The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-21

port. 1t looked on all sides as if Senator
Hoar had lost his great battle and as if
the country had ceased to care in the
slightest how affairs proceeded in the
Philippines, or what was the ultimate
destiny of the archipelago. The press of
| the country generally regarded the I'M
perialistic question as res adjudicata.
Now all this has changed. The country
has begun to talk about Philippine affairs
and they have once more become "a ques-
ton The Republican administration has
decided to do some vigorous investigating
in the archipelago, and those members of
the party at home who supposed that
party loyalty requires them to believe in
everything that has been done and to de-
fend it, will find themselves left behind.
A former candidate for congress, in a
Northern district, remarked Monday when
the water cure testimony was under dis
cussion, that he thought we could afford
to exercise the greatest charity toward
our soldiers who were so far away and
to accept with the greatest reluctance any
charges against them. This is not the
view of the administration. 1t purposes
to Investigate these charges.
All Due to Senator Hale.
Notable is the peculiar course of
events which have brought affairs to
their present crisis. Maj. GardnerS re-
port would never nave IedCHSu lliO POb'
lie but for the antagonism between Gen.
Miles and the administration, and MS al
fusion to the report in paper which,
because of that controversy, became pupc
lie property. Secondly, it is doubtful II
the report would have even then have be-
come public but for the solid purpose OF
Eugene Hale, of Maine, to get at the
facts.
The story is familiar of how the Demo
Gratis on the Philippine committee wanted
this report while the Republicans be
fieved that it would be contrary to pubic
policy to ask for it or to insist upon
having it at this time. When this sub
ject was under discussion in the COM
mittee one Gay Mr.. Hale, of Maine, enter
ed somewhat late. The chairman turned
to him with a question which suggested
an answer along the line of keeping the
Gardner report back. Mr.. Hale, with the
utmost dignity, declared that he did not
see how the committee was to conduct
an investigation and leave out suth
things if they were in existence.
Cannot Waive Aside Charges.
This remark settled the case The re-
port came. 1t is one of the most re-
markable in the annals of colonial gov
ernment; the combina ton of facts was
most astonishing. Here was civil gov
ernor of province who was an army
officer of long and excellent standing,
West Pointer, a man whose integrity was
vouched for by Gov. Taft himself, and
whose story of conditions in his province
which have been coming from the Phil
ippines for many months from sources
which have been as Systematically dis
credited here at home.
1t will be a little more difficult in the
future for senators to waive this whole
question aside by saying that they shall
refuse to believe anything TO the dis
parity of the American soldier, and that
American rule has always meant benevo-
lence and helpfulness. The patriotic
claptrap which has steadily been used
to smother facts the evidence of which
was overwhelming, will now sell at a
| discount.
On the principle that troubles never
come singly, the report of the provincial
secretary of Batangas, the Waller charg-
eS and countercharges, and the testi-
mony regarding the water cure has come
pushing in at the same time.
Favors Claiming the Press.
The effect of these disclosures of the
last week upon the newspapers of the
country has been most marked. Monday
mornings Philadelphia Press, one of the
strongest party organs in the country,
contains three editorials treating Of cur
rent aspects of the Philippine question,
and while each was made the channel
of an argument in favor of imperialistic
policy, the fact that so many were need
ed indicates the charging interest of the
American people in this subject.
The first one explained that the press
censorship in Manila was very necessary
sponsible character of the newspaper at
tacks made in any Latin civilization. 1t
told how necessary in Italy, France and
Spain it was to chain the press because
Of the vitriolic character of the journal
lists.
A second editorial showed that MAJ.
Walters acquittal should not be criticised
by well meaning persons u, COO miles away
who were without the means of getting
at the facts. In a third editorial it is said
to be the purpose of the United States
to civiize the FiIipinos and to help them
to the enjoyment of as much freedom
as any American citizen enjoys.
Many Papers Are Silent.
This obviously means the freedom of
white men and not the enjoyment Of
civil liberties that American institutions
afford to the black men in the South.
But such discussions of the question are
much to be welcomed by comparison
with the policy of silence which char
acter1zes many of the more imperialistic
newspapers. Beside it is probable thai
when it becomes the known administra-
ton policy to punish with severity the
soldiers in the Philippines who have dis
regarded the laws of war and brought
disgrace on the American name, ii is
likely that even these publications will
give their readers some intimation of
what it is all about. In just what form
the blow will fall for misdeeds recently
disclosed cannot be known with certaintv
until the senate investigation is further
advanced.
GETTING DOWN ROBUSTNESS.