The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1902-06-13
sLANDERING THE ARMY.

SLANDERING THE ARMY.
The racket that is being made by
some partisan newspapers and politi-
cal speakers about "slandering the
army" is getting tiresOme. Who IS
slandering the army? Nobody except,
possibly, few pin-headed politicians
in acrimonious debate in congress, and
republicans, as well as democrats, have
put in their rhetorical oar into the
troubled waters of Philippine investi-
CATION quite as often as any one, and
quite as bitterly in denunciatiOn Of
admitted and proven Outrages.
Waller and Day were courtmartialed
by order of the military commander
in the islands, and the verdict Of &C
quittaI was forwarded to the war de-
partment "disapproved" by Gen. Chat
fee, who reviewed the case. Did Gen
Chaffee SANDER the army? President
Roosevelt ordered the cOurtmartial of
Gen. Smith. Did the president slam
der the army? A republican senate
ordered an investigation of reported
outrages. Did the senate SANDER the
army? Officers and men testified IN
der summons and oath before the sen
ate committee. Did these officers and
soldiers SANDER the army? The war
department furnished reports and
data to guide the committee. Did the
war department SANDER the army?
The worst feature of the case is the
fact that the most damaging charges
are admitted, such as Gen. Smiths
order "to kill all over ten" Waller
shielded himself by Smiths order and
Day by Walters orders. Gen. Chaffee
thinks that Day should have disobeyed
Waller, and, by implication, then Wal
Ter should have disobeyed Smith. But
it is mutiny punishable with speedy
death to disObey orders in the face Of
5he enemy. But so terrible was the
order of Waller to take out and shoot
about a dozen native porters on mere
suspicion that the general was of the
opinion that Lieut.. Day should have
risked his life by disobedience. The
British in South Africa executed sew
eral officers for killing BOer prisoners,
women and children. This was not
slandering the British army, but was
defending its honor.
That torture and other appalling
deeds have been done in the Philip
pines goes without saying, for it is ad-
mitted. June I, while on the way to
Beloit, the publisher of The Republic
had long conversation with a soldier
just from the Philippines and invalid
ed home to Springfield, Mass. He still
wore his army uniform, and upon his
cap were the numbers Of his company
and regiment.
This man confirmed the worst pub
lished reports, and rehearsed instance
of cruelty coming under his own OBJ
servatiOn. Was this man slandering
the armyS He said that no seIf-re-
speeding nation could afford to de-
seend to such things, even in retalia-
tiOn. He remarked. Il see you have
been a soldier yourself You know
how it is. A man must obey his Off
GERS. The soldiers are not to blame
He gave it as his opinion that these
things came about by orders from high
authority. The policy, he said, that
was pursued in the islands was dicta-
ted in Washington; but the only rea-
sOnable thing was to do in the Philip
ines as We had done in Cuba; and, said
he, 1T viii have to come to it YET
You cannot throw dust in the ewes
Of thu people by shouting "slandering
the army" The American always Is
enthusiastic for the army, and defends
its honor. He is, however, a stickler
for fair play, natiOaI honor and hu-
manity. Patriotism is not bounded BY
party lines Of any description, and
this partisan drive about s'slanderinQ
the army is a contemplate subterfuge
that deserves the severest reprobation.
The enlisted men in the Philippines
know that the howl is all sham.
TT. KELLY CHARGED WITH CRIME.