New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-11
A PATRIOT, AND SOME OTHER PERSONS.

General WheelerS earnest request 10 be per
mitted TO serve his country In the Philippines
under General Otis Is the best and most efec-
tive reply which 1t was possible for patriotic
Democrat to make to the demagogues who are
casting discredlt upon that party and trying to
dishonor their country His age does not re-
strain him. nor the prospect Of serving under
leader who might n little earlier have been
under General Wheeler's command, for his pa
triotic spirit and purpose ride over all the objec-
ti0ns which personal pride might raise. lie has
been praying for opportunity TO show in this
most emphatic fashion what he thinks genuine
LOYALTY requires Of good citizen, whether
Democrat or Republican, and the President has
granted his request But what n contrast be-
tween Wheeler the patriot and Bryan or
Pingree.
Men born In States which did not secede in
1SG1. men who have never been educated from
childhood in beliefs which placed them In an
tagonism TO the United States. men who have
not felt defeat after n long struggle nor gone
home TO rebuild their fortunes after years Of
sacrifice. can know little OF the spirit which
places General Wheeler and General Lee among
the foremost OF those who fight for the flag and
the Nation. For men to whom lifetime of lip
called upon to make any saTifce for their coun-
try. there has come no task sueh ms these for
mer Confederates have welcomed. The men of
Northern birth might at least have given TO
their Government an answering II unsacrfc-
Ing allegiance, and refraned from aiding armed
foes by their public utterances. But where
Wheeler can offer his life men like Bryan and
the other demagogues cannot give up an oppor-
/ tIntr opit m
notoriety as defenders Of n savage treacherous
and corrupt rebel.
The spirit of General Wheeler If In him espe
cially honorable because Of personal reasons, Is
still lust that which many thousand soldiers OF
the Nation have shown. Like him. thousands
Of them have been Democrats, and like him ac
customed to meet with criticism or opposition
the course Of Republicans. But when war he
gan these thousands, like General Wheeler,
made the cause Of the country their own It's
President then became their President and Com
mandern-Chlef. The policy marked out by
those who were lawfully charged with response
bnity in National affairs became their own
Fighting for the flag means TO them hearty ana
unwaverlng support OF the constituted Govern
ment for these privates In the ranks have sense
enough 10 know that in no other way can the
Nation be upheld. There are many thousand
OF these men on the way home, not less loyal
for months Of trial and danger faced and depri-
walton and suffering endured. What these men
will have to say Of the political demagogues
who have been falsely charging them with muir
der and accusing them of inhumanity and cruel
ty has yet to be seen. 1t would be strange In
deed II their verdict should not be like that of
General Wheeler.
The people who have been berating the Adj
minisratiOn for discharging plain duty which
IL was not possible to escape, attributng to the
President without n shadow OF evidence base
motives for course which he could not avoid
without dshonor, evoking from their imagina-
tons philippine people" which does not ex-
ist and chosen leaders, who are In fact only
usurpers trying to force their tyranny upon
majority OF the inhabitants-lf they could see
! the contrast between themselves and General
Wheeler as history will see II, and as the civil
| lied world sees II now, would wish that death
might deliver them from n shame which VIII not
end with death The excuse Of honest error Of
opinion can he offered by some who are pro
foundly ignorant, but not even honest error Is
excuse for public utterances which give aid and
comfort TO armed foes Of the country and rem
der II necessary for other devoted patriots to go
| forward ms General Wheeler will, and TO risk
| their lives again in order that the Nation may
not be dlshonored nor fail in performance or It's