The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-05-06
GENERAL SMITH ON TRIAL.

The trial of General Jake Smith pro-
ceedeth at Manila. An effort is max
ing to show hat boys who are brave
n patriotic enough to fight the Amer
can must be murdered outright when
made prisoners of war, and that all
people who are branded as treacherous
should be massacred. And all this, in
the twentieth century and by Ameri-
cans!
General Jake Smith is a fine repre-
sentative soldier indeed. He admits
that he ordered United States troops to
kill and burn until they had made Sa-
mar " a bowling waste and to spare no
Fflipinos over ten years of age, is bring
ing out some impressive testimony. So
far from recognizing the resolute brav-
cry inc dislike of Americans and their
methods of war and government on the
part of the Filipinos, including men.
women and children, Smith and others
regard this as good grounds for ex-
termination The splendid valor of this
class Of nations exc1tes in Smith & Co.,
naught but cruelty and determination
- "-P~ - 'AACA " LNou NbdN Ia
pinos armed with bows and arrows dare
to meet United States soldiers with the
latest improved ~structiv weapon of
w'r-you see examples OF splendid
courage and self-sacrihce. Boys Of ten
used to fight and slash with bolos (large
knives)- Evidences are not wanting to
prove the desperate courage of the peo-
pie and ever little boys. Even women
have fought with conspicuous bravery
and died in battle. This shows the res
o%lution. the unfinching bravery, the
hatred for Americans by the people.
When will the war end and s~ubjugation |
be assured? The Atlanta Journal in a
fine article on the war and the love of
liberty On the part of Fflipinos, says,
and with truth and incisiveness:
This spirit, If exhibited by our own
people, we would call Sublimely heroic. |
How can we consider it anything else |
when displayed by a people who never |
did US any harm until We bought them
like chattels and tried to appropriate
them2
1.-The Filipino who dies I'm defense of
his jungle, who lays down his life on the |
threshold OF his cane nut, is no less a
patriot han the Greek who fell at Their
mopyIGe's pass, or the soldier who dies |
to prevent the invasion of the Towering |
fields and splendid cities of his elegant
civilization.
Both are actuated by the same God
given instinct and nerved by the same
love of liberty and home"
The war continues IN April 1902, after
about three years of effort to conquer
and extirpate. Two years ago It was
proclaimed that the war was ended. So
aid General Otis, and so other soldiers
have declared. The Washington Post
in its accustomed excellent style thus
refers to the reports of peace from time
to time:
Civil Governor Taft proclaimed the
regime OF law and order a year later.
So did most of the high officials at both
ends of the game. In 1901 Funston cap
tured Aguinaldo. and then there was
nothing more left of the resistance. |
Shortly afterwards. OIL three separate
occasions, the brilliant and determined
strategy of our military forces, COM
bined, Of course, with the aff~ectionate
and suave diplomacy of the civil gov
ernment-a policy of alternating kicks
and osculations-causci the most posi-
tive announcements of peace. Not un-
til the present moment, however, have
we felt disposed 10 take the pIoSpeCtS
seriously. 1t did not seem falr to termi-
nate the incident finally until all The
generals had had 4 chance. Otis had
ended the war. Macarthur, Chaffee,
Smith, Funston, a dozen others mad
ended 1t. But Grant had not been
heard from. Were we to crown all
these, including the majestic Wade, and
leave Fred Grant without a laurel to
his name? Not much. We waited.
But it's all over now. The war has
been ended by every general officer in
the entire archipelago. There is not an
other peg upon which to hang a wreath
of glory"
FrirhtfuI BIunder