Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-04-19

w
publication Of the presidents instruc-
tions for military inquiry into al
legged abuses Of power by the army
in the Philippines will modify in any
way his intention to- inquire into the
same subject through independent
channels, as intimuted in these dis
patches yesterday, remains to be seen.
Much will depend, undoubtedly, on TIL
way the public receives yesterdays
news. IL Americans everywhere in
dicate their willingness to accept mill
tary judgments on military men as
final, that will probably bring the in
vestigatihS business to an end. If, ON
the other hand, they sweep this line of
inquiry aside as too apt to be pre-
judiced by professional sympathy, the
president will unquestionably respond
by carrying out what is believed to have
been his original program.
The military court idea is based
simply upon the principle that there
Is a regular order in which things
should be done. An accused officer al
ways objects to being judged simply
by civil body. OH the ground that the
commission he holds is subject to can
collation. only at the hands of his peers
and superiors in the military service,
and that that commission is dependent
on his continued good behavior. 1t is
not the army whom the president is
bound to satisfy now, but the people,
and no one realizes this more, forcbIy
than he. In his orders for the investi-
CATION of the Philippine scandals,
moreover, he is giving fresh evidence
of the fact that when he acts on his
own generous impulses, he is in accord
with honest public sentiment. It is
never his own disposition to conceal
anything; and Openness is the saving
grace even Of blunder when good
man makes it.
The man who will be brought into
most Inpleasan mt relations with the nun.
lie through the existing situation is Sec
retary Root. There is no need of ques-
tioning his sincerity of purpose In hold
ing back the charges made aga inst the
army till he could get the other side to
put before the people along with them.
In order to condemn that action MS
mistake. His motive was inherited in
part from the conditions of a past era
when 1t was still possible to carry out
governmental policies without taking
he people at large into the confidence
Of the powers that be.
That day passed long ago. In these
times all facts are bound to come out,
and the worst appendage they can
nave when exposed Is the stamp of at
elnpted concenlment. Here is where
Secretary Roots training as a lawyer,
excellent as it may have been in other
stood him in very bad
stead. He did not fally realize how
far public interest had been aroused
in the Philippine disclosures, and how
dangerous 1t was to let it 60 to an ex-
RENE. The unfortunate experience of
his predecessor should have warned
him. but it appears not to have done so;
and, admirable officer as he has proved
In hundred ways, and far re-
moved as he Is from any cOuntenance
If cruelty toward the helpless natives
If the Philippines. the belated disclos-
IRE of his knowledge that there were
which called for investigation
may have fatal effect upon his fu.
.ure.
Already there is clamor among his
enemies for his withdrawal from the
'abinet, and 1t would be terrible blow
o the president to have him withdraw,
)ut stranger things have happened than
he decision Of man of excellent in
entions and strong executive powers
hat his usefulness had been ended by
IN error of judgment infinitely mag
lified by external and possibly nm.
elated circumstances. Ii Mr.. Root
caches that conclusion, he will not wait
or any hints or suggestions, but will
% without ceremony. The next fort
light is fraught with dramatic DOS.
utilities; it's events will be watched
With great interest by all well-wishers
f the administration.
London, April 1S.-The Times, in nm
ditorial article published this MORN
ng. In which the analogy between the
'outh African and Philippine wars as
Illustrated by the recent trials of the
australian officers and the case of
lajor Waller Of the marine corps is re-
erred to, says 1t thinks that, consider
ng the difficulties and the strain. Of the
in the Philippines. the
Wonder is rather at the paucity of such
ases The paper says that in one re-
pect the American troops are worse
II than the British inasmuch as the
ormer are fighting In horribly en-
rvating climate.
Jail Delivery Won't Come or.