The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-05-14
The PHILIPPINE lAFaMY.
Exposing Barharity of Army and
Placing Responsibility.
Another Very Warm Debate in Senate
Beveridge Attempts TO Charge Demo-
cratic Lines But is RepeIled.


senate. It was started by Mr.. Bever-.
idge of Indiana, who made some sharp
structures on the members of the op-
position because, as he said, they per-
sisted in telling in their speeches only
one side of the story. While he ad-
mitted that some outrages had been
committed by American soldiers in
the Philippines, it was true too, that
unparalleled kindness had been shown
by the American troops to Filipino
prisoners and Filipino wounded. Food
and medicine. he said, had been
shared with them and they had been
succored on the battlefield and cared
for tenderly iii the hospital. While
saying that the omission to tell this
side of the story by the Democrats
was unintentional, he suggested that
it was unfair to make an arraignment
OF the American soldier and not tell
both sides.
Mr.. Carmack and N. Rawlins
warmly resented any intimation Of
unfairness. Mr.. Rawlins declared that
no partisan motive had actuated the
opponents Of the present Philippine
policy, but that they were moved only
| 10y patriotism and love. of country.
Mr.. Turner CT Washington delivered
scathing criticism Of the methods
practiced by the military authorities
in the Philippines, dwelling particular
| ly upon the alleged order of Gen.
| Smith, whom he denounced as mon
ster in human. form. He urged the
Philippine committee to turn all the
light possible on the Philippine ques-
tion to the end that the people might
be fully informed on the situation.
Mr.. Hoar Of Massachusetts, briefly
| defended the action of the Philippine
committee, saying that already it had
furnished much. valuable information.
He urged that the committee, in. all
justice, should call some prominent
| Filipinos to testify IN their own be-
half
During Mr. Beveridge's remarks
Mr. Hoar of Massachusetts, inquired
if it was a fact, proved By testimony,
that American soldiers had tortured
Filipinos until they they had confessed
to the commission of crime.
Mr.. Beverid,ye said it had been
proved that the water cure had been
administered in the dreadful O'Hearne
case. By the confession of the Filipi-
nos to whom the water cure had been
given, it was learned that O'Hearne
had been burned to death over a slow
fire.
"Was this murder proved by any
other testimony than that given in the
testimony of the tortured Filipinos9'
inquired Mr.. Hoar.
Not that I know OFF, replied Mr..
Beveridge. '9Bt1t that evidence was
conclusive
The conduct of American soldiers
in the Philippin nes, suggested Mr..
| Carmack of Tennessee, was uniformly
kind whenever il was permitted to be
so. In cases where it was otherwise
they were driver to the cruelties by
their superior officers. -
Mr.. Beveridge said he was glad at
this late day to hear an apology for at
tacks made upon the American sol
diers.
Mr.. Carrmack said that he ha( o
apologies to make for any state eat
he had made.
Mr.. Beveridge inquired if Mr.. Car
mack could mention more than sin
gle instance where an officer had order
ed the administration of torture to a
Filipino.
Mr.. Carmack replied that he had not
referred to any special order but that
the general orde.s of Gems Bell and
Chaffee indicated that in the opinion
of those officers the American troops
were treating the Filipinos too kindly.
Mr.. Beveridge ridiculed this answer
of Mr.. Carmack, declaring that when
he asked him ctirect question he re-
piled in diaphsnous way Of the Or
ders of Bell and Chaffee.
In the course Of a rreply to some Of
the comments made by Mr. Beveridge,
Mr. Rawlins OF Utah discussed at
length the case Of the murder of Ser
geant O'Hearne and said that the i'm
preston he had gotten from the testi-
mony was that the Filipinos had been
induced to make confessions suggest
ed to them by the administration of
the water cure. Mr. Rawlins said
outrages in the Philippines were due,
not to the soldiers themselves but to
the highest military authorities in
the islands The responsibility for
them indeed was to be placed proper
ly at the door Of the administration
officials here in Washington
Mr.. Rawlins said one victim was
tied down by American troops and
sugar was placed upon his head to at
tract the voracio1:s ants, common in
those islands, and forced to give in
formation. He said too. that women
and innocent children had been put !
to death ruthlessly by American
troops
Mr.. Turner of Washington referred
to the speech OF Mr.. Lodge, saying
his purpose would be to supplement |
that speech and to drive home the CON
clusion that it is unwise, unpatriotic,
cruel and inhuman to attempt in view
Of the facts to make the Philippines
a permanent part Of the territory of
the United States.
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