Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-04-08


the army. without giving 1t fair hear
ing. Is decidedly droll. Gen. Miles
reference to the charges preferred by
the civil governor of Tayabas province
was entirely proper, Mr. Root notwith-
standing. The general was certainly
provoked into a specific mention of
sources of information by the secre-
tary's sweeping denial of his original
statement: and II should he observed
that Gen. Miles snys that besides the
Tayabas charges he has in mind
other evidence which has passed
through his Office. MIR. Root has moth
ing TO say about the "other communi-
cations The truth is that Gen. Miles
has incidentally exposed the secretary's
hypocrisy regarding the severity of the
war. aud naturally both he and the
President are vexed beyond measure
because of IT,
1t Is impossible not to admire the
coslness with which Mr.. Root asserts
that Gen. Miles plan, If carried out,
would subject the FiipinOs ito the
arbitrary control of a military dicta-
tor" This should remind every one
that the government which is now
granted TO the Filipinos is nothing but
dcspotsln. and that the whole Philip
pine administration is under the
direction of the war department. And
when you recall the conditions of the
proposed civil government which the
administration proposes 10 establish in
1904 ii might almost be charged that
Mr. Root is. joking when he talks about
"dictatorships." Government does not
depend upon consent" said Elihu Root
contemptuuusly in his Canton speech
in 1900. Isn't it shocking, therefore,
that the general commanding should
propose that he he given control for
Il while over these people in order 10
conciliatc them to the rule of nation
5000 miles away? But Mr. Root is not
joking; he Is thoroughly mad. He Is
angered because the senior officer in
the United States army should he
found questioning the truth of the
government claims that the situation
in the islands Is altogether sutisfac
tory; angered because an officer OF
high rank should call attention TO The
enormous expenditure" which the mil
itary operations involved In the con
quest have cntailed upon us. We are
indeed, reminded again, that the Phil
ippinc acquisition, according to Gov
Taft himself, has been Il disadvantag
to the United States; and, If 1t has beer
Il disadvantage, what becomes of the
vaunted craftsmanship which saddlet
tIlul N1Oll us
Let us be thankful for this interest
ing correspondence if for no other rea
| son than that Mr. Root has appended
to one Of his letters long list of ma
tive Fllipinos, now holding position!
of trust under the American govern
mcnt, who formerly served the native
government. Mr.. Root does not now
| describe them as "savages' or half
civilized oricntals,' incapable of car
rying on a government. They are very
fine, cultivated gentlemen, fit to b'
trusted, and they look in print as spiel
and span as II new Presidential ap
pointment from Michigan For in
stance, says MIR. Root, proudly
Supreme Court, was secretary of stat,
in the first cabinet of the revolution
ary government.
Trinidad IL. Pardo dc Tavera com
missioner, was assistant secretary o
state in the first cabinet of the rcvo
lutionnry government at Maloos, ant
II member OF its Congress.
Grcgorio Aruneta, solicitor general
was secretary of justice and mcmbe
of the Mulolos Congress.
Daniel Trona provincial secrctar,
of Cuyite, was Aguinnldos first secrc
tary Of war and commanding genera
of the revolutionary forces In the pro
vince of Cagayan.
They all accept our rule, Yes, an,
once they served n native republican
government and would have continue,
to serve il IL the United States ha,
given il n chance to live. Cen. Miles
and Mr. Rout's letters serve to rcmin,
ny OF all these things, and also TO rc
viyc the awkward question why W
could not have treated the Filipino
as we did the Cuhans.
The President, too 10 immensely II
ntated, His endorsement of Mr.. Root
second letter shows 1t, The bitter san
casn, he employs, however while maj
ural enough to n man OF his nature,
not likely to make matters the plea,
antcr. For after all is said, the fac