The Irish standard., 1902-04-26
AFFAIRS IN THE PHILIPPINES.

AFFAIRS in IHE PHILIPPINES.
Recent reports from Manila inform
the American public that United States
troops are now. in conflict with the
Mohammcdans OF Mindanoa. Hereto
fore war was waged against the Chris
tian natives Of the islands. while the
orthodox Moslems were cOnciliatcd and
treated with humanity. In the Sulu
Islands the followers of the Prophet
of Islam. who believe there is no God
but Allah, were pensioned by our gov
ernmcnt, and their institutions Of Slav-
cry and pOlygamy were guaranteed
protection in q treaty made by General
Bates and approved by the administrn-
tion ut Washington. 1t was said that
this country could not afford to antag-
onize the MOllammcdans. for when
once aroused they We're very warlillc
and would make formidable foes. For
that reason it was deemed judicious tn
secure their allegiance to the Stars and
tSlIllN'S Nv Nll'' IytSloNttl vi lIHliSiollS VII
the Sultan and his dattos. They are
now in receipt of American money.
and polygamy worse than that in Utah
is tolerated and protected under our
flag.
The time has come however. when
the Mohammedans of Mindanoa are on
the war path. and their co-rcligionists
of the Sulu Islands are likely to follow
their example. They were never sub
dued by Spain, and the duty now de-
wolves upon Uncle Sam to bring them
under subjection.
While the American troops are out
after the MOhammedans. the trial Of
Gen. Jacob Smith Is going on at Ma
Mia. If the charges made against him
are true he deserves condign punish
ment. President Roosevelt himself
ordered an investigation into his con-
duct Of military operations in Samar
Major Waller was presumably acqult-
ted on the plea that he Only obeycd
the command Of General Smith in put
ting Filipino prisoners to death with
out the for1nallty OF trial. General
Smith is said to have issued the in
famous injunction to kill and burn"
to butcher Everything above the age
of TO-"
President Roosevelt does not want
any American officer to initiate Crom-
well in Ireland, Weyler in Cuba, or
Kitchener in South Africa. When he
read the evidence of Major Waller in
his own defense, as commander-in-chief
Of the army he ordered General Chat
fee to arrest Smith for prosecution.
and said: Nothing can Justify, or
will be held to Justify, the use of tor
ture or inhuman conduct of any kind
on the part of the American army"
That the "water cure" administered
to Filipinos by American soldiers is an
excruciating torture is admitted by
every one who has testified at Wash
ington. If subordinate officers acted
without instructions they must be held
accountable. If they carried out the
Instructions of military superiors. the
authors of such instructions deserve
the severest punishment for their bru-
tality, which disgraces the American
nation and its foreign army of con-
quest. Such atrocities as are imputed
to the American army in the Philip
pines should be sifted to the bottom.
No mercy should be shown to any Off
GERS. high or low, who are proven
guilty of such outrages.
This republic cannot afford to imi-
tate England in her treatment Of the
Sepoys of India or of the Basutos or
Kafirs of Africa. The blood Of mill
ions cries to Heaven for vengeance
against the barbarities of England,
Will the blood of the martyred Fill
pinos cry out against the United States?