Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-05-23
WILMINGTON, THURSDAY. MAY a8
statements Ola Pollaoo-Milltary General.

Statements ofa Military General.
Az anti-imperialists We take great de-
light In that illuminating interview
given out by General Frederick Dent
Grant In San Francisco on Saturday.
It contains quite number of interest.
ing statements and opinions to which
we particularly desire to call the at
tention Of our readers. In the first place.
il they will take comprehensive view
of this remarkable exhibition Of
politico- military verbosity they will at
once see that 1t is political speech,
and also recognize that In giving public
expression to his military opinions In
their bearing upon the policy and con-
duct Of the administration control Of
tho American army in the Philippines
he has transgressed cardinal rule of
military ethics. We could, Of course,
expect nothing else from politician
like General Grant, and he will no
doubt be upheld In his course by the
Hon. Elihu Root, but from the stand
point OF u warm interest In the dignity
and military integrity Of our army We
very much regret it. That, however,
has come to be a matter of very little
Importance since the Hon. William
Mckinley has utilized the army as a
dump-he for wornout politicians and
hondescriIt officers with pull, ex-
cept when something happens to be
said against the administration. Then
there Is great howl. But what con-
Germs US more particularly at the pre-
sent time ia the immediate subject
matter OF the generals luoubrstion.
We shall quote him ad libitum as we
go along. In his preface to his politi-
cal screed hs says: II believe that the
people Of the United States have never
been fully informed on the whole Phil
ippine situation, and the causes which
have made the establishment Of govern
ment on the islands SO long delayed. T"
That is perfectly true statement. The
people Of the United States have not
been informed. But whyf Because the
Hon. William Mckinley established a
medieval censorship on the islands
and exerted every precaution to prevent
any information reaching the American
people, except what had been carefully
kneeded over in his war bureau. Per.
haps II we had known In the beginning
what we know now things would have
been different. Certainly, granting thai
what General Grant says 10 true, nc
administration would have dared t.
handle It's troops in the field In tn,
way the present one did while national
electioneering was going on over th,
country, IL the people had be,n in I
position to become aware OF it. Imsgin,
general of the United States Arm,
having the effrontery to make a state
ment like this:
From the time that Bryan made BIZ
first speech o, acceptance to the weel
OF the election any war on the Filipino
was n useless slaughter. No use at all
since they would never submit an,
swear allegiance when they knew tina
we were likely TO leave the islands an,
give over tine friendly natives to de
struction. | myself, az we'll, l think
as all the other commanders of dis
tricts, gave UP trying to do anything
and kept the troops az quiet MS l could
This gave the insurgent leaders
chance to 60 on laying wires, putting b
ammunition and supplies, preparin
nm aggressive campaign, slaughterin
neutrsls aud friendlies. This slaughte
OF innocent people, largely the work {
the most lawless element In tie Fill
Pine army, but partly sanctioned b
their leaders, was one of the most d,
plorable results of the paraly sis OF on
activity"
lie it not astounding? 81 myself, q
well. think, as all the other con
manders of districts, gave up trying
do anything, and kept the troops ,
quiet ssI could!' Think of that! j
the face of the enemy stopped fightir
to await the result OF home election
II that statement is true, Gen or,
Grant and the ''other commanders
should have been promptly arrested ar
cashiered. But We do not believe it
true. That Is little political twist
weak story that entered the head
this doughty general on his way aero
the Pacific. But IL is not the least
his cratic statements. He tells us th
(. certain great reactions followed the
first campaign, in which he admits
had all he could do, and that the
reactions In the fighting spirit
his despised enemy occurred, very our
ously, just after speech from Willia
J. Bryan, or pro. PHILIPPINE outburst
the United States. What wopderf
means Of communication those ignc
snt and savage TagaloRs must ha
had! And what a wonderful effect t
Bryanistic news had upon our bray
general. Why, he himself says.
II stopped active operations aft
tbs nomination Of Bryan. stomp
ell active operations and tried only
protect my own men. We we're rea
several days before the news Of I
election came because I'VE VI,
kept pretty we'll posted and knew Il
the result was q certainty, and wh
the final confirmation came we struc
and struck hard
Oh, indeed And why did he
strike hard beforef Why did he Ike
his men lying out on the firing line
be picked off by Filipino Snapshot
and 70 sicken with toxic Infections a
die later In the hospitals, while he