The Washington times., 1902-04-29
Mr.. Sibley Declares I'm a
Disgrace to the Uni
form He Wears.
PENNSYLVANIA MOST BITTER
Stirs House by Calling Upon President
for His Dismissal-Former Democrats
Action Approved by Representative
Williams Of Mississippi.

Gen. Jacob II. Smiths order to make the
island of Samar, bowling wilderness
and to kill all males over ten years OF
age, was made an issue in the House
yesterday. The initiative was taken by
Representative Shley of Pennsylvania, a
former Democrat. but now a member on
the Republican side of the House. Mr..
Sibley delivered a scathing denuncia.ion
of General Smith. declaring that he was
n disgrace 10 the uniform of an American
soldier.
The Pennsylvania remarks were brief
but they were decidedly to the point,
and were presented with his character
istic earnestness and vigoT. He had evil
IDENTIFY not prepared set speech. He was
followed by Representative Williams
Dem., Miss.). who indorsed what Mr.. Sib-
ley had said, but declared that it was
the system more than the individual who
carries out the spirit of the system.
Wants Information.
During the course of the day two reso-
1utions were introduced calling upon the
Secretary of War TO inform the House
whether General Smiths order had been
issued with the knowledge or the approval
of the department.
MIR. Sibley secured the floor while the
agricultural appropriation bill was under
consideration. He said:
Mr.. Chairman: l believe l have been
regarded as somewhat of an expansionist
as one in favor of the acquisition of the
Philippine archipelago, and defended the
policy CT the Administration in that re-
spect. i believe, and have believed. that
il was the mission of the Anglo-Saxon
race to carry cur civilization to the re-
motest regions OF the globe.
81 have believed that not only duty ond
honor justify cur position there, but the
commercial welfare of the nation de-
manded that We should control that archi-
peiago. which stands as the gateway to
the Oriental world. l have believed that
Manila was destined to become the Liver
pool of the Orient, and that this nation
would profit beyond the power of man to
imagine at the present day through our
influence in the Far East.
Blood Runs Cold.
Therefore, when ] am compelled to
read the utterances contained in military
orders. that make the blood of man run
cold, when ] have heard the statements
made that we were cruel in the conduct
of that war, have thought perhaps the
partisan was speaking.
But. Mr.. Chairman, when ] have read.
ssIhave within the past forty eight hours.
that general wearing the uniform of the
United States, one who stands under the
shadow of our flag. issues orders. not TO
concfliate a province. but TO leave Il a
'howling wilderness and to kill all above
ten years Of age. then il seem 10 me that
humanity must have marched backward
for eighten centuries, and that Herod
again appears.
81 have read Of Timour. the Tartar.
have read of Achilles, ! have read of the
Saracen scourge, but / thank God that
since the tragic scene OF Calvary il has
taken eighteen centuries to produce
Smith. j have read of the water cure
believed that it IVES exaggerated.
Can any man whose blood pounds in
his pulses. any man who has read his
Bible or who has been reared at the knee
of a Christian woman. Justify the per-
petration OF such cruelties upon another
man who wears the suise and the image
of his Creator?
Justifes His Act.
"And yet, we hear this man attempting
10 Justify acts by which men are pumped
80 full of water as to nearly drown them.
and then brought back to life by thump-
ing them on the stomachs with the butts
of muskets. That is not civilization, that
is not Christianizing the world.
~ am thankful these are sporadic cases.
/ have had the pleasure this winter, as
the House committee has. OF listening to
The testimony OF Governor Taft, and ]
believe that every fair minded man recog-
nized that that commission is doing every
thing in its power FOR the pacifcation OF
the provinces, and had ii well nigh ac
"a friend OF mine said few days ago,
oh. you better wait and hear his de-
[ense..' 4 hope the President of the Unit |
ed States will have the courage upon what |
The man admits TO discharge him dishon-
prably from the service that he has dis |
graced. TApplause.l
He admits that he issued the order to |
leave the province bowling waste and |
wilderness, and TO kill all above ten years |
,f age, the innocent with the guilty. oh, |
that man ought not to be permitted to |
STAY in the service of the United States /
lutn the sun goes down. He is dis |
grace not only TO the party, he is dis |
grace 10 every man who ever wore the /
inform of the United States, and he is a
not and a disgrace to our present civil /
zation.
.'wat and hear what his justification |
nay be, That man does not live who can |
Justify such orders. IApplause.l There 4
s no justification. care not how adroit-
y his lawyers may frame their plea, or
low subtle be their reasoning.
.'The fact admitted by his own mouth |
hat he issued such orders is sufficient for
ne to hone that there is the courage and
he patriotism and The humanity and the
Christianity at the other end OF the ave
lue that will not Jet linn wear the Fed
,ral uniform twenty-four hours hence"
Applause.l
Mr.. Sibley was followed by Mr. Will
ANS [Dem., Mias.), who said he heartily |
udorsed what the Pennsylvania had said
bout "a brute in an American uniform"
"Bnt ] am a little afraid" he con-
inued, THAT he docs not strike the evil
D the right quarter IL is the system
rhich should be struck at. not the man
.ho unconsciously carries out the spirit
( the system.
Such Deeds Always Occur.
"wherevor there is 4 war of conquest
gainst weak and inferior colored peo-
lie deeds of brutality naturally occur.
he CHIEF danger is not the injury to the
eak race, bun that the temptation TO
'ranny will react upon the strong race |
nd make brutes Of its soldiers
For that reason such wars should be |
voided. agree with the gentleman from ,