Filipino mayors shows that they are incapable of self-government. Every one of them should be shot."

Private Smith-" So the colonel of the Twelfth infantry, at Angeles holds. And when Filipino families come seeking the protection of the American lines he has the men shot and sends the women and children back to the 'insurgents.' Of course, he could take them prisoners, but the old Spanish way seems the best manner of 'civilizing' the Filipinos whom we are to rule for their own benefit. I presume he has them shot under the stars and stripes, which the president declares means 'liberty and the well-being of the people over whom it will float.'"

Chairman-" As to those mayors, they are guilty of the same kind of treachery as Champ, who was sent into the British lines by Washington to capture Arnold. If Champ was guilty of treachery, Washington, who sent him, was more guilty. I hardly think we should grow red in the face over the mayors. But we are getting away from the subject."

Private Smith-" Since it is shown that

"When the Filipinos are reduced to submission we will do the policing while England and her colonies get the trade."

practically all the Filipinos, except the Sulu slave-holders whom we bought, guaranteeing them by solemn treaty in the continuance of the slave trade under the American flag-"

Colonel Handy-"President Schurman says it is really a benevolent form of slavery. But I notice that the treaty provides that if a slave buys his freedom it shall be at the rul ing market price.

Private Smith-"As I was remarking, since all the Christian Filipinos, constituting as they do six-sevenths of the entire population, support the Aguinaldo government, I think it fair to assume they would not engage in internecine war if they had an independent government.'

Colonel Handy-"Particularly since General Greene reported them as being 'industrious and docile.' Consul-General Williams, in a letter to Secretary of State Day, under date of June 16, 1898, says: "While the Spaniards cruelly and barbarously slaughter Filipinos taken in arms, and often noncombatants, women, and children, the insurgent victors spare life, protect the helpless, and nurse, feed, and care for the Spaniards taken

prisoners and for Spanish wounded, as kindly as they care for the wounded fallen from their own ranks.' (Page 329, Senate Doc. 62.) We all know the statement of Mr. Williams to be true. Also it is true that, so far as has been learned, all American prisoners have been well treated by the Filipinos. They are a humane, kindly people by nature, and, so far as disposition goes, are as much entitled to self-government as any people on earth."

Private Smith-"The simple assertion that they would butcher each other, if given independence, can hardly stand in the face of so much testimony to the contrary.

Chairman" I think all will agree to that proposition. Meantime authorities can be looked up so that we may know how well the Filipino is educated.

"During the discussion to-day it has been established by good authorities that about six-sevenths of the Filipinos are Christians; that the Christians are supporters of the struggle for independence; that Aguinaldo seems to have the support and sympathy of them all; that the Filipinos are not a cruel

people; that they treated captured and wounded Spaniards with great humanity, when revenge would have been expected; that the Mohammedans of the Sulu islands, who are slave-holders and polygamists, have been brought under our flag, with a guarantee that their slave-holding and polygamy shall have the sacred protection of the stars and stripes; that those Mohammedan pirates have been hired to fight the Christian Tagalos and Visayas. I hope we shall soon be able to have some facts more to the credit of our land which has been glorious because its flag represented freedom and justice."

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