The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-07-28


 We sought to have witnesses called by
 the senate Philippine committee. and a
 more complete inquiry instituted, in
 which both sides should be heard; our
 efforts were unavailing. Finally, when
 evidence le2 up to the threshold of rev.
 elation, officers of the proper depart
 ment of the army appointed to make in- quiry, reported that considerations of public policy, sufficiently grave to si-
 lence every other demand, require that
 no further action be taken" It was apprehended that facts would develop
 duplicating many others" Again, was there danger that "the honor of the army would be assailed. So further
 investigation was summarily stopped.
 The allegations We make are grave; the condition of affairs we describe, se- rious. As a national record it is dis
 creditable. The good name of the na-
 tion is involved; as also is the profes- Sional character of officers of the Uni ted States, some of them retired, many
 still in high command. That we our
 selves are responsible persons, and that
 We represent responsible persons, needs
 scarcely to be alleged, much less proven. We stand ready to cooperate
 directly, and in utmost good faith, in the line of Secretary Roots order of
 April 13, to the end that all offenders may be brought to justice and the gull ty punished. A careful examination of
 the law has satisfied us that no process possible for us to initiate would elicit further facts, or suffice to bring culprits to account. In this communication we have not hesitated to mention names, or
 to make references. the personal appli-
 cation of which is obvious and of rec
 ord. To those thus named or referred to- courts of military inquiry are open, and, if demanded by persons aggrieved,
 would doubtless be by you at once ac- corded Before such courts, if once | convened, we will hold ourselves pre- pared to appear, and there substantiate any or all charges here advanced. l Finally, acknowledging the great ser vice rendered in the orders herein re- ferred to as the result of the investiga- tion we have made and the study we have given to the documentary evil dences already educed, we find our selves, though with deep regret, Com- pelled to take issue with you on one i'm | portant point. Tn your review of July IA, you say almost universally the higher officers have so borne themselves as to supply the necessary check over acts of an improper character by their subordinates.
 We. on the contrary have found our selves compelled to the belief that the acts referred to were far more general tke demoralization more all pervasive. This, we submit and are prepared to show, is established by the evidence be- fore the Senate Philippine committee; by the findings of the courts-martial published, or on the files of the war de- partment, and by documentary proof already accessible. Cumulative proof would. therefore. appear to be superflu- ous; nor Is there any tribunal before which it could be adduced. None the less, from the scanty material thus by mere chance made accessible to us here, many thousand miles from and long af- ter the scene and time of these occur ] rences, we hold ourselves ready to di- rect your attention to concrete cases, the investigation of which would de- ! monstrate the following criminal acts, contrary to all recognized rules and I usages of war on the part of officers and soldiers of the United States: CD Kidnapping and murder, under circumstances of aggravated brutality. @ Robbery.
 (3) Torture, both of men and of wo- men, and rape of the latter.
 (D The inliction of death on other parties, on the strength of evidence elicited through torture.
 | The facts in one of these cases, the | most aggravated, were early brought to l the attention of the chairman of the | Senate Philippine committee (the Hon. | Henry Cabot Lodge) and an investiga- | tion urged. It was by him promised; | but, for reasons of the nature of which we are unadvised, though presumably | from tender regard for 'the honor of the army" no action was taken. The murder of priest of the Roman Catholic church, man educated, re- fined and, so far as appears, guilty only of the possession of money. was in this case in question. According to witness es, still believed to be accessible, he was 1Oully uOne away WIln Dy d COIlIIilS- stoned officer of the United States, now in New Engand In yet another case, we are prepared to produce evidence of outrage and torture perpetrated on a Philippine female by those wearing our uniform and of summary death in- f1icted on others upon the strength of evidence wrung from her by torture. There is no tribunal before which these cases can be brought for judicial inquiry. Nevertheless, until such tri- | bunal exists and is in operation, your | order of April IA, that all offenders shall summarily be brought to justice and the guilty punished, is not effective; l for much, we have reason to assert, and stand ready to prove. has been, and still remains, concealed" while many wrongdoers, for various reasons" i have been, and still are, favored or | shielded"
 MT. Andrew Carnegie is also mem- | Der of our committee. He is in Europe, and it has been impossible to consult 1 him in preparing this communication or to obtain his signature to it. A copy has been forwarded to his address, with a request that he will, after due con- sideration, communicate with you di- 1 rectly concerning it.
 Again thanking you in our own