The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-28
But Say He and Waller Are Not the
Only CuIprits, nor should They
Suffice as ScaPegOats.
REVIVE AN ANCIENT FAKE
BY CHARGING THAT 100000 OUT OF
100000 FILIPINOS WE'RE KILLED.
AssafI Secretary Root and Finally Ac-
cuse American Soldiers of Tor
ture, Rape and Murder.

meering of representative anti-imperialists
held in New York City last spring, COM
mittee was appointed TO investigate army
conditions in the Philippines. That COM
mittee has since then been prosecuting its
inquiries President Roosevelt's recent re-
view of the court-martiaI of Gen. Jacob
II. Smith seemed to the committee TO de-
mand some reply, and at a meeting just
held at Lake George an open letter to the
president was adopted. The letter was
signed by Charles Francis Adams, chair
man: Carl Schurz. Edwin Burritt Smith.
Moorfeld Storey and Herbert Welsh. 1t
says:
I'VE desire TO express the qualification
afforded us by your review of the 14th
inst. as comma >.ier-in-chief, of the find
ings of the court-martial In the case Of
Gen J. II. Smith. Taken in connection
with the previous memorandum of April
Is. that review will. provided it be fol-
lowed by corresponding general action, in
our opinion. do much towards the re-estab-
ishment of the national prestige and the
restoration of the morale of the army.
Especially opportune. in our judgment, is
your very commendable reminder to officers
In nigh and responsible positions that, in
a warfare with national dependents, such
as that recently waged by us in the East.
1t behooves all such officers TO be pc
culiarly careful in their bearing and con-
duct as 10 keep a moral check over any
acts of improper character by their
subOrdinates.'
THE level here reached is lofty, and in
healthy contrast with that spirit, far too
prevalent. which seeks excuse. if not jus
tihcation. for the exceses OF the present,
possibly be exhumed. either from colonial
history or for the regrettable records of
our Indian warfare.
While thus, however, expressing our
sense of obligation, we wish most respect
fully to call your attention to certain con-
clusions which we have in the course of
our own inquiries found ourselves COM
PEELED to reach. Coming directly to the
point. and speaking historically. our inves-
LEGATIONS have led US to conclude that the
Generalization of the officers and soldiers
of our army in the Philippines including
all branches OF the service. and all grades
OF rank. was far more general, as we'll as
pronounced. than might be inferred from
your review of the court-martial findings
in the case OF General Smith. The essen
tial facts charged in this case. we believe
We have reason TO say, were rather no
torious than exceptional. Demoralizing in
huences. very prejudicial to any high
standard of military morals, were under
the circumstances. inevitable. This led to
iamentable results calling for the firm
hand and stern correction found, and most
fortunately applied, in your orders of April
WANT MORE SOLDIERS PUNISHED.
Meanwhile. would respectfully sub
NIT that the good of the army and the fu-
ture of our Eastern dependencies, demand
that Investigation should not stop at this
point or with results already reached. The
inoufrles we as a committee have made
necessarily imperfect. have yet been suf-
hcient TO satisfy us that General Smith
end Major Waller were not the sole cul-
prits nor should they suffice in the charac-
ter of scapegOats.
I'm your review of July "a you say that
these cases were exceptional Your means
OF information on this point should un-
questonably be infinitely better than ours
Meanwhile. IL is always 10 be borne in
mind that one side only of this painful
story has been heard and that side only in
part The testimony OF represe ltative Fill
pinos has been jealousy and Systematically
suppressed. judicial and impartial exam
ination on the spot has been denied or pro-
nounced impracticable. In the present
case, occasionally, and by accident merely,
have fragments of information come 10
general neutrality-suspicious. glimpses only
have been permitted 10 reach the public
n
ably a condition OF great and general de-
nnoralizatiOn. OF this the findings OF the
court-martial referred TO AFFORD conclusive
evidence as also DO the published orders
OF commanding officers, and the reports Of
provincial governors
The letter than discusses the kill and
burn order. and says: "As the not un-
natural result of military operations so in
splred, an official report indicates that out
OF q total population in single district of
10000 not less than 100000 perished."
The letter then alludes 10 the water cure,
saying that the first reports OF its prac-
tice met with denials. while evidences be-
fore the Senate Philippine committee
proved conclusively that this and other
is and July a.
forms OF torture had been used. and adds:
wherein rivaled the systematic use of
torture by subOrdinates the officer in re-
spOnsible command is pronounced free from
blame on the ground that his praisewOrthy
that such trivial incidents failed 10 attract
his notice. Such a finding is certainly sug-
gestive
.'Fiually. every severity known TO the
state OF war-practices which have excited
the special reprobatiOn OF the American
people when reported as features OF the
hosfilities in Cuba. under the Spanish re-
Cime or In South Africa during the Boer
war-have been Of undisputed and frequent
occurrence in the Philippines. From the
early beginning Of operations there n has
been the general practice II not actually
the order. TO Kill those wounded in conflict.
CONCENTRATION CAMPS.
''In ike manner, as respects concentra-
tion caraps These as feature in recent
Spanish and South African operations. ex-
cited IN US as a people the deepest indigna-
tion. combined with the most profound sym
pathy for those thus numerically dealt
with. When resorted 10 BY our officials in
the Philippines. these camps are represent
I'd as a species OF recreation grounds, into