Evening journal., 1902-04-17
Tur LAWFUL COMPANY''

referring TO the instructions caOled
by Secretary Root to General Chance
in which he requires a. full inVesti-
cation OF all charges against officers
accused Of violations Of the rules OF
CIVILIZED warfare, and for courts-mar-
tial to try the offenders, the Every
Evening, among other things, says:
And so. at last comes the complete
vindication Of the people and papers
that have exposed and denounced
these fiendish and inhuman methods
of warfare, only TO be held up by the
imperialistic press as traitors and
enemies OF the country. The truth has
come to the surface; the facts can no
longer be denied, OF even ignored.
They have been attested by sworn tesu
mony. and now the matter will have
10 ba prObed TO the bottom, or the ad-
ministration will stand stultfied before
the entire world.
According to the reasoning OF our
contemporary, accusation amounts to-
proof, and the Administration and our
army stands before the world con-
demned for atrocities without a paral-
lei in modern warfare Such logic
would send every suspected man TO the
gallows, and result in having Justice
dependent on rumor. Why has there
been "a vindication of the people and
papers that have exposed and de-
nounced these fiendish and inhuman
methods of warfare?" Would the
Every Evening convict on ex parte
evidence, furnished by one or two wit
nesses? Would II have us condemn
all our brave soldiers, and the Ad-
ministration. even though It should
be found that under provocation in
= certain instances our soldiers have re-
sorted to retaliation We are told
that the truth has come to the sur
face" indeed Then what is the use
OF any trial? Would it not be better
to hang a few of our officers on sus-
pioion. and then roll our eyes in
junction and pat our chests and say,
well done? An investigation is or
dered, yet We are told that the whole
case is proved.
II is all very well for an editor to
sit in his snug sanctum and tell how
tho war should be conducted. He can
look out over eight thousand miles OF
land and water and tell brave men how
TO conduct fight so that the feelings
OF murderers and cut-throats may not
oo hurt. II he hasn't evidence, he can
make it. and il is an easy thing to dis
credit all official reports and the tesu-
mony Of all persons who are entitled
70 speak. He may make up a case on
very scant testimony, and hold that
the honor Of the army and of the
country ia in the personal keeping Of
each soldier. He may congratulate
himself that he has done his littl,
part in creating a political issue, bu'
the American people generally have
enough sense TO see through the sham
niAA ~ MtAhn iit CNA4tAAN NlhAlA
Our contemporary goes on in al
ironical vein to suggest that court
martial TO be convened to try Secre
tary Root. and President Roosevelt
himself. On what grounds? Does
hold that either Of these gentleme,
has by official conduct violated tn
rules of civilized warfare? II not, the
Il would ground its charges in sus
picion, making up its verdict in ad
vance. This reminds us of the mast
filings that this same paper made q
President Mckinley, and which cease
only with his death. They are couchC
in the same language, and inspire
by the same venom.