Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-21


| McClure's, mot counting those who are born
| fools, come into the world and pass through
| it without ever having had an experience
| of physical fear; but these men, even when
| you include the fools, are not a majority or
even considerable minority of mankind"
He is describing the gallant advance
| through the jungle and up the heights of
San Juan under withering fire of bullets
| 1t was novel and a trying experience;
men were livid with fear, but determined to
do their duty.
A young officer, whom Bonsal knew, was
so changed in the expression of his face that
the correspondent hardly recognized him.
His company had been halted for minute
by the little hillock behind which 1 lay in
almost perfect security, and where there
was security for others, too. But he had to
go on, leading the hundred men who would
obey him implicitly, who would follow him,
either right up to the enemy's lines, or in
| cowardly flight off the field, just as he said,
just as he led. Seeing my anxiety at the
suffering l had surprised in his face he
said:
" I'm sweating blood with fear; but will
go ahead all right, and keep my men in
line, too, never fear
He went on, and by force of character
and unwavering devotion to duty carried
of fire.
That evening l listened to those who
told how gallantly he had died at the head
of his company in the charge up the heights,
and thought then, and have thought many
times since, that although many died there,
and there was much glory, no one showed
such herosm or was deserving of such
praise as this man, who was born coward
and who died at the head of the charge with
the bravest of the brave"
The brave officer forced his reluctant body
to go where it was duty to go. "If you knew
where l am going to carry you today" said
Marshal Turenne to his trembling knees,
as he mounted his horse to ride to the front,
you would quake more than you do"
The most striking feature Of the conditions
exploited in Uncle Sans islands is that
American workingmen are not wanted in
any of them. Whatever may be the value Of
Cuba, Porto Rico, Hawaii and the Philip
pines to the country, all observers concur in
saying that it would be suicidal for Ameri-
can labor to attempt to compete with the
home article. Immediately after the annex
alton of Hawaii warnings were sent broad
cast against emigration of workingmen to
the island. Similar warnings now come
from Cuba and Porto Rico. In the Philip
pines there is absolutely no chance for
white labor. correspondent of Leslies
Weekly, writing from Manila, says: mo
American or European can compete with the
present labor conditions; and even admit
ting that he could, or that conditions will
change, the climate is an insurmountable
barrier"
Leslie's Weekly goes perlously near the
ragged edge of treason in speaking of Agui-
naldo in a complimentary tone. 1t does not
class him as "rebe" or an migrate, or
even an "insurgent." On the contrary, it
expresses admiration for this brilliant
young man. whose life story sis unsur-
passed in romantic fiction. Leslies says the
ideals of Aguinaldo are "the great leaders
of modern times, like Grant, Wellington and
Bonaparte.' Imperiaists should suppress
this style of fattery, especially as it tends
to smother the beacon fires of Asiatc con-
quest glowing in the neghboring Sun Office