The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-05-09

Washington, May 6.-For almost four
today a fiery discussion of the
situation ragged in the san
ate. 1t was stated by Senator Bever- |
of Indiana, who made some sharp
on the members of the op-
position, because, he said, they persist
ed in telling In their speeches only one
side Of the story. While he admitted
that some outrages had been commit |
ted by American soldiers in the Philip
pines. it was true too. that unpara1-
leled kindness had been shown by tn.
troops to Filipino prisoners
and Filipino wounded. Food and medi-
cine. he said. nae been shared with
them. and they had been succored on
the battlefield and cared for tenderly
IN the hospital While saying that the
omission TO tell this side Of the story
by the democrats was unintentional.
he suggested hat it was unfair to
make an arrangement of the American
soldier and not tell both sides.
Senator CarmacK and Senator
Rawlins declared hat no partisan
motives had avtuated the opponents of
the present Philippine policy, but that
they were move only by patriotism
and o of Country.
Senator Turner, of Washington, de-
livered a scdthing criticism of the
methods practiced by the military au-
particularly upon h alleged order OF
General Smith, whom he denounced as
"A monster in numan form. He urged
the Philippine committee to learn all
the light possible on the Philippine
question. to The end that the people
might be fully informed on the situa-
ton.
Senator Hoar, of Massachusetts,
briefly defended the action of the
Philippine committee, saying thai al
ready it had furnished much valuable
information He urged that the COM
mittee, in all justice, should call some
prominent FIlipinos to testify in their
own behalf
During Senator Beverages remarks
Senator Hoar. of Massachusetts,. inQuir-
ed IT 1t was a fact, proved by testimony,
that American soldiers had tortured Fill
lpinos until they had confessed to the
commission of crime?
Senator Beveridge said it had been
proved that the water cure had been
administered in the dreadful O'Hearn
case By the confession of the Filipinos
to whom the water cure had been
given. it was learned that O'Hearn had
been burned to death over a slow fire.
WAS this murder proved by any 9th
er testimony than that given in the tes-
timOny of the tortured Filipinos?" in
CURED Senator Hoar.
MOT that I know Of" replied Senator
Beyeridge: but that evidence was con-
elusive"
III o0nI,ro& - -
the Philippines" suggested Senator
Carmack. of Tennessee, was uniform
" kind wherever it was permitted to be
so. In cases where it was otherwise
they were driven to the cruelties by
their superior officers"
Senator Beveridge said he was glad
at this late date to lear an apology
for attacks made upon the American
soldiers.
Senator Carmack said that he made
no apologies for any statement he had
made.
Senator Beveridge inquired if Senator
Carmack could mention more than a
single instance where an officer had
ordered the administration Of torture 70
O Filipino.
Senator Carmack replied that he had
not referred to any special case, but
that the general orders of Generals Bell
and Chaffee indicated that in the opin-
1OA OIL tQOSe OIIlCeTS Ln0 ALleTlCdu uOOpS
were treating the Filipinos too kindly.
Senator Beveridge ridiculed this an
swer of Senator Carmack, declaring that
when he asked him a direct question he
replied in a diaphanouS way of the or
ders Of Bell and Chaffee. The senate,
he said. had heard n apology yester-
day. beautiful and long delayed and
now it had heard another. He insisted
that the minority senators should con-
fine themselves to the record as made
and in connection with the instances OF
cruelty. which all bitterly regretted,
they should in justice show that the
Filipino prisoners nae received the
same food. the same medicines and had
e in the hospitals by the
same nurses as the American soldiers.
In the course Of a reply to some of the
comments made by Senator Beveridge,
Senator Rawlins, of Utah, discussed at
length the case Of the murder of Ser
geant O'Hearn. and said that the i'm
preston he had gotten from the testi-
induced to make b confession suggest
ed to them by the administration of the
water cure"
Senator Rawlins said outrageS in tho
Philippines were due not to the soldiers
themselves but to the highest military
authorities in the islands. The respon-
sbility for them indeed was to be plac'
ed properly at the door Of the admins
tration officials here in Washington
Until recently" said he, II had
thought that these things were sporadic
and isolated. but I have been forced &c
n belief that they are but a part OF
the general plan OF campaign"
Senator Rawlins said one victim was
tied down by American troops and
gar was placed upon his head to attract
the voracious ants. common in those is
lands. and he was forced to give infor-
nation. He declared, too, that women
and innocent children had been put tc
death ruthlessly by American troops.
Senator Turner. Of Washington, re