The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-29
NO RELISH FOR THE WORK

FROM well authenticated newspaper ac-
counts and, just recently, from the returned
volunteers themselves. we have learned
mat the American troops In the far East
find the task of subduing the Filipinos
most distasteful job because they feel that
the war In which they have been engaged
Is one of simple conquest against which
their American impulses and education
strongly revolt.
our troops have, of course fought fierce
ly and fought to win, when they were
ordered to fight There was too much
manhood and pride in them to permit OF
their doing otherwise, but their heart was
not in the work They were soldiers fear
iessly obeylng orders and showing no faint
heartedness IN the presence OF an enemy.
But all the time, from best accounts,
they regretted that such unpopular work
had fallen within the line of their military
duty. The private soldiers. however. have
not been the only ones to condemn n war
OF conquest in the Philippines. Two most
notable interviews have recently appeared
IN tho American press from the two most
spectacular heroes of the campaign In the
Philipplnes-Dewey and General Fred
Funston, the brave Kansas officer.
Rev, Clay McCauley missionary to
Japan, reputed to be thoroughly clever,
bright and truthful gentleman, quotes Ad-
mral Dewey as saying: Rather than
make war Of conquest OF this people
would up anchor and sail away" And it
VIII be remembered that about the time Il
was definitely determined to make war
OF conquest out Of the struggle the admiral.
who had repeatedly said that he desired
to remain at Manila until order was re-
stored, did up anchor" and sail for home!
Brigadler General Funston, who has al
ways been in the thickest Of the fight,
or on the most advanced firing line. is
quoted by Consul Wildman of Hong Kong
az saying In an interview obtained with
him by the consul:
| believe at present there should be a lttle
less gunpowder and more diplomacy. ] am
republican, but | am an anti-expansionist.
capitalists Will be greatly benefited by the re-
tention OF these islands (the Philippinesl but
outside Of the benefits to few exceptional
| individual cases / can see no advantage III
their possession by the United States.
Here is a general officer who appears to
be fond of Fighting for the sake of fight
| ing, but who indicates very clearly that
he thinks we ought to stop our bloody style
of conquerlng the natives into submission
and try gentler and diplomatic methods
He shows that he has been doing his duty
simply as soldier. without fear or hest
fancy, but that he has not relished the
methods adopted by our government for
restoring order and good government in
the Philippines. 1t Is gratifying to The
Post to find that such man as General
Funston, who has been on the ground so
long, agrees exactly with the views here.
tofore expressed in these columns that
the retention of the islands will greatly
benefit big syndicates and capitalists. but
that outside OF these benefits, In a few
advantage In their possession by the
United States.
These are view3. from true American
citizens who have the interests OF their
country first at heart, men who would
not bend the knee for any favor or to any
living man. who have shown their pa
triotism by their works and can not be
denounced as little Americans" or
"aunties." or TRAITORS" by any man or
paper In America.
Such views from such sources can not
but have their weight with the masses
and serve to fix deeper the popular grow
Ing conviction that 1t was q mistake In
ba Aret Al M. htnv Ia nd IA