The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-31
COL. JEwETT's ADVICE.
An Effort Should Be Made to Live Up
to Christian BiIEs Standard.
Manila Up. u American.

Manila (o. - American.
How are you doing these days?'' said the
judge of the Superior Provost Court
We'll. l hope I'm up to Christian Bills
standard, was the response, and then the
colonel told story and gave it local APP
phcation.
Away over on the other side Of the earth,
in Scott county, Indiana, had an old farmer
friend with plenty of sand and sense, a small
farm, a lot of the right kind of religion, and
not much of anything else. The Lord, having
made him right, left him in the rough, and
Bill let It go at that. His other name was
Smith. There were lots of Bill Smiths in that
Observation-Disclosures was Toad Bill. Ohio Bill.
Black Bill and Betseys Bill. My friend
or, rather, this particular one, for they were
all my friends = was called Christian Bill
Smith. He got the name on account of his
debating society. Several times every winter
he would have lot of neighbors at his house
for debate. Bill always made them debate
the same question; he always took the af-
firmative, and he always won. And he was
right, for there was more justice and char
ity in that little idea of his than in a great
many high-priced sermons. and it was this;
" Resolved, That every man is doing the
best he can, all things considered
L would advise my fellow soldiers to let
that simple sentiment be the spirit of the
American army in Asia toward the govern
ment at Washington. OF course, we are all
to go home when our work is done, but 1t S
not done. The war is not over. Happily
hoStilitieS have ceased, and may they never
be renewed, but the end of the war can
never come till its fruits are made secure
ana It's results assured. Inc forest is not
cleared when the trees are felled, is the
harvest ended when the grain goes down be-
fore the reaper. Our highest and most deli
cate duties are now to be performed. Let
us each do his share cheerfully and well,
and the whole will be we'll done. Don't bother
about how other people are doing or acting
just go ahead and do your part well and act
right and live right yourself.
Don't find fault with the best government
on earth. Remember that destiny has with
out much warning thrust great responsible
ties upon the American people-goVernments
to be created for Cuba, Porto Rico, Guam,
the Philippines; armies to be cared for,
transported and disbanded. Don't you think
the government is up to Christian Biils
standard? Is it not entitled to our respect
and support? Is it not unpatriotic at such
a time to criticise and denounce those in au-
thority? Thank heaven, we have never done
1t so far let us never begin.
1.-The papers are filled with cutlery about
the treatment of men crowded on Cuban
transports for a few days. Our troops en-
dured such an existence for from thirty ia
forty days. We who came early realize the
terrors and discomforts of the long voyage,
the hardships and sufferings of the subse-
quent days till Manila fell and since Moth
ing is said of this. and why? Because we
have not complained. Keep it up, and when,
having carried the flag to the far East in tri-
umph, we shall have here maintained 1t in
security and with honor, we may return with
just pride and say of the army in the Phil
ippines in the words of John Hay, slightly
changed:
d" 1t never kicked and it never fiunked,
And l reckon it never knowed how. "