The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1900-09-11

The contest is thus fearfully unequal
| but of this we have not complained
Our Philippine mothers and sisters have
"silenced the pang" when an imperialist
shell or bullet has robbed them of hus-
band, father or brother. We have
fought fairly; even your own officers
have admitted that we have conducted
the war fairly and in accordance with
| the customs of modern war" Yet, not
content with having all advantages on
your side, you would now try to take
from us our good name. How pitiable!
How infinitesimal! A brave man will
dog A worthy foeman will be generous
to his weaker opponent. A gentleman
and soldier will not heap dishonor
upon his adversary. Do you believe
these mere truisms? Then there is only
one escape-prove your charges. Indeed,
you ought to have proved the charges
when making them. Honor, fair play,
the generosity you should have shown to
a weaker opponent who is absent, all
proclaim that you ought to have given
proof at that time. But let that pass
1t is not too late even now.
1t will not, however, suffice to appeal
to imagination or assumption, to rumor
or unfounded report. Such rumors and
reports cut both ways There have been
as many evil reports against the Ameri-
can soldiers as against the Filipinos.
Your own commissioners admit isolated
occurrences, regrettable indeed, bvt Incl
dent to every war; but they do not
feel called upon to answer idle tales
without foundation in fact" Why do
you and they not apply this noble reas-
oning to the Filipinos? Similar charges
have been made against Boer and Briton. |
against Union and federal, against every
army in active war since time imme-
mortal. We also admit isolated occur
rences, which we regret. But you, sir,
have charged us collectively with being
the vilest of the vile. Every considera-
ton OF honor and fair play demands that
you shall furnish not idle tales without
foundation in fact but absolute proof.
But not content with declaring us to
be vile you proceed to infer hypothetical
acts Of vileness. You declare that if the
Filipinos had gained control 1.-The streets
of Manila would have witnessed such
scenes as those of the streets of Pekin."
Fortunately can prove that you are
wrong. The city of 1loilo was precise
analogue" to Manila. 1t contained
large foreign population and a Spanish
Soi t!oOA' LILO ClUy Was UeSleSeQ ana
finally capitulated to Aguinaldo's troops.
1t was under his absolute control for a
time. There was no mas
sacre, no looting, not even petty lawless-
ness. On the contrary, life and property
were efficiently protected, and both the
foreign and native inhabitants admit
that the city had never been better gov
erned and policed. Under similar cir
cumstances what would the Boxers have
done?
Enough. We are prepared to abide
by the verdict of all fair minded people
in America. We have only to ask com
parison of Aguinaldo's and our soldiers
treatment of the Spanish prisoners
upon whom we had every incentive to
mete out just vengeance on account of
their having outraged every principle of
morality and law, but our
treatment of whom General Whittier de-
clared to be observing Of the praise of
all the world"-with the treatment now
being melted out to that gallant band of
foreigners in Pekin whose only fault is
that they are foreigners. With the be-
lief that you will either prove your
charges or withdraw them and offer the
amende honorable, have the honor to
be, ETC., S1xTo LOPEZ.