Final answer:
The irony in the American treatment of Filipinos during the war lies in the contrast between American ideals of liberty and the imposition of imperialistic control over the Philippines, contrasting with the actions that involved brutal subjugation and denial of self-governance to Filipinos.
Step-by-step explanation:
The irony in the American treatment of Filipinos during the war is found in the stark contrast between the American ideals of liberty and self-governance and the harsh realities of their imperialistic practices. Despite justifying the intervention in the Spanish-American War as a defense of Cuban freedom, the U.S. subsequently denied the Filipinos the same liberty after defeating Spain. Anti-imperialists and antiwar activists highlighted the moral contradictions of a nation priding itself on freedom while engaging in the colonization and brutal subjugation of another people. Soldiers' letters home and candid reports of atrocities, such as the implementation of the 'water cure,' raised questions about American actions. Even a U.S. senator at the time, Albert J. Beveridge, used a paternalistic argument to justify American imperialism. Moreover, African American soldiers like David notably defected to the Filipino side, fighting the imperialistic force of their own nation, which used racial slurs against them and Filipinos alike.