The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-03-18
PEACE PARTY TO BLAME.
can Supporters of the Phil
ippine Rebels.

While guest of the Marquette club,
Chicago, a few days ago, Gen. Fred
erick Funston, of Kansas, captor of
Aguinaldo, spoke at some length on
existing conditions in the Philippines.
Among other things he said:
HAD 1t not been for the so-called peace
party in the states the instruction would
have been suppressed finally In January,
1900 Since that time GOO lives have been
sacrificed and millions of dollars have been
spent. Were it not for the hope of the
few leaders still under arms that the
United States is on the verge of civil war
in their behalf all resistance would be at
an end.
1.-TWO negro soldiers deserted our army
and for time served in the insurgent army.
They were caught and hanged. 1t would
have been more of an act of justice had we
hanged some of the people who signed the
recent petition to congress asking that we
confer with the Filipino leaders in an eff
fort to secure peace.
"In the one case two ignorant beings
were executed, while in the other people
more guilty than they and in possession of
their senses were allowed to go free.
1--WE are Informed that Maj. Waller, one
of the bravest and best officers in the army,
is to be court-martialed because he shot
some natives who stole the food from his
for Waller am glad he did It.
what I say tonight may not be dis
Greet, but 1t is the naked truth, and army
officers who have served in the Islands
will bear out my statements. There has
been so much said here at home by the
other side-so much bullying by the cop
perheads-that cannot remain silent.
mo matter what the cost in men and
money the instruction must and will be
suppressed Every trace of resistance must
be stamped out for all time. When that is
done it will be time to decide what shall be
done with the Philippines 1t is not a
party question, it is not question of re-
ligion, or of race it is plain case of duty
that must be done, and we'll Gone. Gen.
King and the other officers here tonight
will bear me out in that statement also.
Through all this wretched business
have never known wounded Filipino or
defenseless native to be maltreated or
killed. So much for our critics.
II am for my country, right or wrong,
but in this case 1t is right. There never has
been a time when we could withdraw from
the islands without a total disregard for
our plain duty. The responsibility for the
continuance of the resistance to our army
should be placed where it is due. From the
lips OF Aguinaldo himself, and from other
leaders of the insurrection, I know that for
the last two years they have been encour-
aged to shoot down our men and continue
their warfare by the copperhead sentiments
of people here in the states
1.-THE great mass of the natives do not
know what independence Is. Ninety-five
per cent. want to be left alone, and prefer
to be governed by others than themselves.
The case of Cuba has been held up to us
as an example of what we could do in the
far. east
81 believe my experience in both countries
has givensme an insight into the character
of both peoples. There are 40 Cuban leaders
who are the superiors of any leader the
Filipinos ever had. There is no compare
son between the two. And 1 am not lying
awake either, thinking of how I love the
| Cubans.
''It is a we'll known matter of history
| that when the city of Manila was surren-
| dered to the army under Gen. Merritt and
Admiral Dewey the United States was
| morally responsible for the welfare of some
hundreds of Spanish families, some tens
of thousands of Spanish soldiers part of
whom had fallen prisoners to Aguinaldo.
If we had gone off and left those men to the
mercy of an irresponsible, turbulent and
| uncomfortable mob which constituted the
army of Aguinaldo there would have been
massacre that would have been at least
equal to the massacres of Bulgaria and
Armenia, and would have been a standing
blot and disgrace to the United States.
So well for holding it when the city was
first taken. When has there been time
since then when we could let go? Now, will
some anti-imperialist member answer me
that? When could we let go?''