Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-25
ROOT ON The RECENT WARS
Cabinet Member Addresses Illinois Rspub-
licans at Peoria.
DEFENDS AMERICAN SOLDIERS METHODS
Cites Mckinley, Dewey, ~schurnian
Taft and others as witnesses to
Humane Treatment Ac-
corded Natives.

PEORIA, ILL.,, Sept. 24.-Hon. Elihu Root,
secretary Of war, was the speaker at to-
nights meeting of the Illinois League Of
Republican Clubs, The Coliseum was packed
to the doors and the secretary was vocif-
erously applaudSd. His address was con-
fined entirely to the recent troubles in
the Philippines and Cuba and not once
during the evening did he mention the
tariff or the trusts.
In opening his address he paid a high
compliment to the late William Mckinley
and then said
The first spoken words by his successor,
when taking the oath of office at Buttalo,
were: IT is my purpose to CONTINUE a 9sOt
Mckinley for the peace, prosperity ana
honor of our beloved country" l challenge
judgment upon the truth and loyalty with
which Theodore Roosevelt has redeemed
his promise. The murderer's bullet robbed
us of a friend; it did not produce a revolu-
ton. II changed rulers II ala not change
The work OF pacihcation and construction
in Cuba had been completed; Military gov.
eminent there had faithfully given effect
to the humane purposes of the American
people. With sincere kindness our officers
had helped the Cubans to take steps neces-
sary to the establishment Of their constltu-
tional government
Attacks Purely Political.
OF all the executive problems following
In the train of the Spanish war, the PROB
lem Of the Philippines alone remained.
Success there had not then been demon
strated, and 1t was still possible that the
failure there might lead the American
people to withdraw power from republican ,Ipn1inI az
the administration was attacked.
The whole army and its generals were
gallant and fearless Funston was stigma
tized by the senator from Tennessee as a
"Blatherskite brigadier.' Il do not Know,
said the senator from Idaho, but | imagine
he was a charity boy who was appointed
to West Point by some representatlve or
Said the senator from Utah: Did Char
fee, unaided, In GOODNESS and in brutality,
and in savage and unrelenting disregard
of every human sentiment OF, possibility OF
human suffering, conceive this ubiquitous
scheme? Whence, from what diabolical
source was it derived? The American, people
ought to know. Is there any penalty be-
meath the sun adequate to be meted out 70
the merciless wretch who has thus brought
and the American people?'
Against these contemptuous and injurious
aspersions, upon the soldiers of the United
States, l will call four witnesses: The first
is William Mckinley: III any orders OF
mine were required TO insure the merciful
they would not be lacking, but every step
in the progress of our troops nave been
marked by = hS,msniiy, T nge hss sur
I BA AoNo NNNAA NAN AAAA'6N '@NN
Dewey's opinion.
The second is President schurman, and
joining with him Admiral George DeWey
and the other members of the first Philip
pine commission: ITO those who derive
satisfaction. from seeing an isolated occur
renee, regretabIe, indeed, but incident to
every war, and making them the basis of
sweeping accusations, this commission has
tually committed against the natives were
likely to be brought to our attention and IN
every case that we, investigated we found
thority to administer prompt justice"
The third is Governor William II. Taft
OF Ohio, who said: 81 desire to say that IL
IS my deliberate Judgment that there never
WAS a war eenducted, whether against an
inferior racezpr otherR in which there was
more generosity. assuming that there was
war, at all; then thereEhas been in the
The fourth is Vice Goyernor Luke e.
Wright of Tennessee: General Chaffee
has no patience with any acts of oppression
been called TO them he has at once taken
proper steps. The howl against the army
has been made mainly for political pur-
poses and the cruelties practiced have been
largely exaggerated"
T%hroughout all this storm OF detfaction
and abuse the %repHPb ors6 n mSloriL Sei Tt s .nSd
they produced and pSssed, agaInSt demo;
statesmahship and opens to the Fliipinos
the path TO that enlightenment and ca.
pacity for self-government for which Rizal
noble and gentle Mckinley Believed would
descend upon them under the benedictior
Of our flag. l think. they, and not tho
others, were the true friends of the Philip
pine people.
At the afternoon meeting of the league
speeches were delivered by Senator Cullom
Governor Yates and Congressman A. J
Hopkins.
League Pat on Former Platforms.
While the weather was very unfavorabl
to the meeting Of the State League Of Re
publican Clubs, being the worst possibl
sort this morning, 1t In no way lessened tn
|, enthusiasm Of the vast throngs OF delegate
and friends, who began to overflow the cit
last night and are constantly arriving o.
every train today.
) The prospects are for a record breaker
both in point Of attendance and interes
I shown. Among the most prominent ar
) rivals last night were Governor Yates, Sen
ator Cullom. Colonel J. Mack Tanner, !
t W.. Parker, state president Of the league
/ Alfred Bayliss, superintendent OF public in
4 struction; Dorsey NJ Patton and man
others we'll known in state politics. Sec
4 rotary Of War Root came in early toda
from Indianapolis, where he met Presiden
Roosevelt.
The convention opened at 10 o'clock l
( the Coliseum, with 1000 delegates in thei
chairs on the main floor, while the lars
: stage was filled with prominent politician
The galleries were we'll filled with spec
tators, among whom were many womeI
who took a great interest in the meeting.
The convention was called to order b