Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1899-03-24

J. ii. GRABILL.
THE FOLLOWING quotation Is pres-
nant with meaning: "Gen. Otis,
with avery large force, is driving out
the Filipinos, and this means that heI
is moving them down like cat le, for
they are obstinate and will not give
in"
We haye received the reports from
but one side. Persons who were
readers of Northern journals during
the civil war well know how easily
they transformed defeats and repulses
into brilliant victories and how shame.
lessly they misrepresented their OPP
ponents upon every matter. We
know, from our reports, that the
American losses in this war are
nearly 5000. We know that the
Filipinos have with inferior arms
boldly stood up in defence of their
homes, their wives and their children;
and while thus periodically fighting
for all that man holds dear have been
ruthlessly "mowed down like cattle"
by the gattlins guns and other i'm
proved arms of the Americans.
Another dispatch tells how these
people were driven from their town,
their homes burned, the number Of
new made graves, how the uncovered
bodies of their dead lay upon the
the ground or hoatel down the river,
and when the Americans fell back,
how these home loving Fiipinos were
found back among the ashes of their
former homes, surrounded by the
dead bodies of their kindred, "for
they are obstinate and will not give
In"
In fact, they have the obstinacy Of
Geo. Washington and the patriots
who fought for independence in our
own land.
What is the occasion of this great
slaughter of these poor inhabitants of
that beautiful island OF the sea? To
answer truthfully, it is an illustration
ofPuritan humanitarianism.
The liberty loving United States
have purchased these islands from
Spain for s2O,OOO,OOc, and now ell
deavors to Subjugate and cnslave
eight or ten millions of people who
are fighting for independence. How
our hearts bled when we read of the
cruelties of the Spanish government
towards these people and those of
Cuba The Spaniards, however, did
not destroy their homes and we have
destroyed them. They did not NOW
down their people as we have mown
them down. The Spanlards cndeayor-
ed to hold the islands, because they
had been theirs for centuries. We
lave forced the Spaniards to retire
and to sell their ownership to us, at
our own price. We have sent our
formidable war vessels and our I'M
proved engines of destruction and
our armies in order to do that which
Spain could not do and for which
we fought them for trying TO do.
We know not the end. We may yet
excite the true humaniiariaaism Of
the world, and be compelled to fight
for the principle which actuated Spain.
We are trampliug under foot the
n pble sentiments Ofour own dcclara-
ton of independence. We are bring
ing disgrace upon republican form
of government and we will he classed
among nations that ars willing to ell
gage in war for the sake OF spoils.
Notwithstanding these facts, we
find ministers Of the gospel, indiyid-
ually and in their conferences rs a
body, justifyiug such deeds and teach
ing the people that it Is Destiny oP-
ening the way for missionaries. Such
ministers disgrace he robes which
they wear and the pulpits which they
fill If they can conscientiousy teach
that war so conducted by a milton
is in accordance with the will Of Il
Justice loving God, they can with
equal propriety con 'cieatioasly just
fly every crime committed 10y in liyic-
uals AID place the respon iDility upon
God. They deserve to be driven
from the holy temples which they
desecrate and their places filed by
men who will pre- sch pence and good
will towards man.
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