The Irish standard., 1901-10-05
SLAUGHTER IN TIE PHILIPPINES.

SLAUGHTER IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Last week dispatch from London
conveyed the information that General
Wesley Merritt had received advices
from staff officer in the Philippines
to the effect that the islanders were
far from being pacified. In his cabled
interview General Merritt was reported
as follows:
1.-The present situation is source OF
great anxiety to the authorities in the
field. There is a strong feeling among
them that the real facts in the case
have been kept back by the Washing
ton government. The United States is
in possession of rich but small area
OF the whole territory. The insurgents
are likely to maintain guerilla fighting
for an indefinite period, thus seriously
retarding the final conquest of the is
lands. The enemy is blackmailing the
native towns and villages without diff
Guilty, obtaining all necessary supplies,
since a native can live on handful of
rice a day. Doubtless the American
people will be sorry to be assured that
permanent army of 10000 soldiers
will be required to hold the Philippines,
but conservative officers on the SPOT
are convinced that this view of the sit
uation is correct. In the opinion of my
correspondent the policy of civil gov
ernment for the islands is an absolute
mistake'
The authorities at Washington pooh
poohed what General Merritt said and
reported everything was quiet and or.
derly A few days afterward report
came from Manila saying that in the
island of Samar Company G of the
Ninth United States infantry was al
most annihilated by bolomen while at
breakfast, over forty of them being
slaughtered in their quarters before
there was a chance to use their rifles.
Later dispatches make the number OF
victims fortytive, leaving seven unac
counted for. The natives had mutt
lated the bodies of the American sol
diers and then burned them to crisp.
Only twenty+four members of the ILL
fated company escaped with their
lives.
This is sad news for the American
people, and somebody is to blame. The
officers in charge ought to have exer-
cised due caution when in hostile dis
trict. The Filipinos look upon the
Americans as invaders, and they will
never be friendly to them while they
are governed by force. They will be
satisfied with nothing less than self
government, to which they are entitled
under the American constitution. They
may Ibe willing to become American
citizens, but they never shall be will
ing subjects of the United States any
more than they were of the Spanish
monarchy.
The war in the Philippines will not
cease until the United States guarantees
liberty to the inhabitants, and no genu-
inc lover of freedom can blame them
for fighting to the death against any
foreign power that tries to rule them
against their consent. If England or
Germany, instead of the United States,
We're waging war of conquest and
determination in the Philippines. all
Americans would sympathize with the
little brown men. The war in the Phil
ippines cannot be justified by any
American who desires liberty for 9TH
ers as we'll as for himself. 1t is as un-
just as the war in South Africa and
has been almost as cruel 1t is about
time to bring it to an end by changing
the policy which brought it-on.
The late Lord Morris, though finely
educated man, had pronounced Irish
brogue which would make Martin Doo-
ley, the Chicago philosopher, proud of
his Roscommon accent, had he heard
it. When he was chief justice Of Ire
land, young Junior barrister rose in
his court one day to make his first mo-
tion, and spoke in the hard brogue of
the North of Ireland. "Sapel," said
the judge, in low voice to the regis
trar of his court, "who is the new
comer?" "His name is Clements, my
lord" "what part Of the country
does he hail from, in the name of all
that's wonderful" asked the Judge.
County Antrim, my lord" was the re-
ply. "Well, WELL" said the Judge, did
you liver come across such froightful
accint in the whole coorse of yer born
loife?"