The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-05-04
THE PHILIPPINE oUTRAGEs.


To The Salt Lake Herald:
When the news of the declaration of
war against Spain by the United states
had been flashed over the country. a
thrlH OF honest pride and exultation
passed through the hearts Of the Amer
lean people, for they realized il was the
DeSInnlng OF the end of a long and svs-
tematic course of tyranny and oppres-
sion under which the people of Cuba had
Deen suffering. It SignaliZed the Terminal
tioh OF a cruel war, that had converted
iSe Pearl of the Antilles into 4 wilder
ness OF ruin and misery. 1t meant the
obstruction % the Recommendation carDD
WIN ITS unspeakable horrors and atroc-
tues, me putting an end to the Dettv
tyrannles and remOrseless exactiOns Of
military officials Derpeuated on the un-
fortunate inhabitants in the name Of
civilization
In the course Of few months the mill
!Idry ana naval superiority of the Amer
LSails was abunGantly demonstrated. and
the OStensible object of the war was &C.
compnshed; the Cubans were freed from
the bhgnting domination of their oppres-
sors. me Philippines, by virtue of the
genius OF manifest destiny" that plas-
NC ana accommodating "alleviator of
outraged conscience" that has ever been
employed by the crowned ruffians of the
race as a DreteXt to Justify a policy of
IODDcry, conquest and determination
were likewise liberated from the re-
morseless grasp of the tyraut. and
brought in subsection to the ''benevoIent
assimilation" policy of the conauerins
nation.
The military operations of the Spanish
government, both in Cuba and the Phil
lpplnes, had drawn the fire OF denuncia-
tlon from all the enlightened nations.
ana II was the verdict Of all Christian
peoples that ner manifold crimes and
denominations justly merited the retrfbu-
tlon that overlook her as a result Of the
war.
It is said that the United states. by
virtue OF the right of conquest and the
payment Of $20000.000 to Spain forthwith
became invested with an indefeasfb
title in fee simple to the Philippine archi-
pelagO. succeeding to the rights relfD-
quisned by the Spanish government. In
the light Of recent events. made appre-
cldble to the understanding of the Amer
! leans by the vigilance Of the United
states senate in its inquisition into the
military operations OF the islands. Spain
not only conveyed TO us its title TO the
people and land of the Philippines. but i'm
some mysterious manner has Transmitted
10 our government an unsolicited stock
or military brutality and fiendishness,
I the application Of which. in the hands ~
General Smith, who viii be known 10 In
lure generations as the American C0rtez.
has become intensified. There can be
] found nothing in the wide range of his
tory more demOniacal and absolutely
D
wearing the uniform of the American
soldier, for the indiscriminate murder
and assassination of men, women and in
noceht children, in the prosecution OF
I the campaign in the province Of Samar
( ASIDE from this order of miscellaneous
slaughter, methods Of torture. for the
/ eXtOrtlon Of desired Information from
I captured Fiipinos, unexampled in the
I annals Of so-called civilized warfare
: nave been employed indiscriminatpF In
I our officers. Applications Of the water
Z cure. from the evidence disclosed by the
I senatorial investigation. are not Of iso.
{ lated but Of general occurrence in MANY
/ Of the provinces sought 70 be subiugated
/ il the applications were casual and moi
/ part of a general system justification
/ might be found, but the contrary. unfOr.
! tunately. seems to be the case.
some contemporary writer's. irratiOna
+ and intemDerate adherents Of the doc
I trine OF Imperialism, seek 10 spread or
I the whitewash Of eXculpation for the
I orders of General Smith. bv urging Thu
3 existence Of extraordinary military ext
! gencies, that could only be properly dis
J posed Of by such eXGrenitfes citing Ia,
! execution by Napoleon Of the prisoner,
! Of JOffa. taken I'm the Assyrian cam
/ paign- There IS nothing in this incideu
Z that affords any eXtenuatiOn for on
4 Philippine baTbarities. il Is not a parable
! case. The circumstances Of Napoleon
situation on the plains Of Asia were TO
] tally dissimilar. The French general wa.
cut off from his base Of operations. il
I the midst Of the hostile armies Of com
! bined forces. The Assyrian soldiers OF
/ dered to be shot had In a previous en-
/ gagement been taken prisoners By tn.
/ French and released upon their prouis.
! not TO take part in any subsequent en-
! gagement against the French but in tn,
/ next battle fought untrue to their prom
/ Use. they were enlisted under the banner.
/ Of Ahmet. and were taken prisoners Z
] second time. Having no soldiers to guar5
/ them. their execution was determined
/ upon. This measure was Justified By tbs
/ military necessities that the perjlous stu