The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-10-02
measures of marked humanity and


"2. That at the very outset of th
war there was strong reason to belieV
that our troops were ordered by som
officers to give no quarter, and that II
, Investigation was had because it wa
reported by Col. Crowder that th
evidence would implicatc man
Others Gen. Otis saying that tn
charge was not very grlevous unde
tho clrcumstances.'
"3. That from that time on, as il
shown by the reports of killed an,
wounded, and by direct testimony, th,
practice continued.
cd. That the war department ha
never made any earnest effort TO in
vestigato charges of this offence or tt
stop the practice.
"5. That from the beginning o.
the war the practice of burning native
towns and villages and laying waste
tho country has continued.
"This was tho inception of a policy
that was pursued till Samar was made
'howling wilderncss.'
"G. That the Secretary of War
never made any attempt to check OF
punish this method of war.
"7. That from very carly day
tortuc has been employed systemati-
cally to obtain information.
"S. That no one lme over boen
seriously punished for this, and that
since the first officers were rcprimand-
ed for hanging up prisoners no one has
been punished at all until Major
Glenn, in obedience TO an imperative
public sentiment, was tried for one of
many offences and received a farcical
sentence.
go. That the Secretary of War has
nevor made any attempt to stop this
barbarous practice.
"10. That from the time when Gen.
Otis advertised court-martial Of
Brenncr for giving the information
which lod to an investigation, until
The Secretary proposed that Gen. Miles
be retired for giving the clew which
lod to the publication of Major Garde-
ner's report, and Major Gardener is
harricd for making it, the zeal of the
war department and of Mr.. Root has
boon displayed against the accusers
and not against the criminal.
GIL. That the statements of Mr..
Root, whether as to the origin of the
war, the progress, or the methods by
which 1t has been prosecuted, havo
been unreliable and misleading.
"12. That he has shown desire
not to investigate, and, on the other
hand, to conceal the truth touching
the war, and to shield the guilty, and
by censorship and otherwise has large
ly succeedod.
"That he can exercise an influence
to prevent abuse is shown by his
vigorous language in disapprovlng the
recommendation of board that an
officer suffering from chronic alcoho-
llsm be retired. In this case he said:
"'Immediate and severe discipline
is called for, and nothing o)so. NV
observation has satisfied me that the
standard of sobricty and good personal
habits among tho officers of the army
Is very high, but it would not long ro-
main 80 if cases of this kind were to
bo condoEed or disposed of in the man.
ner which has been proposed in this
case. Officers who observe such cases
and fail to report them promptly for
discipline are remiss in the perform
ance of their duties, and | desire the
army to understand that they will be
so cOnsldered.'
Had such words been used whom
the first officers guilty of torture were
sentenced TO a 1eprimand--if such
language had ever been used by him
about any barbarity or outrage in the
Phillppines-can anyone doubt it's
effect? He was silent in the face Of
certain knowledge, and by his silence
he made himself responsible for all
that was done with his acquiescencc.
"13. That Mr.. Root, then, is the
real defendant in this caso. The re-
sponsibility for what has disgraced the
American name lies at his door. He
is consplcuously the person to be in
vestigated. The records of tho war
department should be laid bare, that
we may see what orders, what cable
grams, what reports, are there. His
standard of humanity, his attitude to-
ward witnesses, the position which he
has taken, the statements which he
has made, all prove that he is the last
person to be charged with the duty of
Investigating charges which, if proved,
I 1ecoil on HIM. 1t is idle to expect any
real investigation from HIM.
"Nor is it safe to trust this investi-
CATION to tho officers who have been
serving in the Philippine Islands. The
guilty men are their friends and COM
rades. They have been led to think
that the honor of tho army is served
by acquitting the guilty or giving nomi-
nal sentences. They cannot help try
ing to extenuate. They cannot help
wishing to disblieve."
What do the American people pro.
pose to 10 about this terrible truth2
Shall Mr.. Root continue to disguise
the truth? Shall wo hide our heads in
the sand, refuse to read or to believe
the facts, devote our attention to gains
and business, and hope that all thie
will be forgotten2"
| After insisting upon the importance
of rectifying our record in the Philip
pines by visiting those who have boer
: guilty Of outrage with severe punish