Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-05-20

is what the majority OF the people o.
this city desire to have enforced.
EVASION WILL NOT ANSWER
II Is gratifying TO the Just and ra'
tional people OF the United States that
President Roosevelt, and his associates
! at the head Of the government Intend
to investigate thoroughly the charges
OF torture and cruelty and unnecessary
violence upon the inhabitants OF the
Philippine Islands, which have been
brought 20 light in testimony before
the Philippine commission.
In his three days speech before the
United States Senate the senior sena-
tor from Utah drew most lurid ana
horrlfying picture Of those barbarilie''
This was. however merely incidental
to the argument presented which was
against the measure TO provide, tenn
porarlly, for civil government In the
Islands. To the objections raised by the
Senator very little II any reply was
elected But the strong language used
concerning those officers In the army
who are charged with the RESPONSE
billy for the outrages said to have been
committed provoked his opponents 20
retaliation which, In our opinion, only
weakened their cause.
II the horrors testified to before
the commission were actually per-
petrated, no language that we know
OF Is too forclble In their denuncIatlon,
II full investigation shows that they
aid not occur, or that the account
OF them has been exaggerated justice
viii be done In the ylndlcation OF those
who are accused But the raking up
OF events In the history Of our country
which none OF us Justlfes, and placing |
them before the public gaze, cannot
pallIate the atrocities said to have been
committed in the Philippines or con-
stltute any apology for them.
II Is urged In reply TO this, that the
massacres referred TO by the Senator
from Kansas were not held up for this
purpose, but simply In response to the
challenge from the Utah Senator TO
produce from history anything equal
to the barbarlsm and cruelty and tor.
tme inflicted upon the Flliplnos. Well,
supposlng that to be the case, and even
Il the garbled stories thus retold were
exactly true they would not form
anything like a parallel TO the deeds
said to have been done under official
authority In Tayabas, Ioilo, Igbarras,
samar and other places, and inflicted
upon peaceable natives some Of them
public officials, not in the regular tac-
tics OF war, but to force confessions
from unwilling lips, TO compel obel-
sance to military pride and to wreak
personal vengeance.
After producing from the testimony
given under oath before the commits
sion, and from public records that can
not be denied. evidence which seemed
to warrant the most extreme lndigna.
ton, Senator Rawllns exclaimed
Senators, will any one rise and tell
me when and whore among the most
barharic peoples you ever read such an
act OF brutality as that? When was
like that disclosed elsewhere
upon the face Of the earth2 Just think
of General Grant taking people In the
South who remained neutral In so far
ls they did not engage ia actual hostil-
tiles against the American troops, and
SELLING them and placing them In front
Of the armies OF the United States as a
shield 10 protect them, and TO receive
the shots OF those who were seeking 10
defend what they conceived TO be the
right But there, IN the Philippine
Islands. great God, what right have we
TO practice these brutalitles against
those peOple2 What crime have they
ever committed against as that they
should be afflicted with the tortures
Of the fend incamate"
stung by these EXCAVATIONS and in
luiries, the Senator from Kansas re-
sponded by raklng up accounts given !
many years ago. Of two massacres in
this country that are universally con-
lenned, They are not to be compared ,
With the Wholesale burnlngs, slaughter
ngs torturings and frightnl barbari-
les disclosed by the records and IN the
Inquiries concerning the conduct OF SOL ,
Hers In the Philippines Bringing them !
Onward In this connection appears to ,
IN inQulring mind, Ike an attempt To
hrow dust In the eyes Of the Ameri- ,
an people, and 10 avoid meeting ar
against a public measure. the
weak places In which were being point
d out BY the Utah Senator.
Whatever purpose there may have
'een in raklng them up from the debris
4 the almost forgotten passive say they
AVE no relevancy at an to the subject
natter Of The main issue In the debate.
.or do they furnish anything Ike an 4
nswer TO the challenge Of the Senator
rom Utah, for parallel to the course
uryued by American troops as dis
losed In the evidence presented.
We are not taking any sides in the
lain controversy; nor do we assert that b
be charges which have been preferred I
gainst officers in the army are true:
ut we 90 endorse the declaration Of
he President Of the United States that $
hey shan be fully inquired into. and b
.e do deprecate the dragging into the
ebate Of old stories, which reflect dis n
,,alf ,,no,, f,,.,.,. -,