The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-05-09


The Courier's Washisgtos Letter.
WASHINGTON, d. c., May 5, 'O2.
"The editor or the citizen who
underestimates the Philippine ques-
tion, who fails TO appreciate that III
il OF paramount importance, who
imagines that senators, in ventil-
ating and opposing the Philippins'
policy Of the administration, are
losing sight Of the interests Of our
own people, is short sighted. He
does not grasp the true import OF
the situation" said Senator Clay,
lin reply to 4 question l put to him
Saturday. "Is an undertaking
which means to the people of the
United States an annual expendi-
'ture OF $4,000 900, and which
means that expenditure not for one
year but continuously question OF
minor importance? And that is not
the most serious phase Of the situa-
Ition. Reflect for q moment upon
the effect Of tho war upon our Amer.
|ican soldiers, officers and men. 1t
lis brutalizing them as is plainly
shown by the evidence which has
been given before The Philippine
committee. And why is this cruel
|ty? Is it in accordance with the
past histories Of our army? No!
And for good reason. In the Civil
war men fought for the principles
lin which they believed, the rights
|of tho sovereign states on the ono
side, the preservation Of the Union
|on the other. All were sincere.
All were fighting for their convic-
ltions. Ministers, doctors, mer-
chants, farmers. the best men in the
country on both sides, made up the
rank and file Of the armies. To .
certain extent the same was true in
the Spanish war when the best OF
|our young men enlisted to uphold
the flag and to free Cuba. But
whom have We in the Philippines?
The Filipinos are human beings
with hopes and aspirations like our
own. 'Paci6ed?' Yesl We have
killed their men and sometimes
their children andsven their women.
lWill they forgive us and accept ou1
lrule? Never, except in the pres
,|ence Of large armed forcss. To pre-
|eerve peace in the Philippines w
must maintain IN army OF from
,Iforty to City thousand men in the
islands for years to come, perhaps,
lforever: and this 70 conquer . peo-
Iple TO whom liberty il - dear a.. Il
lie to us. Can the Philippine ques-
|tion be said to be one Of minor i'm
portancs?"
Apropos Of the Philippine ques
,Ition there has BEEN adopted BY the
Senate . resolution calling on the
Secretary Of War for statsmsnt oil
the expense to which this country
has been put in the administratiou
|of the military affairs OF the 10
Hands. Secretary Root has shown
IA decided tendency to avoid making
this report during this session, and
would doubtless like to postpone thu
state ment until after the fall cam.
lpaign. He has magni6ed The din.
,,|culties, and in the meantime has re
Ifused to furnish even IN approxi'
nation, which is al the democratic
senators who fathersd the resolution
; |dssire. To the e20, 600. 600 paid .
IL purchase price for the islands ma.
,|be added the S55, 47S ,695 expended
|for military purposes for the hrs
,ix months, from Mayto November
IlS9S, but from that time on no fig
lures are to b had, and the mos
|persistent inquiry By senators and
correspondents has failed to secur'
ANY competent Information. 1t !
estimated that the total cost mp Z
, November, 1899. Vas 500, 900, 900
|, but there al estimates fail, and !
/, the Secretary Of War has his Va.
the country will not know unit
!, oext December.
All last week in the Senate Va
! devoted TO the confederation OF tn
|. philippine question. and to-day
Senator Lodge will practically opel
1.-The defense. The House OF Repre-
,entatives passsd the Omnibus Pub
oIIic Building bill, the Agriculture
o|and the District Of Columbia appro
bills, and tomorrow vii
Jake up the Omnibus tsr!itorial bill
(which grants statehood to Okls
|. |homa, including Indian Territory
Nev Mexico and Arizona. Tho b.
|may prscipitate . considerable figt
lin The House. but its advocates %