The St. Louis Republic., 1902-07-28
ASSERT The ARMY is
BADLY DEM0RALIzED
Anti-Imperialists Say Evidence Of
Numerous Crimes Has Been
Concealed.
OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT.
Investigation of Specific Charges
Denied Because of Official
"Tender Regard for the
Honor of the Army"

| Lake George. N. Y, July "a special
committee OF anti-imperialists. appointed at
a meeting cf persons interested In that
movement last spring in New Yo-k. has
prepared an open letter to President Roose-
Francis Adams. Carl Schurz. Edwin Burrit;
Smith. MOorfield Storey and Herbert Welsh
In the course Of the letter. which is called
forth by the Presidents action in retiring
General Jacob H Smith for cruel orders.
the committee says:
We desire 10 express the qualification afforded
us BY your ''revisw.' As Comnander-in-C Chief OF
the findings OF the cOurt-martial in the case OF
General J. H. Smith. Taken in connection with
the previous memorandum Of April Is. that re-
view will. In our opinion. do much toward the re-
establishment OF the national prestige and the
restoration Of the morale Of the army. At this
time. therefore. II Is Of more than a national u
Is distinctly OF international. service: for.
brouEh; into relations with remote. and.
possibly. less developed races. Il is manifsstly
above all desirable that the United States should
aim 20 elevate Others to a higher standard. rather
than itself sink to a lower.
Reminder to Those I'm Authority.
Especially opportune. In our judgment. is you-
very commendable reminder 20 officers in high
and responsible positions that. in a warfare with
national dependents. such that recently waged
by Us in the East. it behOoves all such officers
conduct. so as TO keep a moral check over any
acts Of an improper character by their subor
dinates'' The level here reached IL lofty. and
in healthy contrast with that spirit. far too prev
alent which seeks excuse. II not justification,
for the excuses OF the present in every instance
OF inhumanity which POSSIBLY be cNhuInei
either from colonial history. otherwise happily
forgotten. from the regreiiahle records OF our
Indian warfare
while thus however expressing our sense o.
obligation. wish most respectfully TO cell
-our attention 10 certain conclusions which we
have in the course OF our Inquiries found our
selves compelled TO reach
Our investigations have led US to conclude that
the Generalization OF the officers and soldiers OF
our army in the Philippines. including all
branches OF the service and all grades Of rank.
was far more general. well pronounced
than might be inferred from your review Of the
court-martial findings in the case tof Generai
Smith The essential facts charged in this case.
We believe we have reason to say. were rather
notorious than exceptional Demoralizng infu-
encss. very prejudicial 10 any high standard OF
military morals. were. under the circumstances.
inevitable These were aggravated by the for
tuitous course Of events the operations In CHINA
reacting directly the Philippines: for conf
pact with the foreign contIngents and the OBJ
seryation OF their methods Of making war there
naturally had a deteriorating influence On our
own officers and men in not dissimilar opera
tions elsewhere
ARMY in state OF Decentralization.
In YOUR review OF July a you say that these
cases were exceptional. Your means OF informa-
tion on this point should unquestIonsbiy be In
nniteIy better than ours. for YOU have access 20
the files Of the War Department: we have not.
Meanwhile. It Is always 20 be borne in mind
that ore side only OF this painsul story has
been heard. and that side only In part.
The testimony OF representative Filipinos has
been iealously and systematically suppressed.
Judicial and impartial examination on the spot
has been denied. pronounced impracticabie-
From the very nature Of things. armies and
army organizations are much the same every
where. and 4 recent foreign experience. still
very frssh in public memory. forcibly suggests
what NAV be expected from military tribunals
and Investigations when the esprit de corps Is
enlisted. the honor OF the army Il thought
TO be involved
In the present case. occasionally and BY acct
dent merely. have fragments OF information come
TO our neutrality-suspicious. glimpses only have
been permitted 20 reach the public eye Certain
facts have been ELECTED IN the proceedings before
the Senate Philippine Committee or through the
imperfect reports Of evidence given in the more
notorious OF the courfs-martiaI proceedings: but
these though very suggestive, are far from COM
plete. much less exhaustive.
To our minds they indicate unmistakably a
condition Of great and general Decentralization.
OF this. the findings OF the -courts-rnartiai re-
fe-red to AFFORD conclusive evidence; a. sIss q