The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-01-30

debate was precipitated in the senate
today when Mr.. Rawlins called up his
resolution offered yesterday, directing
the secretary of war to furnish the
senate the proceedings of a number of
court-martials in the Philippines III
the course of his remarks, Mr.. Rawlins
referred to the death of Father Angus
tin and said he was murdered in cold
blood. This aroused the ire of Mr.
Beveridge, who demanded specifically
to know who had committed the cold
blooded murder. Mr.. Carmack entered
the debate and characterized the
charge, which he said repeatedly had
been made. that the democrats were
asSailing the army as the "meanest and
dirtiest' of any that had been made
against that party. Mr.. Proctor de-
Tended Captain Cornelius M. Brownell
who had been mentioned in the Raw
Inns resolution as being responsible for
Father Augustin's death.
Mr.. RaWlins said he had not Specifi-
cally charged any person with having
committed cold blooded murder. but
his statement was based on affidavitS
charged he said, that we have call
ed attention to tortureS and thereby
have been arraigning the American
army. 1t is false and Infamous
charge and I will cram it down the
teeth of the men who have falsely
given it utterance. L brand the state
ment as Infamous If not cowardly. 1t
is simply an attempt to put me in
false position which I will not occupy.
IF that is the best explanation the
senator can give" remarked Mr.. Bev-
eridge, for his remarkable language
here. I think the best friend the sena-
tor has would advise him to accept the
alternative of silence"
Mr.. Hoar interrupted and said if it
was fair to impute to anybody a de-
sire to attack the American army
when the government of the United
States itself through it's military au-
thority has made sucn charges.
Mr.. Carmack characterized the
charge that the democrats were assail-
ing the army as the "meanest and
dirtiest" OF all that had been made. 1T
has been the very vermin," he said. "of
this debate and l am a little surprised
to find it crawling in the hair of the
honorable senator from Indiana" Jake
Smith is no more the American army
than the senator from Indiana is the
American senate, and not half as much
as he thinks he is"
Whoever made the charge, he said,
consciously took a falsehood upon his
lips when he spoke it. He declared
that the senate committee on the
Philippines had refused to investigate
the facts of the murder Of Father
Augustin. There had been policy of
suppression, he asserted, and in the
case of another witness who he said,
had testified falsely before the COM
mittee he had been allowed to go un-
punished. He insisted that whatever
action had been taken by the presi-
dent and war department had been be-
cause they were driven TO it by the
minority Of the senate and that even
then no single fact was brought TO
light.
Replying, Mr.. Beveridge. said Mr..
Carlnack had made his charge be-
cause the investigation did not result
as he (Carmack) had hoped it would.
MIR. Carmack again reverted to the
Investigation by the committee on
Philippines as to the conduct OF the
army in the Philippines, said that 1t
occupied but four days Of seven hours
each. although the secretary of war
with his usual loose and lavish un-
veracity had said it occupied five
months.
Mr. Proctor defended Captain Cor
neIius II Brownell. who is charged III
the Rawlins resolution with being re-
sponsible for the death of Father
Augustin. Mr.. Proctor declared that
Father AUgustin was the head and
front of the insurrection in his dig
trict. From his standing in the
church, he said. Father Augustin was
able TO divert contrary to the canonS
of the church, its revenues from theiI
legitimate purpose and use them to
further the insurrection.
Mr.. Proctor replying to Mr.. Tillman,
said that Captain Brownell had been
mustered out Of service and that the
judge advocate general had held that
he could not now be court tmaritaled.
Mr.. Tillman Interrupted and said that
if CAPTAIN Brownell is innocent Of
murder, he might not be able to prove
it, but that those who desired to do so
should be allowed to produce evidence
showing that he is not innocent.
Mr. Proctor said that Captain Brow
nell was justified in taking the steps
he did. He had, he said. seen men
hung for a much less violation of the
| rules Of war. than Father Augustin
was guilty of.
Mr.. Tillman declared that "for the