The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-05-06

that President Mckinley. one Of the most
humane aud generous Of men, had directed
the army to show the Fllipiuos the greatest
kindness. From that policy the successor OF
Mckinley had not deylated. Within few
days orders had gone from the White House
for the investigation Of alleged crueltles and
to punish any found guilty OF atrocities
Mr.. Lodge made warm defense OF the
secretary OF war, asserting that IN the long
list Of distinguished men who had occupied
that office there never had been an abler,
more public spirited or patriotic man than
Secretary Root. The secretary had done his
full duty IN probing TO the bottom charges
Of cruelty or maladminstratlon made 10
him.
Towns had been burned, said Mr.. Lodge,
| in the course of this war as towns had been
burned in the course OF every war. and
while such cases were to be deplored they
were incidents Of war In the speeches of
the minority. he said. women and children
had been slaughtered, but there was not in
| the records an authenticated case OF the
! killing Of women or children traceabe to
the American soldiers.
"An Of u.s." he said, want to see justice
done-we want 20 see those guilty OF torture
! punished"
He paid n high tribute TO the~Amercan
army in the Philippines, all Of the members
Of which he pointed out, wera volunteers.
| They represented thoroughly the American
communities which gave them birth. They
! were not saints--they were not devils The
atrocities which had been committed in iso-
lated instances, and which all regretted,
had grown ont Of warfare.
Mr.. Lodge quoted from the records many
| instances OF atrocities committed by the
Filipino insurgents on the American
troops Men had been captured as prison
crs OF war and had their ears cut of, their
intestincs cut out and their bodies other
wise horribly mutllated. Others had been
| driven into streams and while drowning
had been shot still others had been buried
alive Reading from statistics furnished by
the authorities In the Philippines he show
ed that 400 natives had been assaulted
Snd mutilated because they Tympathized
with tbe Americans. Slxty-seven officers
friendly 10 she Americans had been assassi-
mated and forty had been assaulted and
mutilated.
He closed his speech by saying: 1--WE
are told that we had no friends among the
Finpinos. Apparently the insurgents
thought there were enough friends 10 make
M that awful roll OF assassination. l have
heard torrents Of sympathy for the insur-
gents fghting against the flag and author
ity OF the United States, but not one word
of sympathy for the Fllipinos, men OF the
same race who are friendly 10 us and who
asked only TO live in peace beneath our
flag.
Their lives were as dear TO them as
those Filipinos who were aiding the insur-
gents and they were our friends. There
are more Of them and say that whatever
else may be true or false II we get out or
those Islands and leave these friends to 4
fate like that we are unworthy Of the
name Of great nation
Mr.. Lodge declared he did not wish to
defend cruelty, hut said he was shocked be-
yond measure al the attacks made upon tho
army He added: we condemn waller
for shooting trcncherous guides. When we
think OF that little band OF his that strug-
2 nlcd through tho wilderness OF Samar,
where no Spaniard had ever gone, ana came
5 out on the other side deirious with suhcr
ings, so that be was reported when ne
: first reached Manila. 10 be out OF his nina
Let MS remember their circumstances ere
we condemn Think Of those hye or SIX
j hundred posts hcatteltu az WV 'f'
; islands. little squads Of fifteen or twenty
, men under the command very often OF
/ sergeant OF young lieutenant there
r among people apparently friendly. The
o FIRST thing this boy in command or the scr
4 geant knows is that one OF his men maj
been assassinated in the night.
e "Ah, Mr. President, these are things tha'
. have hardened their hearts and made them
feel that there is treachery among them
= There is but one testimony as 10 the treat
+ mont Of the friendly natives. Soldiers ano
d officers alike treated them as we could ex
4 uect Americans 10 treat people OF iaat k.nd
generously and hUmanely. do not WIS.,
. 10 be put IN the position Of a defender o
), cruel,ies. II must make my choice theI
a am for the friendly native. the frien'
G Of America, against the men In arm
e against her, and am for the America
. army against, the insurgents
a .'The scheme has been to raise this cry
OF cruelty In the PhllIunInes in order Z
: make II react upon the party in power Ih'
t American army ought not to be subject .