Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-23
Bishop Thoburn Questioned.


Senator Culberson asked whether the
witness believed that an entire people with
out their consent should be subjected to
another nation, and the witness replied:
THAT would depend upon circumstances
us 1t not the fundamental doctrine of the
Christian church to depend upon moral sua-
sion rather than physical force?'
Il not answering as a churchman
While in the church work we advocate
moral suasion, we are also taught by the
Bible to uphold the civil government
You believe. then. that the people Of the
entire Philippine archipelago should be
subjected to the United States?'
I'VE have held the American Indians by
force for centuries. and we have a stronger
claim upon the Filipinos than upon the In
dians. for the Philippines have fallen to US
as the fortune Of war and we cannot
shake them off without mourning great ar
evils"
Then it is your opinion that one govern
ment has a right to subject another by
force?"
IF you refer to the Philippine Islands, I
would say that we have not subjugated
them: they came to us by treaty.
Don't you know that at the time of the
war with Spain the Filipino people were
in revolt against the Spanish government?
That was true at Manila, but not else
where
well. then, don't you think that the con-
sent of the people themselves should have
been secured before we assumed the re-
sponsibility of their government"
II don't think 1t safe to make any effort
to get their consent untH affairs are better
established than at present. The average
Filipino would not know what to say If ap-
preached on the subject. If he should
speak out for American rule he Is liable to
have his throat cut
Senator Carmack-"And if he speaks
against American rule he will be put in
JAIL
pop,
Bishop Thoburn then was excused. and
the committee. after a brief executive ses-
sion, adjourned.
In the executive session the committee
considered request made by Senator Car
mack to take the testimony of members Of
Congress who have visited the Philippines,
and voted down the proposition, to 8.
Petition of Miss Lopez.
The Senate committee today made public
a petition presented by Miss Clemencia
Lopez, sister of Sixto Lopez. to the Presi-
dent for the release of three of her broth
ers of the province of Batangas, who have
been taken into custody by Gen. Bell and
sent to the Island Of Talim. where. she
says they are undergoing great hardships.
Miss Lopez is in Boston, and her petition Is
dated there March 10 last. The text OF the
petition covers several printed pages but
the facts and also the plea made by Miss
Lopez are summarized in the following:
Three of my brothers, Lorenzo. Cipriano
and Manuel Lopez, are prisoners In the Is
land of Talim all the property of my fam
lily has been seized. and we are almost des-
ttute. Against two Of my brothers there
is no definite charge. nor have any OF them
been allowed even court-mart1al. MY
other brother, Cfpriano, Is accused without
evidence of having concealed fifty guns
when he surrendered with the troops in
March, 1901. Moreover, four of the super
intendents Of our estates have been arrest
\ how han iYahr n
make them give up these supposed guns. My
family has always been friendly with the
American officials my oldest brother Mari
ano, having rendered them valuable service
in pacifying several provinces, and our town
of Balayan Is the only permanently pacified
town in the province Of Batangas. The au-
thorities in the Philippines have refused to
hear u.s. and therefore. because Of such
great Injustice I have come directly to
YOU Mr.. President. to beg of you to give
us justice.
She says that when the superintendent
of the estates were arrested they were
cruelty beaten one of them dying as re-
suit Of the blows inflicted by the soldiers.
Reasons for Denying Petition.
Among the papers is also a report upon
the case by Charles E. Magoon, law officer
Of the division of insular affairs Of the
Philippine Islands, War Department. who
recommended that the petition be not
granted for the following reasons:
81. That under the conditions existing in
Batangas province in December 1901. Brig
adler General Bell, in the instance under
consideration. exercised a lawful authority
in lawful manner.
''2. That the showing made by the papers
filed herein Is not sufficient to overthrow
the presumption that the action taken by
the authorities in Batangas was warranted
by the facts and the necessities Of the mill
tary situation
The Presidents position in the matter is
made known through the following note
from Secretary Cortelyou to Mrs. Mabel
Bayard Warren of Boston. under date of
April %: THE President has received your
note of the 22d instant and requests me to
say in reply that he has gone carefully over
with the War Department the matter of
which you write. having been in CORE
spondence with the authorities at Manila
and In consultation with Governor Taft
here, and that he does not think anything
can properly be done. He will see Secre-
R00f hia