BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1902-02-14
SAN JUAN, FEBRUARY "A
A Bitter Pill For
Anti-Expansionists.

No unprejudiced person can read the
testimony which Governor Taft gave
before the Senate committee and not be i'm.
pressed With its judicial fairness and moder-
alton. He nothing extenuates Nor sets
down aught in malice. What is most un-
pleasant in the situation he admit frankly,
but insists always that full responsibility for
existing conditions shall be placed where il
belongs Upon the insurgents, and not upon
the American government and its military
and civil agents in the islands. He refuses
steadily to take the view OF the anti-im.
Ierialists that when the American soldier is
goadsd by Filipino barbarity into retaliation
In kind that the American soldier is entirely
without justification or palliation, or that
Whatever the FIlipinos do is inspired by the
loftiest motives Of patriotism and is conse-
quently not censurable.
Governor Taft's testimony was dec
idedly the most interesting thus far. II
gives MS the first really adequate explana-
tion of the kind of war that has been in
progress since Aguinsldo attacked the
American forces at Mauila on the night Of
Feb. 4, 1899; under explicit orders to assas
sinate not only all American soldiers but all
American residents OF Manila. 1t has been
. war of assassin since that time, not only
upon Americans but upon Filipinos AS
soon a. General Oils received reinforce
ments which made the American army for
midsble the Filipino army broke up and
scattered into guerrilla bands under the
direction of Aguinaldo. Oa this point
Aguinaldo differed with Luna, the latter
1avcTmg regular rather than guerriIla war
fare. 30 sharp was the difference between
the two generals that Aguipaldo directed
snd secured the assassination OF Luna, say.
ing that II be did not kill Luna, Luna would
kill him. "Indeed," says Governor Taft,
ssthe custom was to order mans death 10
his absence and have him killed on bis
return.~ Tie presence OF the guerrilla
bands made it necessary for the American
military authorities to place gaIrisons every.
where. there being as many as 506 of them,
and this required large American force.
In regard to the quality Of the guerrilla
warfare Governor Taft declared 81 ven
turs to say that there 10 not Filipino
general or commanding officer who could
not be convicted Of the responsibility of
killing bis own people," The great maj
ority Of the people, he said, desire peace,
and che insurrectionists by their acts are
preventing the mass OF the people from
settling down and earnipg o quiet living.
Instead Cf being allowed to do this they are
kept under system Of territorism which
should be stopped. Summing up the case
In few words, Governor TAFT said:
"Ths war has been all over these Islands,
and that which remains Il . crime against
civilization. IL is also crime against the
Filipino people to keep up state Of war
under the circumstances. They havs worn
cut The night 10 any treatment bu. shat
which 10 severe and within the laws Of WAR
Governor TAFT did not deny iha: there
bad been instances Of cruel treatment Of
Filipino prisoners By American soldiers.
saying it IVES not surprislng that there
should Be some retaliation on the put Of
small bands Of Amsricsps, hu. be wss sure
that whatever Of this kind bad occurred u
wns IN violation a direct orders 10 the con
nsU. He words on this pint are imprss-
slvs and should bs accepted az iiaAI bg ell
psEsoas Who sfs really ssskIsg ths nriis
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