The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-05-09

Some time ago General Macarthur,
Governor General of the Philippine
Islands, received very severely critical
letters from certain representatives OF
the Womans Christian Temperance
Union relative to alleged conditions in
Manila connected with the liquor traf-
fic and the social evil. To these he has
referred in report to the AdJutant
General, in which he says that the
writer's have been misled as to the
facts. and have also failed to take into
proper consideration the disturbed state
of the islands. He adds: Il am con-
WINGED that the city of Manila may to-
day challenge comparison as to its NOR
al and orderly condition with any city
In the United States" Also he says:
''The care Of the soldiers health is almost
the first duty of the officer, and far from pan
dering to his vices and encouraging him in
dissipation every effort is made to maintain a
true standard Of manhood in the Young soldier
and return him to his country when his service
Is over a citizen who will be a credit &c the
hard school from which he has graduated
Thus far. General Macarthur is so
evidently in the right that comment
upon his reply is unnecessary. We are
not, however, able to agree with him IN
his suggestion to the Government that
the authors of these long-range denun-
Citations of his military administration
be given a free junket to the Philip
pines at the expense of the Government
in order that they may satisfy them
selves that they are wrong in their sus-
picions and distant conclusions.
ing The place General Macarthur
does should suggest such recogni-
ton of wholly self-created and ire
sponsible censors. He has heard, of
course. that the same element, through
its fanatical indifference to facts and
common sense, has been able to greatly
reduce the standards of good order and
discipline in the army by soaring cow
ardly lot of national legislators into
abolishing that best means of promot-
ing sobriety and self-respecting man
hood in the military establishment. the
post exchange. Now he recommends
that a lot of the same meddlers be
given free passes and their expenses
TO the Philippines, that they may pit
their ignorance and prejudices against
the administration of trained and ear
nest men, bound TO accomplish in eff
feet what they Shrek for in theory, but
in no way to accomplish desirable re-
suits.
In fact, this Macarthur development
is extremely disappointing. We have
always regarded the general as man
Of parts, and, probably barring |
suPersensitiveness in matters ofwhathe |
may imagine is public opinion at home. !
he is such man. But he ought to see
the idiocy of his proposition. If the |
Columbus Wisconsin sisters who have |
found fault with him are entitled to a |
Philippine excursion, he will quickly |
discover that the other sisters of Osh-
kosh. Kalamazoo, and Medicine Lodge |
must be accorded the same courtesy |
In a short time he would have more sis |
tiers on his hands than the Filipinos |
used to have friars; and we are in
clined to think that the natives would |
not be better disposed to the former |
than they were to the latter.
General Macarthur has been such a |
monumental Improvement upon his |
ItEutNeSSoE iisdh Mt hlSAtlltlly dislike
to say a thing in criticism of his course |
in any direction. His idea of carrying |
the canteen sisters over to sit upon |
his moral government. after the man
ner Of jury of NATIONS. savors so |
much Of nonsense that it would be /
wrong TO pass 1t by. He asserts that |
the city OF Manila may today chal-
lenge a comparison as TO its moral and |
orderly condition with any city in the
United States" The American people, |
confiding in his bravery. his ability as a
soldier, aud trusting 10 the evidences
OF the past as to his administrative
ability, are quite ready to believe his
declaration. The sisters would be en-
tirely superiluous, and he would find
them 4 severe embarrassment