The independent., 1903-05-07
GENERAL NILES
Ar. Sampson Comments on Recent Report
on Philippine Conditions-Perse-
cution of General Miles


ippine conditions, so long suppressed
by the war department, and finally
given publicity in response to the pub
Tic demand and because permanent
Suppression might operate against the
administration in the approaching ma
tional elections, proves to be a much
needed document. Its ability and fair
ness and the general value of its rec
concentrations are at once apparent.
With the exception of Major Garden
er's report, it is the first report by an
American military officer since presi-
dent Mckinley declared war upon the
Filipinos that seems free from poli'-
cal or military bias. 1t states con-
ditions as found, and mot as the ad-
ministration has systematically dis
guised them for partisan purposes. 1t
is, with the exception already noted.
the first report in which the Filipinos
themselves are given hearing. The
reason is apparent. General Miles
went to the Philippines with no per-
sonal honor to be yindicated at any
cost. With him, there were no frauds,
no cruelties,S no robberies, no church
dissertations, 10 village brrnings no
concentration camps, no bowling
wildernesses, to be whitewashed TO:
the "honor OF the army" He knew
as well as General Sherman that war
is hell" and he knew that the war by
the United States upon the Filipinos
had not been materially different from
the usual hell of war. He simply
found the legitimate and inevitable re-
1tc IF of nnH
ported them without fear or favor.
1t would be amusing, II it were not
pitiful, to see how some Of the agents
of our war OF criminai aggression il.
the Philippines have rushed into
print in the vain attempt to retrieve
their lost honor One writer, for in
stance, wakes indignant that General
Miles should believe the reports OF
irresponsible natives as against the
t'sworn testimony of American Off
GERS" In the first place as between
the testimony, happening to be un-
sworn, of men who have sacrificed ev
erything dear to them In life for thei
country's liberty and independence,
and the testimony, sworn though l.
be, of men so lost to honor as not to
lLcll CcLinllSSloIo Ill GLC di lily
rather than actively participate in the
prosecution of war so abhorrent to
American principles, it is not Difficult:
to choose. But moments considera~
tion of conditions will show the rea-
sonableness of General Miles belief
On the one hand, there is the testi-
mony OF people who, had the opera.
tions of the American army not al
ready despoiled them, have everything
to lose and nothing to gain by such
reports, and who report the natural
results OF war-results essentially
characteristic of war in all countries
and all ages. On the other hand. there
is the testimony of men whose mill
tary honor is at stake, men upOr
whom self-interest, the most powerful
of human motives, operates to induce
Misrepresentation or Justification Of
the facts, men who would have us be-
lieve that wa is after all only ben
evolent assimilation" The unpreju-
diced citizen can hardly fail to coin
eide with General Miles conclusions.
We have heard of numerous courts
martial in the Philippines, instituted.
like the ex-parte inquiries" of the
war department in this country, with
the purpose of yindicating the accused
in which the prosecution is quite as
much interested in an acquittal as is
the defendant. We have been nauseat.
ed by the alleged Investigations OF
the senate committee on the Philip
observation-disclosures that invariably
stopped with the testimony of those
Sympathizing with the administra
tion. After such miserable travesties
as these, General Miles report comes
as a decidedly refreshing contribu-
tion to justice. e.
Unfortunately, General Miles will
not much longer occupy the eminent
position which he has so consistent
honored. The administration will not
much longer have the opportunity to
humiliate him in every way which
petty ingenuity can devise When the
army officers whose wrongs his hon
esty and fearlessness have exposed
shall have been forgotten, General
Miles names will continue as one of
the brightest in American military an
mails. Others are welcome to all the
HEaESnazSszsgazSssssssSs a~4.
: q. 20 sgxs A H. I