The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-04-30
GENERAL WHEELER TALKS
lie Said All the Insurgents Want Is
Honest Treatment.
FILIPINoS ARE KIND AND GRATEFUL.
They Are Proud and Would Love to Be
Citizens OF the United States.
Not Cruel.

New York, April 2o.--ln. lengthy intcr-
view published by the Herald, General
Joseph Wheeler. retired, who is at the
home Of his sister In Brooklyn has dis
cussed the Philippines IN the light OF re
cent developments from his point OF view
after six months service there in command
OF brigade. a.
''Aly service was confined, he said, ITO
that section OF the country extending for
about Us miles above Manila and some
thirty or forty miles In breadth. 1t is
thickly populated country; It's cities nave
schools and the people are more or less
educated. The Impression | had from these
people was that all they wanted was an
honest. fair, just government, and found
them very apprecative of kindness.
I'VE had a great many lights with the
Insurgents, but in no instance was there
any cruelty by our soldiers or so far as /
know, any killing except according to the
rules of war.
II never heard OF amy water cure, or any
other infection OF torture upon the t1l-
pmos."
us it true" he was asked, that Sher-
mans army on its march "a the sea- was
guilty OF such acts as have been attributed
to our troops in the PhiilppnesE'
1t Is true that SherIuan's troops did
burn buildings but | never heard of them
torturing or hurting a ncncomhataut," re-
piled General Wheeler, thoughtfuly.
My association with the tlnpinos," he
continued, lied me TO believe that they
are not maieyolent people. II Is true
they were not always frank, hut this was
due TO the fact that the insurgent leaders
were always demanding Information and
money from them and they were afraid to
neglect these demands, because, they told
me, If they did so they would have To suffer
with their lives II our troops left, and there
was constant impression among them
thar our troops would only remain tenn
porariy In that country.
There were some instances Of cruelty on
the part Of the Flliplnos. but they were
very few. All the prisoners VINO were
taken and who We're returned 10 us whom
! talked to spoke only of the kindness with
which they were treated with the exception
Of Lieutenant Gilmore.
There one case Of cruelty by Gen
ell iuo, who. Il was said, ordered a
number Of prisoners tu be shot when he
was So pressed that he thought they would
! he rctaken.
MY Impression was that tho Flupinos
were disposed 10 adopt kind methods. They
! would love to be citizens OF the I'm ted
| States, If they could he equals Of the Amer
/ leans, hut they do not wish to he conSi1
cred rs an inferior people"
! Can the United States assimllate ito
! filipinos without exterminatlng them!' he
/ was asked.
with the exception Of Few localities
! peace and quiet mud order exist In tht
/ Philippines now, M to the standard N ON
! own territories. and | am convinced thi
| condition viii be universal throughout these
| islands in n very short time.
! Americans viii 90 there because they
| ind opportunities offered there that they
| can find nowhere else. aud In n few year!
/ they will he the ruling element.