Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-02-28
PREY OF OUR SOLDIERS.
American Sisters Make Plea For Saving
of Filipino Women.

American Sisters Make Plea For Saving
of Filipino Women.
Startling charges that American Off
Gals and soldiers in the Philippines are
dragging down hundreds of pure Filipino
women into lives Of shame and degrade
ton were made at the session of the
National Council of Women in Carroll
Hall last night. Mrs. Margaret Dye
Ellis, the Washington representative of
the Woman's Christian Temperance
them out with a severe denunciation of
the American rule in the Philippines and
with direct appeal to President Roose-
welt to investigate and punish the alleged
perpetrators of the infamy.
Mrs. Ellis spoke on the theme, "Our
Duty to the Women of Our New Posses
sions." She reviewed the occupation by
the United States of Cuba. Hawaii, and
the Philippines, and described at length
the clearly and virtuous habits of the
women inhabiting the last named islands.
She then depicted the horrors of the war,
and told of the driving from their homes
of Filipino families.
"There is still another awful side to
the Filipino question" she said, holding
up small book, on the flyleaf of which
was the portrait of a Filipino maiden.
"Here is the portrait of girl of sixteen
years and her signature, who in this
work charges her downfall to an Ameri-
can inspector in an American govern
ment department. This girl and hun
dreds of others are set apart for the greed
| 4 Lee Dc
held in bondage worse than death, and
for purposes tongue cannot describe.
"God pity us-we, the highest type of
civilization-for dragging down these
Filipino women. Shame, shame. Gap
plause and cries of shame.)
"In one hospital in Manila there are,
so an agent of the American Bible So
cety who has been there states, between
400 and 800 Filipino girls under treat
ment. We have had so many blessings
showered on our nation that we Ameri-
can women should rise up in our
strength, our womanhood, and demand
that this disgrace be stopped and its per-
petrators dealt with severity.
"That brave, strong heart in the White
House, President Roosevelt, who believes
in pure womanhood, appeal to that he
put an end to this crime to Filipino
women. That flag, which the America n
woman has helped so much to make, and
which stands for social purity, should
not wave over such a disgrace. They
talk good deal about our forefathers
they should talk more of our foremoth
ers. The flag should stand for protec
ton, not only to merchandise, shipping
and mercantile commodities, but for pure
woman kind"
Mrs. Ellis described the recent Hines;
of President Roosvelt's son, and of the
tender devotion of the mother, to whom
she declared "all hearts in Americs
turned with sympathy She also tolt
of a Michigan boy, who responded to thu
call of President Mckinley, and became
i'll in the Philippines. How his mother
upon hearing of it, left her home to jour
ney to his bedside, only to unknowingly
pass his dead body coming home on thu
Pacific.
"But did this mother, on learning tn,
sad news in Manila, break down? No
she Immediately went to a hospital lea
where her own son had died, and begar
the work of nursing other mothers SON
and homesick boys. Blessed Mrs
Mootes, there tonight is white rib
boner doing good:duty. She has started
t w. C. Il. L. mission, and is reclaimine
l men. Our duty to the women of on
new possessions, as the coming of Chris
: has made place for our own weary feet
is, God helping us, to lend helping
hand to our sisters, that they may Sc,
! the true Christ. We want these Filipino
! women to see we hate war; that we wan
) peace" Washington Post, %.