The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-04-22
THE PRESIDENT AMI ROOT
AROUSED.

pOiAiNS ! w ~ ONN 49, ~ -ANN
government and the Philippine out
RACES. Secretary Root Who so long de-
iayed has been forced to act relative to
these Infamous. multiplying outrages.
No longer ago than the 18th Of Febru-
ary last, he said in reply to an inquiry
from a senator that "the war in the
Philippines has been conducted by the
American army with scrupulous regard
for the rules Of civilized warfare. with
careful and genuine consideration for
the prisoner and non-combatant, with
self-restraint and with humanity. never
surpassed, if ever equalled, in any con-
1ict." But that has been knocked In
the head for the evidence to the con-
trary has startled this country. The
news in Washington is that Root Is con-
strained to take action. and he is thor
oughly aroused after his nap as 70
the actual cruelties practiced pom the
helpless Filipinos. The testimony this
week before the senate committee Gss
too plain and overwhelming to be disre-
garded or blinked by the secretary. He
Is said now to be convinced that the
very reputation Of the army and Of the
people of these United States for hui
manity and decency is at stake. He
has therefore ordered that the officers
implicated to be contaminated. and a
further thorough investigation to be
made. General Jake Smith will be
tried If there is really ground for believ-
ing that he issued. the brutal orders to
Major Waller. 1t really looks as if
there were no mistake as 10 the fact OF
those orders infamous and devilish as
the are. There should be an investi-
cation Of General Jake. That report Of
Major Gardener that was suppressed by
Secretary Root, only came to light until
the democrats of the senate committee
insisted "strenuousIy' to have it sent
to them. General Miles brought the
fact of such a report to light, or else
the congress and the ountr would
AVE been none the wiser. That report
has been already referred to by The
Messenger and it is very ugly and dam
aging. The drift of the report indicates
the overbearing conduct of the army
" IL 4 " ESQ IL Cd
human beings with feelings and charac-
ter. and as really having any rights
whatever. They are treated more as
dumb. driven cattle than as human
beings made in 1.-The image of God"
The Savannah News ~pertinentIy re-
marks that a question which Major
Gardeners report suggests is whether Or
not the conduct of the army in othar
provinces is pretty much the same as
1t is in the province Of which he is
governor. II it is. there is an explana-
ton of the frequent outbreaks of hostil-
ity TO American rule There ought TO
be no delay in finding out just what the
conduct Of the arny is. II there is bru-
tally in the treatment Of the natives.
and if there is little OF no respect shown
for their lives and property. the recon-
mendation OF Major Gardener, namely,
that the army be Withdrawn from ron
tact with the natives to as great.an ex-
tent as possible. should be adopted"
A report from Washington Of the 15tn
instant was hat President Roosey alt
will act as he is aroused by the Philip
pine disclosures. and realizes the seri-
business Of the situation here and in
the islands 1t is stated in a dispatch
to The New York Evening Post from
Washington concerning the president:
'On the contrary. his natural impui-
ses are humane rather than cruel, and
severely practical rather than sen.i-
mental He wishes to handle the insur-
rection In the Philippines with a firm
n heavy hand: but he has never been
willing to let the impression 60 to the
army that he would permit useless tor
ture and wanton slaughter. Within a
very short time We shal probably have