The Saint Paul globe., 1902-03-21
PUT OTIS ON RACK
SENATOR'S INVESTIGATION OF
PHILIPPINE WAR BROAD IN
ITS SCOPE
HoAR DEFENDED AT INQUIRY
Generals Statement and Beyeridges 8
IntimatiOn That Rebellion Is FOs-
tered by SpeechmakinE Brings
Out Forcibie Retorts.

WASHINGTON, March 2O-Gen. Otis
today resumed his testimony before the
senate Philippine committee Senator
Patterson continued his questioning and
referred to a letter dated Sept. g. 1898, ad-
dressed by Gen. Otis to Aguinaldo as
'the commanding general of the Philip
pine forces in which ne spoke of the
sacrifices made by the revolutionary
forces, in the interest of civil liberty"
Gen. Otis declares that this related to
their dealings with the Spaniards. He
admitted that before the United States
army arrivd in Mamma and for some little
time before they took possession, the in
surgents had the Spaniards hemmed in in
Manila. He denied that he led Aguinaldo
to believe that the United States would
not assume absolute sovereignty and gov
ernmental control over the islands.
Asked what he meant by the statement
in his letter that rather than see the
ships of the United States navy control
the navigable waters of these islands and
its army devastating their territory L
greatly prefer to advise my government
not to send any more troops mere" Gen.
OTIS answered that was his opinion be-
cause he did not want TO see any war.
Il wanted to conquer by peaceabIe
means, but I gave the impression that
troops were waiting" he said, in answer
- al lilAully ny C6HdlOT I1dl6 IndI ndQ
the government taken him at his word
not to send any ,roops anarchy would
have reigned throughout the island.
He thought his letter should be con-
sidered as a whole. It was written
when I was laboring hard,' said he, Ito
keep the peace, and to keep our men and
officers from paying attention to the in
suits received from Filipino officers and
insurgents"
Answering Do
said that the commission, of which Gen.
Hughes was member, had stated to rep
resentatives Of Aguinaldo that no con-
cessions could be .--ade without the sac
rifice of some of the attributes of SOW
ereignty.
Thinks Them Not Fit for Liberty.
Gen. OtIs declared that the Filipinos
have no correct idea of liberty
Liberty, to their idea" said he, sis
license
But what is your standard of quail
hcation for self-govcrnment? asked
Senator Patterson.
What kind of government" answered
Gen. Otis, DO you mean despotic gov
ernment?"
mo, self-government was Senator
Patterson's response
Gen. Otis said they were perfectly
qualified for a despotic, military govern
ment
Senator Patterson asked If he consider
ed the people of Mexico qualified for SELF
government to which Senator Beyeridge
objected, but before the chairman could
decide the point, Gen. Otis said he declin-
ed to answer
Senator Patterson remarked that he
had no means of forcing a reply Eat
present.
Gen. Otis declared that he did not
measure the capacity of the Filipino peo-
pie for government by the capacity Of
the people of the United States and char
acterlzed as unfair the effort of Senator
Patterson to get him to fix the standard
by comparison with other people.
Gen. Otis, replying to a question by
Senator Dubois, said the introduction Of
Chinese coolie labor in the Philippines
would be unwise.
Japanese labor, he thought, would be
the most acceptable because they afiI-
late readily with the Filipinos A oues
ton by Senator Beveridge of what was
the effect of literature sent from the
United States precipitated a lively discus
sion.
Mabini Had Hoar's Speeches.
Gen. Otis said that when Mabini was
brought IN he had a pile Of New York
papers with him, which had antagonized
the sovereignty of the Unittd States in
Tire Hnlllppln6S.
Did he have any of Senator Hoar's
speeches. inquired Senator Patterson.
'Oh, yes, those speeches were all over
the islands" replied the witness
Senator Allison, who was in the chair
said he would exclude any alIusion to
senator's speeches.
Senator Patterson interjected the re-
mark that senator's should not be at
tackled from masked batteries
i asked the extent to which it gave
aid to the insurrection," said Senator
Beveridge
when the senator from Indiana - re-
torted Senator Patterson "propounded
that question it involved every senator
who is standing by what he believes to
be simple justice to the Filipinos. [ do
not propose to be aSsailed from behind
masked battery"
Senator Allison thought that where a
senator's name was involved, it gave
him the right to come before the com
m1ttee and defend himself and such ref
erence should be excluded
Senator Carmack, with much earnest
ness said he wanted to take his part OF
the responsibility by saying the 'swar
in the Philippines is utterly and abso-
lutely Infamous and criminal If anv
point can be made that / am incitiug
FIhplnos by such speeches." said he, Il
want it done"
After some further discussion, Senator
Beveridge disclaimed any intention to
reflect on any senator and withdrew his
question.