The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-01-18
ALL THE FACTS ARE NEEDED.

ALL THE FACTS AtE IN NE|EDED.
 For the ouickening of the National 1 Conscience.
 | Such an open and fearless probing into the facts is needed, for one thing, to quicken the conscience of the coun- try, We have grown callous to 8 state of things which four years ago, would have filled the land with indignation. Suppose q public man had ventured, early in 1898, to propose subjugating the Filiponos with an army of fifty thou sand men, what would have been his fate? Universal public execration. But what would have seemed in ad- vance a horrible thing, ought not to ap- pear a natural and proper course sim ply because we are now pursuing it.. The only reason it does so appear to many worthy people is that their sensa- tions have grown dull on this subject. Their consciousness does not respond any longer to the words which once would have stirred its depths. The thing has become an old story" Peo- ple say they are tired" of hearing about the Philippines. So we say a fresh inquiry is highly desirable to rouse Americans from the lethargy of jaded senses into which they are tempt ed to fall, as respects this matter of vi- tai concern to the nation. We need to have the old facts set forth with new vividness; the truth dragged out from behind the conflicting official reports where it is hidden. and the national mind once more challenged by the sharp questions, What are we doing in the Philippines? How long are we go- ing to stay there? What is the best way to withdraw, and save our honor and our principles?" L
 The inquiry should surely cover, and cover fully, the points which Senator Hoar mentioned in his speech of honest indignation yesterday. He says that he has seen with his own eyes docu- ment signed by General Anderson, who was in command of our troops in the Philippines before General Merritt ar rived, in which that officer explicitly states that he promised the F'ilipinos their independence. This has been hinted at before, but never so explicitly asserted. MT. Hoar affirms that Gene ral Anderson admits twice over his signature that such a promise was made. Now this is q new and most material fact. The country is entitled to know all about it. Let no one try to slip out of it by saying that General Andersons pledge of independence was unauthorized, and therefore not bind ing. This is not a dispute about tech nicalities2 The question is one of na- tionaI attitude and national good faith. Besides it has been beloved from thousand stumps that no such promise was ever made by any officer of the United States. Senator Hoar now de- clares that he has seen written proof (presumably in the war department) that it was made. Of course our gov ernment was not bound by the unau- thorized act of General Anderson, but it was bound not toSbllry the truth in It's archives. If a special committee IS necessary to bring it out, by all means let us have 1t.
 This relates to past events, nearly touching our national honor, but there are things going on to-day in the Phil ippines which, as Senator Hoar says, are "a foul blot on the flag which we all love" He speaks of conversations which he has had with "brave coldiers and officers of high, rank" who have told him of atrocities committed in the Philippines in the name of the United States. On those things, too the light should be turned. These military wit nesses should be allowed to declare from the housetops what they now only dare to whisper in the ear of senators, They should be called before commit tee in open session, and under guaran- tee of complete immunity for any testi- mony they may give, should be asked to tell the whole country the whole truth. At present they are under the kind of terrorism which necessarily rests upon men in the military service. With this goes the inevitable official optimism which insists upon every thing in the Philippines being for the best possible under the best of possible governments Secretary Root, for eX- ample, denies that there is any friction between the civil and military govern ments; yet every one who has corres- pondent in the archipelago, every one who talks frankly with returned agents or officers, every one who per- ceives the conflict between General Chaffee's reports and Governor Tafts, knows that there Is friction, sometimes amounting to bitter animosity. Into this also there should be investigation, searching and unconcealed.
 We must not poohpooh all this aside as something which does not concern us Our national character is implica- ted We cannot let ourselves be brand ed as a set of hypocrites. Our press and public have been crying out against the barbarities of the war in South Af- rica; how do we like to have English men defend their crueties by citing our own? There is an article in the last Fortnightly with this suggestive and, to us, humiliating title: ''The struggle in the Philippines; parallel to the South African War" If there is such a parallel, we ought to know it. The de- tails should be set forth in the light of day. Such military successes and sur denders in the Philippines as are re- ported this morning do not go to the core of the matter. Of course, we can beat down the scattered bands of insur-