipinos were fit for independence. Adj
miral Dewey has said that 1.-The Filipinos
government for long time" President
Schurman says "the intelligent public
opinion upon which popular government
rests does not exist in the Philippines"
Another fact of Senator uoar is that the
outbreak of hostilities was not their fault,
but ours" On this point the report of the
Philippine commission. signed by three
of Mr.. Hoar's witnesses. is very specific
After describing in full the circumstances
Of the encounter of Feb. 4. the report
says: "Deplorable as war is. the one in
which we are now engaged was unavoid-
able by us. We were attacked by bold,
adventurous and enthusiastic army. No
alternative was left us but ignominious re-
treat
1t is possible that Mr.. Hoar may have
made himself believe that the officials to
whom he referred will sustain his assump-
lions, but all those who have read the
Schurman and other reports know that the
statements therein contained sweep away
all the declarations he has called facts.
All the reports and official papers which
the President may send the Senate will
not convince Mr.. Hoar that his assump-
tons are wrong.