Washington sentinel., 1899-07-22

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Joint forces could have met the at
tack. II we convert ten million
friends to ten million enemies, our
position is weakened by twenty
millions. 1t is just as hard to see
any military advantage that we
have gained bv our breach OF faith
with these people as it is to see the
commercial advantages we are to
reap from that "open door" trade
arrangement, by which competi-
tors nearer the field, with lower
freight charges, can undersell US,
and by which we are to give he
Eastern world an instructive object
lesson against our high protective
tariff policy, to the infinite delight
Of our English cousins, and to the
utter disgust oi our bone consum-
ers, when the market price Of com.
petitive articles at New York shall
/ DG AlG lCt Nlldl dA N1 duiAd.
The attitude Of our imperialistic
preachers and church newspapers
is one Of the most surprising
phenomena OF the war. Some Of
these representatives of the lowly
Nszarene evince a boasttul spirit
Of world grasping political ambi-
tion, and a callous indifference to
the blood letting going on in the
Philippines that would better
typify pagan Rome than Christian
America. These good men, no
doubt, have persuaded themselves
gradually into the belief that they
are affected only by sincere de-
sire to promote the mission work
ne Gospel. But in diagnosing
their cases, one can scarcely tail to
discover, as a subtle irritant to
their mistaken ierVor, a latent de-
sire (of which they are, OF course,
unconsciousl, to strike blow at
another church which at least ac-
knowledges the same God and the
same Saviour. Nothing can beget
a higher elevation Of soul than a
broad and charitable acceptance
Of the religion OF Christ. But
nothing is more destructive to wise
political action than religious
lanaticism and sectarian conten
tIon.
Religious freedom in the Philip
pines was an assured thing when
SPANS power was broken, and
the denial o independence to the
Filipino Republic, with the con-
sequent slaughter Of Filipino patri-
OTIS by American soldiers, must
surely retard the efforts Of our
Protestant missionaries to gain a
favorable harrington new religion
or a new church against 'he old.
From what sext in the Bible could
one of our missionaries now preach
a sermon to the FIlIpinog, without
either condemning the conduct OF
his own country or provoking a
smile of derision from his hearers2
He might enthuse over the ex-
alted precepts Of Christianity, but
he would not dare 20 try to enforce
them by citing our example as a
Christian nation.
If the rewards and punishments
Of moral laws attach to nations as
to individuals, we will have to pay
a penalty tor our conduct toward
the Fllipinos. That penalty will
come not only in lives and treasure,
but in the bunting OF our national
conscience and in the lowering Of
our political ideals, which always
help to lift people out OF the mud,
even though they may not raise
people to the stars,
The conclusion OF the whole
matter is, that while our soldiers,
ever obedrent to orders, and brave
in the face Of perils, are winning
the plaudts which the world al
ways gives to heroism, our Ad-
ministration is writing one Of the
most shameful chapters in the
whole history Of American states
manship.
The people Of the United States
still have it in their power to re-
gain much that has been lost. Let
them stop this unrghteous war and
recognize the Filipino Republic.
Such an act would not be evidence
Of cowardice, but proof OF love
OF Justice. Our Administration
needs less rarity pride, more, more
genuine patriotism, and a higher
type of moral courage--the cour.
age to do right.
ADMIRAL SCHLEY was in com