The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-05-14
The Issue in National Politics.

The forces are gathering for polit,
ical BATTLE in this country which Will
be waged with much vigor and earn,
estness during the coming summer and
fall. The Congressional elections In
the North and West will be the main
contest and the issue will be the
conduct of the war in the Philippine
islands, but in this issue is involved
the radical and essential difference
between the Republican and Demo
cratic parties on the subject of terri
torial commercial, and political ex-
pansion. Upon these lines will be
sharply defined the contentious of the
two parties, and for the time being
all other issues will be forgotten, be
cause upon this settlement will de-
pend the complexion OF the next
House Of Representatives, which WILL
foreshadow at least to some etxent
the result of the Presidential contest
two years hence. The Democrats OF
the South will remain solid as hereto
fore il, opposition to the colonial pol
icy of the Republican administrations,
with only here and there an exception
among those who are seeking Office, or
who are proiting from the occupancy
of favors already distributed.
The Democratic position on the
Philippine question was defined in the
platform of 1900, which favored an i'm
mediate declaration Of the nations
purpose: First, to establish a stable
government: second, to give lndepeno-
ence to the Filipinos; third, to pro-
tect them from outside interference.
The Republican practice has been sto
fasten government OF its own upon
the Filipinos; to prevent their inde-
pendence now and hereafter, and to
infict cruelty and oppression upon
them at the pleasure of civil and mill
tary officials. It has been claimed
that the military was subordinate to
the civil administration, but recent
revelations have shown that the mill
tary was a law unto itself in dealing
with the Filipinos, and that the cruel
ties practiced we're in excess OF the
Spanish brutalities.
On the 9th of September, 1901, Col.
Gardener reported to Gov. Taft, the
civil ruler of the Philippines, to the
effects of military brutality, which
report Taft kept for five months before
transmitting it to the Secretary OF
War. Ten days afterwards Gen. Miles
wrote to the Secretary that war IN the
Philippines was being conducted with
marked severity With the Gardener
1peort in his possession, the Secre-
tary replies to Miles, 7denying that the
war is being conducted with marked
severity and asserting on the contrary
that it is being conducted on humane
lines, ridiculing Niles suggestions
and disputing his assertions, and
seeking to discredit Gardeners report
in advance of any Investigation
On the sth of April, 1902, IN giving
testimony before a court martial IN
Manila, Maj. Waller, Capt Porter and
Lieut.. Halford said that Gen. Jacob
H. Smith had ordered Waller to make
Samar province bowling wilderness
and to kill all natives over 10 years
old. On the first day of the trial by
court martial of Gen. Jacob Il. Smith,
charged him with conduct prejudl-
cial to good order and discipline, Col.
Charles A. Woodruff, counsel for the
defense, said he desired to simplify
the proceedings, and was willing to
admit that Gen. Smith gave instruc,
tions to Maj. Waller to kill and
burn,'' and make the island OF Samar
ga bowling Wilderness that he
wanted everyone killed who was cap
able of bearing arms, and that he
specified all over ten years Of age, as
the Samar boys Of that age were
equally as dangerous as their elders.
The revelations have brought out a
chorus of indignation from every part
Of the country, and even the Republi-
can voters are made to comprehend
the benevolent assimilation" policy
of the administration. The Democrats
in Congress are making good use OF
the damning testimony and admissions
at the court martial and their Repub-
lican antagonists have been paralyzed
by the truth and force of the assault
upon their position, but they cannot
defend Gen. Smith and his infamous
order, although it is said he will at
tempt to justify his instructions by
reference to the course Of Gen. Sher-
man in Georgia and South Carolina,
and the acts of Gen. Sheridan in the
Shenandoah Valley. which were based
upon "Gen. Order No. loo," issued
first in 1863, for 1.-the government of
armies in the feld,'' relating to emil
itary necessity, martial law and retail
iation.'' Only one person OF any
prominence has made defense OF
Gen. Smiths orders in a public ad.
dress, and that person is Corporal"
Tanner, formerly commissioner of pen
sions, who said at a Grant birthday
banquet: when Gen. Smith gave his
order, kill every one over ten, he
knew what he was doing, for out
there in the Philippines boys of ten
years are oftentimes more dangerous
than grown men. 1 say, Clean them
out. The thing to do with them is to
makessthem respect our glorious flag; :"
Corporal Tanner was received by the
Confederate veterans at the Richmond
reunion with marked courtesy and
kindness, ,Ebut after this utterance he
will fail to have their respect.