The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1902-03-20
GENERAL FREDERICK FUNSTON, OF

Kansas, "the man who does things"
is also man who says things in plain
terms as we'll. He does not mince
matters, but places the blame for the
continuance of the instruction IN the
Philippines upon the shoulders of the
peace party here at home, just where
Lawton and every other officer and
commander who has ever;served in the
islands, places it. AS the General
himself put it, when speaking before
the Marquette Club, of Chicago,
of the conditions on the islands:
"What say may not be discreet, but
ii is the naked truth, and army officers
who have served in the islands will
bear out my statements He de-
port and encouragement given the in
surgents by the anti-imperialistic
league and other copperheads here at
home and went on say:
"Had it not been for the so-ca11ed
peace party in the States the insurrec-
ton would have been suppressed final
1y in January, 1900. Since that time
900 lives have been sacrificed and mil
lions of dollars have been spent.
"No matter what the cost in men and
money, the instruction must and will
be suppressed. Every trace of resist
ance must be stamped out for all time.
When that is done it will be time to
decide what shall be done with the
Philippines. It is not party ques-
ton, it is not question Of religion, or
of race, it is plain case of duty that
must be done, and well done.
Through all this wretched business
have never known wounded Fill
pino or defenseless native to be mai
treated or killed. So much for our
critics.
81 am for my lcountry, right or
wrong, but in this ease it is right.
There never has been a timeswhen we
could withdraw from the islands with
out a total disregard for our plain
duty. The responsibility for the con-
tinuance of the resistance to our army
should be placed where it is due. From
the lips of Aguinaldo himself, and
from other leaders of the instruction,
know that for the last two years they
have been encouraged to shoot down
our men and continue their warfare by
the copperhead sentiments of people
here in the States"
General Funston, in a speech before
the Lotos club, of New York, also paid
his respects to the men in the Ameri-
can army who have been spreading
false information in this country about
the operations of the army in the field.
He remarked that most of this false in
formation had been sent to this coun-
try by men "who have ornamented the
inside of guardroom more often than
they have distinguished themselves in
the field"
It must have been from one of these
gentry that Senator Hoar got the in
formation upon which he based his
criticism upon the conduct of the army
in the field. Hoar stated in the Senate
that he had information that the army
had been guilty of 'unmentionab1e cru
elites" towards the natives, but when
invited to give the name of his infor-
mant and cite instances he refused on
the ground that his information had
been given him in confidence.
General Funston's remarks may be
indiscreet from the soldiers point of
view, but few plain talks from him
will do world of good. The people
have confidence in him and his words
carry weight. They have watched his
career with interest and admiration
and know that he will tell the truth
without any reservations.