The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1900-04-20


zon that more troops are needed il
the Philippines. Gen. Young, com
handing North Luzon, and Gen. Bell
commanding southern Lnzon, arr
making strong appeals for reinforce
ments. They declare that theil
troops are exhausted by constant
fighting. the present force is made
quate TO garrison the towns and the
insurgents are cropping up all over
Luzon and fighting with great vigor
and effectiveness.
IL will be remembered that Gen.
Otis claimed at the beginning of the
trouble that he could subdue the in
surrection" with 10000 troops. Last
fall he was given more than 10000,
and vet the situation is practically
the same as il was a year ago-eNcept
that hundreds of American soldiers
have sacrificed their lives and hun
dreds of others have lost their health
in the trying climate of the Philip
pines.
Gen. Otis, on the eve of his return
from the islands. admits that "a large
body of troops must be kept in the is
lands indefinitely" II Luzon gives so
much trouble 10 may be imagined that
IL will take a mighty army TO subdue
the rest of the Philippines.
The news of the massacre of IL Fill
Pine prisoners by American soldiers
also comes as one of the unpleasant
things about the administrations pol
icy" which might bear investigation.
There have been hints from the war
department for some time that IL was
considering the advisability Of label
ing the Filipinos bandits" and shoot
ing them down wherever found. While
this report of a massacre comes from
unofficial sources. IT, causes an I'M
pleasant suspicion that things are
happening in the islands which need
investigating.
This unpleasant news comes from
the Philippines just when the Spooner
bill is before the senate, providing
that absolute control of the Philip
pines be vested in the administration
until congress sees fit to take action
in the matter.
II is probable that the republican
majority viii push the bill through
both houses. The democratic minor
ity can only register its protest and
leave the country to decide whether
it desires to perpetuate militarism and
Imperialism in the Philippines. The
democratic view is that the islands
....al - 49, ,ocfGoI Ionc aUr
q the administration had been will
ing to grant them self-governmen'
and protection from outside inter
ference. Senator Jones. of Arkansas
remarked recently on this point: The
Filipinos might not evolve a govern
ment as good as ours. but they would
manage one that would be sufficient
for their own needs and their OWL
state Of civilization. and that is al
that is necessary"
The administration policy of sub
tugation has not been in any degree
successful, and yet the country is I,
be asked to send more troops and sup
ply money indefinitely for this wal
of conquest.
sympathy for beers.
The house democrats are ready e
express their sympathy for the Beers
Representative Richardson, the hOus'
democratic leader. has introduced {
resolution declaring that the house
views with deep interest the heroic
struggle of the republics of South AT
RIGA to maintain their independence
ard hereby tenders them our mos
profound sympathy in their unequa
but gallant struggle"
Judging from the number of repub
lican congressman who attended tn,
mass meeting in Washington recent,
at switch Webster Davis told his ex
periences in South Africa, there are
republican members who do feel sym
pathy for the unequal struggle tina
is going on in South Africa.
webster Davis Views.
The Webster Davis Boer mass meet
ing was one Of the most remarkable
public meetings ever held in Washing
ton. The Grand opera house. accom-
modating 1909 people. was packed Il
the doors long before the time appoint
ed for the meeting. Hundreds wer,
turned away unable to gain admission
Mr.. Davis had just resigned as as
sistant secretary of the interior in or
Ter to be free 10 tell what he had seer
and heard among the Beers.
He struck the keynote of the Who'll,
trouble when he said: IF gold had
not been discovered in the Transvaa
the British would not be fighting tC
conquer the Beers to-day"
Mr.. Davis gave graphic tales of the
heroism and courage and uprightnes'
Of the Beers and contrasted with those
qualities the brutality and laundering
OF the British.
All shades OF political opinion were
represented at this mass meeting, but
there seemed 10 be no division Of senti
ment when IL came 10 expressing APP
proval of the courage and patriotism
Of the Beers. Mr.. Davis carefully re
Trained from making any direct criti
cism of the administration prohibit
ish attitude. but his eloquent plea for
American sympathy for the Beers was
even more forcibie than a direct ar
raignmsnt Of the administration.