Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1900-01-26
1.-THE FACTS ARE Wanted.
The Speech Of Senator PettigreW on the
Resolution Of Inquiry on the
Philippine War.

b d.
in that resolution, in my opinion. were
true. We made Aguinaldo and his
forces our ally by saluting their flag
and by accompanying them in the cap
ture of a Spanish garrison, the prison
ers of which we turned over to them.
introduced the resolution in good
faith, was not sure then, but I feel
sure now, that the facts contained in
the resolution were true, and wanted
the record evidence. Information has
come to my knowledge since-the
statement of an officer who accompan-
led this expedition to Subig Bay-cor
roborating the facts contained in the
resolution, and thus is disclosed the
reason why the information was de-
MED. The resolution was in the prop.
er form; it was a proper question.
The storm of indignation on the part
of the American people and many of
the republican newspapers throughout
the country at the suppression of this
resolution led it change of tactics,
and then introduced the second reso-
luton, asking if the insurgents, after
fighting had commenced, did not send
General Torres with flag Of truce and
ask the fighting to be stopped, and that
neutral zone should be agreed upon,
the boundaries Of which were to be es-
tablished by General Otis and satisfac-
tory to him, until negotiations could
be had to see whether the difficulties
could be settled, and I also asked in
that resolution what reply was made
and whether General Otis did not reply
that fighting having once commenced
it must 60 on to the grim end.
That resolution was not laid upon
the table at the time, but an amend
ment or a substitute was offered by the
senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Lodge)
asking for all the information and all
the dispatches which may have passed
between nur officers and the insurgents
as they are called. But on yesterday
my second resolution calling for these
facts was laid upon the table. I con-
ceived these facts to be pertinent. If
we had recognized Aguinaldo's forces
AMI Aguinaldo's government by salut-
their flag. and had acted with them
and made them our allies, then we are
now fighting our allies.
If we began the war, as General Otis
indicates in his report by killing the
first man and then acting on the ag-
gressive while the enemy acted upon
the defensive. It seems to me the proof
is conclusive that the war was COM
menced by rs. and if after two days
fighting the insurgents wanted to stop
the war. to stop the killing, and we
said it must 20 on to the grim end,
then I assert, Mr.. President, that the
blood of every soldier who has fallen
since that time is on the head Of this
administration and there is no escape
from it.; the puerile and silly talk
about those who opposed the policy Of
the administration being guilty of the
death of our brave men disappears alb
solutely, and the responsibility goes
where it belongs; the sixty boys from
South Dakota who lost their lives, con-
scripted into an unwilling service re.
tanned after their term had expired,
lies at the doors of the administration,
and there is no chance to avoid it.
This information has been Withheld.
Ny resolution to acquire it has been
laid upon the table. I hope the reso.
luton which we are now to pass will
bring the information. 1t is pertinent
to the issue.
But Mr.. President, offered anothe +
resolution yesterday "a resolution call
ing for all the instructions to our com.
missioners at Paris and the CORE
spondence between the administration
aud the commissioners at Paris; but
that was laid upon the table. and then
the senator from Wisconsin [Mr.
Spooner] charged me with trying to
put the administration in hole.
Mr.. President, it seems to me, in the
light of the facts which have been de-
veloped in this contest to secure in.
formation, that tne only thing that can
put the administration in a hole is the
truth from the American people in
order to keep from putting the admin
istration in a hole. If getting the truth
before the people of the United States
will embarrass the administration.
can not help it, and I shall try to get
it, charge that this censorship of the
press, this concealment of facts, was
for the purpose of protecting the in
terests of the administration for re-
,e1---..