“ The army, of course, has its weak and brutal men. and in such guerrilla fighting, with detachments shot down from ambush and bodies of soldiers mutilated, it is not strange that young officers, desiring to prevent loss of further men and the death of themselves amid such treachery, should resort to every legitimate means to endeavor to find where guns were hid by the treacherous foe, and if they found in vogue a system Of torture among the Filipinos, which the Spaniards, too, had used, is it strange that human nature weakened, and that they took steps which have startled the American people. ”

“ Mr. Turner (Washington) criticized the refusal of the Senate Committee on the Philippines to summon Aguinaldo, Mabini, Major Gardener, and others. He referred to the order of Gen. Jacob H. Smith, and said that it remained for the American soldier, the highest type of civilization, in a quarrel not having the single element of religious difference, prosecuted upon professedly humanitarian grounds, to raise his name to the height of bloody infamy. He characterized Gen. Smith as "a monster in human form," who had devoted an entire province to a merciless extermination. ”

“ Carmack asked the witness why he had done so much to aid a man whom he regarded as "a common robber and plunderer.”
The Admiral did not reply immediately his face reddened and he laughed. He then said the Senator had not quoted him accurately, but he, admitted that he had said Aguinaldo had gone to Manila for pillage and plunder. He added: "You know the old saying that “All is fair in war." "
"Do you consider it fair in war to assist a known plunderer and robber in an enemy's territory to pillage without restraint?" ”

“ We all know that hindsight is better than foresight. Looking back, I wouldn't have had the Filipinos join me. But I thought they would be friendly, and I think it very ungrateful in them to have turned against us. When I permitted Aguinaldo to go ashore I did not know that any United States troops would be sent to the Philippines. ”

“ If these water-cure cases are brought to trial they should be tried in the Philippines, before men who are familiar with the circumstances of their occurrence and the general conditions and standards of conduct that obtained where they happened. None of us believes that cruelty runs in the American blood, or that wanton cruelty has been done in the Philippines, except in isolated cases, but the American soldier is an earnest man, and wants results. Major GARDENER says, 'Use native troops.' By all means use native troops as soon as they can be trusted. ”

“ The work of the Philippine commission and the laws that have been enacted by it are everywhere favorably commented upon by the natives. The attitude of the army, thereby meaning most of its officers and soldiers, is, however, decidedly hostile to the provincial and municipal government in this province, and to civil government in these islands in general. In Manila especially it is intensely so, even among the higher officers. The work of the commission in the establishment of provincial governments is ridiculed even in presence of the natives. ”

“ If we had dealt with this people as we dealt with Cuba we should have had today a civilized, happy peaceful republic sending their youths to our schools studying our laws, imitating our examples, animated by a love and affection and a gratitude such as no one people on earth ever yet felt for another. ”

“ MacArthur gave further testimony before the committee. He explained his statement made yesterday that absolute chaos would-result should independence be given the Filipinos and the United States forces be withdrawn by saying that the people of the Philippines, being less prepared for self-government than any of the Latin-American republics at the time of their emancipation from Spain, their own unaided efforts to accomplish self-re-generation would in all probability prove abortive. ”

“ No modern State, which is a party to International law, can sanction either expressly or by a silence, which imports consent, a resort to torture with a view of obtaining confessions as an incident to its military operations. If it does where is the line to be drawn? If the 'water cure' is Ineffective, what shall be the next step? ”

“ These gentlemen may be very sure that if they catch the Administration trying to cover up the facts, if they do actually disclose bloody wrongs not revealed by persons in authority or concealed by them, their report will instantly arrest the attention of the American people, who will promptly take the necessary steps to vindicate the National character. ”

“ No man ever worked harder in the interests of peace than I." said the General. "But if the United States troops had attacked the Filipinos and driven them out of the city (Manila) when they first got there it would have been much better."
"Until the time of the ratification of the treaty, was not the Filipino army there for the purpose of maintaining the independence of that island by armed force, if necessary?" asked Senator Patterson.
Gen. Otis—"They asserted that they wanted to drive the Spaniards out. They never intended to secure independence, but to set up a government under Aguinaldo." ”

“ WASHINGTON. May 23.—Bishop Thoburn continued his testimony before the Philippine Committee of the Senate today. He was examined about various phases of the situation, and especially as to the rights of the United States to dominate the Philippine Islands. He said in reply to one question that chaos would result if England were to withdraw from India. England had advanced civilization in the Far East. Hong Kong and other places were, made great points of commerce. Hong Kong was, he said, better governed than Chicago and human life was safer there than in Chicago. ”

“ We commend these reflections to Senator HOAR. But what shall we commend to such smaller creatures as those who assume, when a man like Admiral DEWEY comes before them, a man who has rendered more service to his country in one historic hour than they have either the disposition or the capacity to render in a lifetime, who has become, by fate and by his own deserving," in 'proportions which it would take a very small creature indeed to analyze, one of the glories of his country, who assume that it is a vote-getting process to treat him as if he were some kind of public malefactor. ”

“ Otis had shocked the country by saying we should keep 40,000 troops in the Philippines for a considerable time, but instead of that number we have 70,000, and Mr. Hoar asked how long were we going to keep them there. "Lt Gen. Chafee is right." he said. "there is not a man in these islands who is not conspiring against the Government and eager for his liberty. Now give us a little light. Take the most zealous men in this body and give us a committee that will hear the evidence, put questions, hear both sides, and let us know what is the truth. ”

“ American withdrawal would result in the permanent failure of republican institutions in the East, and a fratricidal war which would continue until suppressed by some exterior force. The broad generalization, he said, is reached that the United States must retain the archipelago as a tuitionary annex; that we must plant our institutions there; that we must contend for commercial supremacy, and perhaps combat for political supremacy to overcome the inherent difficulties of the situation, which will require the most profound efforts of constructive statesmanship. ”

“ WASHINGTON, May 15.—Capt. Lee Hall, formerly of the Thirty-third "Volunteer Infantry, was the witness before the Senate Philippine Committee to-day. He was in command of a company of Macabebe scouts. He said these were deadly enemies of the Tagalogs. He had heard of instances of the water cure, but saw none. The water cure, he thought, was no worse in its effect than the native vino. The Filipino prisoners were treated as well as American soldiers, except that they were made to work. He said the Filipino was not ready for self-government. ”

“ True, I made a comparison once with the Cubans, saying the Filipinos were more capable of self-government than the Cubans, I think that neither the Filipinos nor the Cubans are capable of self-government. ”

“ Otis and Gen. Bell should say they regard Aguinaldo as personally honest in money matters, would their statement influence your opinion in regard to him?"
"Not in the slightest degree."
"You don't know of a single dishonest act on the part of the man, and yet you regard him as a thief?"
Just before this question was asked. Senator Lodge, as Chairman of the committee, had announced that 12 o'clock, the hour for adjournment, had arrived. The Admiral took advantage of this announcement to cut short a line of inquiry that was plainly annoying him. ”

“ Bishop Thoburn expressed the opinion that the greater protection to personal rights in Hong Kong than in Chicago is due to the fact that the Government has a stronger arm in Hong Kong than in Chicago.
"As a matter of fact," he said, "we all know that in Chicago a man is not safe in walking the streets at night, while he is so in Hong Kong."
The Bishop expressed the opinion that Aguinaldo could not have subjugated the islands if left alone in his rebellion against Spain. ”

“ The United States cannot afford to sanction the addition of torture to the several forms of force which may be legitimately employed in war and it is therefore, recommended that the proceedings, findings, and acquittal be disapproved. ”

“ Under the terms of the resolution of appointment it is the duty of this committee "to take all necessary steps to effect the full disclosure of the facts connected with the processes and executions in the course of military operations in the Philippine Islands." "We beg to remind the committee that it will be disobedient to its instructions if it investigates and reports upon nothing but the stories of water-cure torture and "wanton killing. The American people denounce as cruel and monstrous Gen. SMITH'S orders to kill male natives of Samar above the age of ten. ”

“ In answer to a further question by Senator Patterson as to whether the Filipinos would accept independence if it should be accomplished by means other than a protectorate by the United States. Gen. Hughes said that at a conference in Manila, representatives of the Filipino forces would not commit themselves to a proposition of a protectorate by the United States. They first wanted independence, he said, and alter that they would arrange for the protectorate. America being considered along with other powers. ”

“ Hall said he had known of cases of cruelty on the part of the Filipinos toward American prisoners, but that this practice had been largely discontinued by the natives toward the latter part of his stay in the Philippines. Speaking of the relative mortality in the American and Philippine forces in battle he said that generally about three natives to one American were killed," The Filipino is a better shot at a distance of a mile and a half," he said, "than at thirty steps." ”

“ Senator Patterson interjected the remark that Senators should not be attacked from masked batteries.
“I asked the extent to which it gave aid to the insurrection," explained Senator Beveridge.
"When the Senator from Indiana," retorted Senator Patterson, " propounded that question it involved every Senator who is standing by what he believes to be simple justice to the Filipinos."
Senator Carmack, with much earnestness, said he wanted to take his part of the responsibility for saying the war in the Philippines is "utterly and absolutely infamous and criminal. ”

“ After noting that the seizure of hidden rifles, even by help of the "water cure," means to save life, to stop fighting, and to give the civil arm a chance, he adds: "A choice of cruelties is the best that has been offered in the Philippines. ”

“ In reply to other questions put by Senator Carmack concerning Aguinaldo, the Admiral said:
"I think you are making too much of Aguinaldo. He was a mere figurehead, and was surrounded by stronger men than himself. Mabini was one of these, and Gen. Luna, whom he had killed, was another."
Replying to another question the Admiral said it was the general report throughout the East that in 1897 Aguinaldo had betrayed his people to the Spaniards for money. Nor did he remember that this report had been denied by American officers in the Philippines. ”

“ He said the minority were "met everywhere with objections and obstruction."
"I call the Senator from Utah to order," said Mr. Lodge. "No Senator has a right to charge any other Senator with obstruction."
Mr. Rawlins referred to the case of Private Riley, and quoted the Secretary of War as saying in connection with it that private soldiers are inclined to "draw the long how" in writing home of occurrences in the Philippines, which he said was itself a severe reflection on the army. Contrary to the Secretary's statement, he said, the charges of the privates had been sustained. ”

“ Merchant and another beaten on the chest with a stick to make them give information. He said the insurgents engaged in similar work, and gave an instance of an American soldier being cut to pieces with bolos. He testified that the native prisoners were well treated, the sick cared for, and the food furnished very nearly the same as that furnished the American troops.
The witness admitted that in only one instance had he witnessed the water cure, and said that he had not seen Filipinos subjected to harsh treatment aside from the water cure. ”

“ Rawlins, he said, was that as Major Gardener had made a general impeachment of military officers in the Philippines no board could be constituted which would give him an impartial trial. "The American people," he declared. " will not believe that charge because they will know that it is not true of the army in the Philippines or any other American army." ”