The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-03
Crime AGAINST NATIONS
License Indulged in by Americans
in the Philippines.
EThe Charge of Cruelty and brutality
Made Against Citizens of the Unit
ed States in Their Treatment of
the IsIande-s-CorruDtion Among
officials In the Customs Service.

officials In the Customs Service.
'At the time of Admiral Dewey's arri-
val in Manila Bay said s. z. DeRackin
at Democratic headquarters today 10
reporter for The Times. there is little
doubt but that a statesman could have
nodded public opinion in the Philippines
favorable to American sovereignty, il an
honest and equitable policy had been an
nounced and honorably adhered to. This
is my opinion after a years study of the
situation. and long personal contact with
the leaders of the Filipino people.
There is but one rational reason why
President Mckinley failed to announce a
policy, and that is. because the policy he
intended 10 pursue was so foreign to all
ideals of the American people that he was
fearful of a miscarriage of his purpose
If announced before the Presidential cleo
tion. This is where the Administration
entered upon the wrong course, for what
ever advantage deception may for the
time gain. it is always an obstacle in the
end.
General Merritt in his testimony be-
fore the Paris Peace Commission throws
some light on the studied effort of the Ad-
mtnistration not TO go On record. On
page 367, of Senate Document No. 60, Cen
raj Merritt is quoted as follows:
I TELEGRAM hed to the War Department
her early after my arrival in Manila.
the possible trouble that might arise
a the insurgents, and asked for in
lotions as to whether l should consider
m II enemies and treat them accord
~ in such a ease To that request
.eived no reply, and the consequence
as I had to mix diplomacy with force in
RI will
# bioodshcd was once had. that would tie
the end of an amicable status there, and
to that end I was careful only to enforce
that which was proper
Here was an army on foreign SOIL
without any policy toward TIE native
population which was in rebellion against
the nation with which we were at war
This attitude of utter indifference toward
the FiIipinos by the Administration COM
municated itself to the rank and file of
the army, and was the beginning OF the
end of amicable relations there
The leaders Of the Filipino reyolutiona-
~ movement are highly educated and re-
fined gentlemen, and are sensitive and high
spirited beyond the comprehension OF the
phlegmatic native of the temperate zone.
That they were able. under the eIrcun-
stances to restrain their outward resent
ment at the treatment they received at the
hands of the lordly and intOlerant Mer-
rift and Otis show them to have been pos
sessed of admirable seif-restraint- 1t was,
however, beyond the range OF human en-
durance to withstand forever the lnso-
lsnce and contempt with which they were
treated but when they resented II, the
Americans conscious of power unrestrain-
ed, only became more insolent and con-
temptuous. This sad state OF affairs has
been going from bad to worse for eight
cen months, until both Americans and
Filiniros late each other with a deadly
hG abridged
the life of the present generation OF ma
tives.
This has led TO an abandoned state of
society in the Philippines which would
shock the world if the truth were only
known Our soldiers. who, under ordinary
circun stances. would live lives of exen-
plarv conduct are turned into demons
through climate. drink, and constant lTrl-
tation.
"This feeling has driven our soldiers to
the preparation Of outrages many OF
which would not be believed by our people
if told They think nothing Of looting
churches. breaking open sepulehres. and
raking over the bones OF the dead IN
search of any small trinket or piece OF
jeweIry which may be there. while assaults
on Filipino women go on every day %hlie
I was in the Philippines three negro SOL
diers were caught red-handed IN the act
Hundreds of charges had been made against
cur soldiers. but the crime could never
be fastened on anyone. In this case there
was no evidence wanting. and the court
martial before which these negroes were
tried found them guilty, and sentenced
them to be shot. The death sentence had
80 be approved by President Mckinley,
and in forwarding the findings OF tne
caylFt-martial General Otis said that these
men were guilty, ard that II was necessa-
~ 20 make an example Of them If the
q ne was eyer to be discouraged in the
PHILIPPINES The President, however, who
had more regard for these men who should
have suffered for their crime than he bad
Tor the honor OF the American Army white
OIL foreign soil, .commuted the sentence
to imprisonment in each of these cases.
when this became known General Otis
stated that it was useless to attempt to
break up such practices among the troops
as Imprisonment had no restraining 1ndu-
ence upon them.
President Mckinley, however, is only
following out his convictions In Febru-
airy last, in speaking of the attitude of the
Administration toward our insular pos
sessions he used these words: Congress
is not bound by the limitations of the
Constitution when it enters upon the task
of legislating for cur colonies. 1t may
refuse to the native The right of jury trial
the right of free speech, the right to beaI
arms, the right of peaceable assembly
and petition. in fact al of these right:
''Such a policy at least suggestss ever
II it does not prove, responsibility for the
scandaIous thefts and official rascalit!
which have married the American Admin.
istration in the Philippines and Cuba
We have been peculiarly on our honor il
these islands, yet We take the first op
portunity to out-Spaniard the Spaniart
in the matter of official corruption.
''The Administration of the Manila Gus
tom House is VIGOROUSLY rotten, and
blackmail by American officials, civil ant
military, is carried on to an extent sci.
dom il ever equaled by the Spaniards
This Is looked for by the FiIipinos a.
they have been used to it for generations
but they never before saw it accompanied
by lofty professions of purity. The NATIVE
press of Manila is filled from day to da,
with biting sarcasm and undisguised con
tempt for a people who profess their hon