The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-04-07
Islands and the Army
tcontlnu d from first page.)

spoke Of the islands themselves as
follows:
THAT Congress will provide for
them n government which will bring
them blessings. which will promote
their material interests as we'll as ad.
vance their people in the path Of civ.
ilization and intelligence. confidently
believe. They will not be governed as
vassals or serfs or slaves.
VIII Have Justice.
They will be given a government Of
liberty. regulated by law. honestly
administered without expressing ex.
actions. taxation without tyranny,
Justice without bribe, education with.
out distinction OF social condition,
freedom OF religious worship and
protection In life. liberty, and the
pursuit Of happiness.
WHAT HE SAID THEN LAY IN
THE REALM OF PROMISE. NOW
1T LIES IN THE REALM OF POSI-.
I'VE fEhF ONMhINOGs
II Is good thing to look back upon
what has been said and compare Il
with the record Of what has actually
boon done II promises are violated,
It plightcd word is not kept then
those who have failed in their duty
should be held up TO reprobation. II,
on the other hand, the promises have
been substantially made good; II the
achievement has kept pace and more
than kept pace with the prophesy.
then they who made the one and are
responsible for the other are entitled
OF Just right TO claim the credit which
attaches To those who serve the ma,
ton well. This credit claim for the
men who have managed so admirably
the military and the military affairs
OF the Philippine Islands. and for
those other men who have so heartily
backed them In Congress. and without
whose aid and support not one thing
could have been accomplished
when President Mckinley spoke.
the first duty was the restoration OF
order; and TO this end the use OF the
Army OF the United States-an Army
composed Of regulars and volunteers
alike-was necessary.
II Was a Solemn Duty.
To put down the insurrection and
restore peace 10 the islands was a
duty not only TO ourselves but to the
islanders also We could not have |
abandoned the conflict without shirk. |
ing this duty. without proving our,
selyse recreants to the memory Of our
forefathers, Moreover. II we had
abandoned Il we would have inflicted |
upon the Filipinos the most cruel |
wrong and would have doomed them |
To a blody tumble Of anarchy and |
tyranny II seems strange, looking |
back that any OF our people should |
have failed to recognize a duty so OBJ
vious; but there was such failure and !
the Government at home. the civil
in the Philippines, and |
above all our gallant Army. had to do
their work amid storm OF detrac,
ton The Army in especial was at,
tackled in a way which finally did
good, for in the end II aroused the
hearty resentment of the great body
Of the American people. not against
the Army. but against the Army's ira,
iucers. The circumstances of the
war made Il one OF peculiar difficulty.
and our soldiers were exposed TO Pc
ruliar wrongs from their foes. They
fought in dense tropical jungles
against enemies who were very
and very cruel not only
toward our own men, but toward the
great numbers OF friendly natives. the
most peaceable and most civilized
among whom eagerly welcomed our
ule
lntolerable ProVoeatlon.
Under such circumstances. among
! hundred thousand hot.blooded and {
'owerful young men serving in small
on the other side OF the {
lobe IL is impossible that instances Of 1
wrong doing should not occur. The c
act that they occurred in retaliation 2
or wel-nigh intolerable provocation I
an not for one moment be admitted h
the way OF excuse or Justification. q
III gooi Americans regret and de i.
lore them and the War Department /,
as taken every step in its power TO h
unish the offenders and 10 prevent or D
'inimize the chance OF repetition OF o
he onense. BUT THESE OFTEN. u
ES WERE THE EXCEPTION n