The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-02

He Thinks the Fire-and-SWord Policy
]. Of the Military Men the Only
Proper Course.

The following letter received to-day |
from James Reed Hull, T h e j ourna ais
representative in the Philippines, throws
a strong light on the situation there
and On the recent developments in the
Waller and Smith courts martial. Mr..
Hull saw active service with the Thir-
teenth Minnesota in the Philippines and
has spent much of the time there since it's
muster-out He is now attached to the
staff of the Manila Times.
His letter, it must be remembered, is
written from the viewpoint of the Ameri-
can fighting man in the Philippines-the
man who conquers and subdues-and it
should be read in the light of that fact.
Manila, P. L., March There are too
many people in the United States who
have the idea that the America soldier in
the Philippines is reformer and war
rior combined-that he strides among the
natives, bares his breast to their on
slaught and then stoops to pat them on
the back. Doubtless this is the policy
| pursued, by those over here, whose posi-
tons place them in the national eye;
but it is not the policy of the men of the
| line and their officers and no power on
earth can make&jt SO. It is all we'll
Fenough for staff officer or weIIpaid
! carpet bagger2to sit in his comfortable
chair that the government Imported for
! him and talk about being kind and gentle
with recalcitrapt natives; but put that
same man in the field, let him see COM
rades cut down by treacherous BLOWS from
behind; let him experience the hardships
of tropical campaigning and it will not be
long before he experiences a revulsion of
feeling.
"To condone treachery is only to en-
courage its repetition. i forgiveness is
not understandable from the Filipino
I standpoint. They know it as weakness.
1 Broadness of view, fair and impartial
stands Notwithstanding what ones per-
sonal ends are, all come under the head
of weakness SO far as the Filipino is con-
/ cerned. From their view point good
: liar is diplomat; if he, tells the truth
he is a fool. The insular Americans,
civil and military, were fools at the be-
ginning of the occupation and among the
civil there is still an inclination that way
But among the military officials who have
paid the bitter penalty for their folly the
lesson taught by such bloody affairs as
EBalangiga has been we'll learned. At the
present time the highest military official:
are becoming convinced that the only wa.
t to put an end to treachery is by adopt
y ing the motto: The end justifes the
: means and go ahead a la Weyler Other
l peace in these islands, The fire-and
sword policy is the only method by which
: the insurrection can be effectuall,
t stamped out. This fact has been demon
t strated time and time again.
: False Peace In BatanEas.
: 1--WE had patched up peace in Batan
gas. The civil government took tn
It province over and then retrograd
d movement set in. 1t wasn't apparent a
IS first, and, lulled by false feeling of Sc
IL curity, the military fell asleep. Munich
IS pal civil governments were estabIishe
S, in the various towns. Police forces wer
It organized and arms were issued to tn
W members of the constabulary. It wa
% not long under these circumstances befor
Of the ex-insurgent had the reins of gov
n eminent firmly in their hands and the1
1t as a natural consequence. the flames
instruction broke forth afresh TIL
r. movement was not renewed with any hor
IN of success. It's promoters were perfect
IS 1y aware that failure was certain; bl
as what was the difference. Another 81
b. months in the field would be exciting ar
u lean soldiers. subject the government
Sc heavy expense and surrender again. SUE
lis was their plan at the beginning and
On worked Just as they expected. Whe
u cornered by Bells men. they promptly h
their arms. donned the amigo whit
to Went DaCh 10 neii &VIlidSeS anu tolQ IL
he for a month. They are now living
IS; their homes patiently waiting for II
lie military to complete the second subjug
on tion of the province, when in all prob
ok bility they will again assume the reins
n civil power.
en- sit Is held that because we are an a
a vanced people we should treat these FIJI
"a. pinos like hayward children; that
NJ should smile at their faults and D
n plenty try to collect them; but that
De this effort only the most considera
measures should be used. This Apoli
might meet with some measure of SD
cess if we had different class of peoI
q 81 to deal with. But Kindness and mer
~, are worse than wasted on the prese
~ ~ generation Of Filipinos, for evil resul
~ surely follow. In years to come, we Ca
al ~ e.a,,a,atior, IN cnnforn,itv m on,. viav
lat ipe ee 1i''l'- - 80 --' - AA1' -