The Irish standard., 1902-05-17
ELIHU ROOT MAKES REPLY.

EL1HU ROOT MAKES REPLY.
According to the answer made b,
Secretary Root to the inquiry of the
House of Representatives concernin:
the instructions sent to the leading
generals in the Philippines on conduct
ing the war of benevolent assimila
tion," Gen. Jake Smith was justified
i'll ordering all the inhabitants OF
Samar above the age of ten to be killed
at sight before making the island q
bowling wilderness. The New York
lawyer says that no orders were is
sued to the commanding military Off
GERS in the Philippines except the in
structions for the government of
armies of the United States in the
field, approved and promulgated by
President Abraham Lincoln in general
order No. 100 of 1862
Secretary Root imagines that the
crimes committed in the Philippines
by "Hell-Roaring Jake" and his officers
are all right because the name of
Lincoln is officially attached to an
order issued by the war department
about forty years ago when the life
of this republic was at stake. Does
he think for a moment that if Lincoln
We're president today he would sane
ton the infamy of Smith in enforcing
such an order against a people strug-
Cling for independence?
The order in question was drawn up
| by Prof. Francis Lieber, of Columbia
College, and submitted to beard of
army officers and approved. 1t was
then published to the entire army by
the adjutant generals office.
The order does not admit of cruelty
or Of torture to extort confessions or
the wanton devastation of district.
1t must never be resorted to as a
means of mere revenge, but only as a
means of protective retribution. A
prisoner Of war is subject to no pun
ishment for being an enemy, nor may
any revenge be wreaked upon him. 1t
| is against the usage of modern war to
give no quarter, and unnecessary or
revengeful destruction of life is not
lawful.
The New York Sun and other ad-
ministration organs maintain that the
war in the Philippines is conducted
humanely, and Secretary Root is of
the same opinion. President Roose-
welt thinks otherwise or he would not
have ordered Smith to be court-mar-
tailed.
1t is nearly two weeks since the
trial Of Smith, and we have not yet
learned whether he was found guilty
or innocent. He admitted, through his
attorney, that he was guilty of the
charges imputed to him, and now Root
&! declares that he was simply carrying
out an order signed by Abraham Lin
coin. Root does not say what dispo-
sition would be made of all the
orphans under ten years of age whose
lives would be generously spared by
Jake Smith in the island of Samar
after he had made it bowling wilder
ness Perhaps the orphans would have
to look out for themselves when de
prived of parental care.
In the document forwarded to the
Senate by order of the House, Sccre
tary Root cites an order issued by
Gen. Bell to the effect that wherever
prisoners of war or unarmed or de
fenseless Americans or friendly ma.
tivcs were murdered or killed by the
insurgents for political reasons. he
would by way of retaliation execute
a Filipino prisoner of war to be Sc
lccted by lot. according to the usageS
of civilized warfare. That order is not
quite so bad rs the one issued by
Smith. Such retaliation was carried
out during the Civil War. 1t is harsl,
treatment for Innocent men. but it ap
pears that innocent men have suffered
in that way.
At one time during the War of the
Rebellion six enlisted rebel prisoners
were shot in retaliation for the murder
of six Union soldiers under Major
Wilson. One Major Wolf. Of the Con
federate army. was to he shot for the
murder of Wilson. but when Lincoln
heard of it he ordered the execution
suspended and exchanged Wolf for Il
Union officer.