Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-04-02
WHAT MILES ASKED.
President Makes Public the Gener-
al's Philippine Plan.
His Scheme Was to ConcilIate Instead of to
Shoot-Wanted to Br ng Lot of FL
ipInos to Washington to Talk
Things Over.

Washington, March 31.-The presi-
dent Saturday sent to the house of
representatives the correspondence
and papers bearing upon the request
of Lieut.. Gen. Miles to be assigned to
duty in the Philippines. The papers
were sent to the house in response to
a resolution introduced by Mr.. Burle-
son, of Texas, and passed by that
body. They are as follows:
Headquarters of the Army, Washington.
February II, 1902.
The Honorable Secretary of War:
Sir-I have the honor to invite atten-
ton to a subject that I have had under
consideration for several months and to
request that this letter be laid before the
president. 1t is now three years since
the opening of hostilities between the
United States forces and those in the
Philippine islands, and this warfare has
been conducted with marked severity.
More than 10000 United States troops
have been at different times sent or are
now under orders to go to the Philip
pines and more than 10000 still remain on
duty there, which service, with the
sistance of the naval forces, involves an
enormous expenditure of public money
as well as the loss of many valuable lives.
During the past century thousands of
Indians have been called to the capital
for consultation and council, and 1 have,
uHuGT duIHOEllys sent TO w dSHlnSIOn
many red-handed representatives Of diff
ferent tribes of Indians, the result of
which has been a reconciliation, resto-
ration of confidence, the prevention of
war, and the establishment and contin-
uance of peace within the states and ter
ritories.
Our friendly relations with the people
of Cuba and Porto Rico have been large
ly promoted by consultation with the rep
resentatives of those islands here in
Washington both before hostilities oc-
CURED, during the Spanish war, and
since; and have never found any people,
whether savages, semi-civilized or civil
lied, who were not benefited by candid,
frank, and honest consultation and coun-
Gil.
In view of the above considerations,
I make the request that I be authorized
to proceed to the Philippine islands, TAX
ing with me ten men, whom may select
from Cuba and Porto Rico, whose as
sistance has been found useful in pro-
noting friendly relations between the
people of those islands and the United
States, and who could probably explain
to the FilipinoS the benefits their people
have derived through friendly relations
with this country, and while there to
give such directions as I may deem
advisable and judicious for the best dis
position of the United States military
forces, to the end that they may occupy
the most healthful and stragetic posi-
lions, with due regard 10 economy and
De aHorded the greatest comfort and pen
eft; also to take such measures as will
tend to restore, far possible, con-
fidence to the people OF those islands,
and demonstrate that the purpose of our
government is promoted by the highest
sense of justice; and that on returning
be authorized to bring to the capital
such manner of representative Filipinos
as 1 may think advisable, in order that
they may see and know the advantages
of our civilization and realize the dis
position of our government toward them,
at the same time affording opportunity
ligent an Z definite action may be taken
concerning their future destiny. 1t is
confidently believed that such measures
could then be taken as would be satisfac-
tory and beneficial to the 10, 900 of in
habitants of the Philippine islands and
highly creditable to our government.
Lieut.. Gen. Nelson A. Miles,
Commanding U. S. Army.