The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-28
ANTS ON THE W AR
An Open Letter to the President
ISSUED.
PRAISED FOR HIS POSITION
But the Oher Is Made to Show That
Many Scandals Were
ssssss ~, Concealed. Lz@@lE
FOR HIS POSITION

s@tsr ,, Concealed. I--S
Lake George N. Y, July 2s.-At meet
Ing of representative anti -imperialists
held in New York city last spring a COM
n,ittee was appointed to investigate army
conditions in the Philippines. AT a meet
ing just held at Lake George, an open let
ter to the president was adopted. The let
ter was signed by Charles Francis
Adams, chairman 2, Carl Schurz, Edwin
Burritt Smith, Moorheld Storey and Her
bert Welsh. It says: -
We desire to express the qualification af-
forded US by your review Of the 14th inst, as
commander-in-chief. of the findings of the
court-martial in the case of General ]. H.
Smith. Taken in connection with the previous
memorandum of April IS, that review will,
provided it be followed by corresponding gen
eral action, in our opinion, do much toward
the re-establishment of the national prestige
a3d the restoration Of the morale Of the
army. Especially opportune, in our judgment,
Is your very commendable reminder to officers
In high and responsible positions that, in a
warfare with national dependents, such as
that recently wageC ty us in the east, 1t be-
hooves all such officers to be peculiarly care
ful in their bearing and conduct to keep a
mc1al check over acts of an improper
character by their subordnates'
The level here reached is lofty, and in
healthy contrast with that spirit. far too
prevalent, which seeks excuse, If not justin
cation, for the excesses of the present. in
every instance of inhumanity which can pos
s!bly be exhumed either from colonial history,
or for the regrettable records Of our Indian
warfare.
While thus, however, expressing our sense
OF obligation, our Investigations have led us
to conclude that the decentralization of the
officers and soldiers of our army in the Phil
ipplnes, including all branches Of the service
AMI a.! grades of rank, was far more general
than night be inferred from your review.
Democa]i*ing influences, very prejudicia1 to
any higI, standard of military morale. were,
under the circumstances, Inevitable. This led
to iamentable results, calling for the firm
hand and stern core; tion found. and most
fortunately applied, in your orders OF April s
and July IA. g--s~
Meanwhile We vou'G respectfully ,gubmit
that the good of the army and the future OF
our eastern dependencies demand that 1inves-
tigAtion should not stop at this point. General
Smith and Major Waller were not the sole
cuprits, nor should they suffer in the charac-
ter of scapegoats.
In your review. you say that these cases
were exceptional. Your means OF Information
on this point should unQuestionatlY be inf
nitely better than ours. Meanwhile 1t is al
ways to be borne in mind that one side only
Of this painful story has been heard, and that
side only In part The testimony OF repre-
sentative Filiplnos has been jealously and
Systematically suppressed. Judicial and i'm
partial examination on the spot has been de-
MED or pronounced impracticable.
The letter then discusses the kill and
burn" ORDER and says:
AS the not unnatural result of military op.
eratons SO inspired, an official report indi-
Gates that out Of a total population in a single
district of 300, 900, not less than 100. 900 per-
ishsd- ~ ..
The letter then alludes to the water
cure, saying that the first reports of its
practice met with denials, while evidences
before the senate Philippines committee
proved conclusiYely that this and other
forms Of torture had been used, and adds
Where inquiry revealed the systematic use
of torture by suhorcinates. the officer in re.
sorption in other duties of his position was
blame on the ground that his praisworthy alb
sorption 1 mother duties of his position wa:
20 complete that such trivial incidents failed
to attract his notice. Such finding is GER
tainly suggestive.
Finally, every severity known to the state
of war-practices which have excited the spe
reported AS features Of the hostilities in Cubs
under Spanish regime, or in South Africe
during the Boer war-have been of undisput
ed and frequent occurrence In the Philippines
From the early beginning OF operations there
it has been the general practice, IL not actu.
ally the order, to kill those wounded in con.
fict. IN like manner as respects concentration
camps. These, as feature In recent Spanish
and South African operations, excited in US as
bo Heanaat -indipnafiOn c0ynhinef
! with the most profound sympathy for those
| thus unn,erc fully dealt with. When resortet
to by cur officials in the Philippines. these
camps are represented as species of recre-
alton grounds, into which the inhabitants o1
large districts rejo;ced to be drawn, and from
which they departed with sorrow. Reports
to which we can, on the other hand. refer
give Of them accounts not essentially differ
! ent from the accounts received of similar
camps established elsewhere.
The letter then quotes communication
to the senate by. Secretary Root on Feb.
IA, in which Mr.. Root said:
..The war in the Philippines has been con-
Quoted by the American army with scrupulous
regard for the rules Of civilized warfare, with
careful and genuine consideration for the pris.
oner and the non -combatants, with self-re-
straint and with humanity never surpassed
If ever equaled, in any conflict. worthy only
of praise and rejecting credit upon the
American people. 80 - ~
These words, continues the letter, of sweep
ing cornmendation and unqualified indorse-
meut were written by the honorable secre-
tary when all the essential facts since brought
to light were within his official cognizance
You have given public assurance that the sec
rotary is more desirous than yourself even, II
that be possible, to probe to the bottom every
responsible allegation Of outrage and torture
to the end that rothing te concealed and nc
man for any reason favored or shielded. The
draft on our creculity thus presented Is large
tut we accept your assurance. Meanwhile
permit us to point out that such very sweep
ing and somewhat uncalled for commendation
and approval. SO far as we are advised, alto
sethAr unprecedented in character, coming d.
rect,y and in the midst of active operations
from the fountain head of military authority,
are scarcely calculated "to keep moral
check over acts of an improper character by
subcrdinates. "a -
It is charitable to assume that the pressure
of o5,1ial business, at Che time OF the commu
nication referred to. was such that the secre-
tarv failed to recall what correspondents had
brovght to his rctice. fully to advise HIM
SELF as to what the files OF his department
might have to G,st;cse. !.
We ind ourselves, though with deep regret
fninnelIed to take issue with you on one i'm.
.rott:mt point. in your review of July IA. you
1ay Almost un Neifslly the higher officers
have so borne themselves as to supply the
nacessary check over acts of an Improper