The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-23
John Barrett Reads a Prophetic
UtteranCe Received From
Gen. LaWton
ANTI-IMPERIALISM
SOLE CAUSE OF WAR
IF | Am Shot BY a Filipino Bullet
1t Might as Well Come From
One of My Own Men"


New York, Dec 22.-At the annual
banquet of the New England society at
the Waldorf Astoria, in New York, last
night the Hon. John Barrett spoke as
follows:
In responding. to the timely senti-
ment of THE new Pacific brought into
being by the intrepid exploit of great
New England captain of the seas, and
developed by the nation meeting its I'M
avoidabIe moral responsibilities, l
would pause to perform a sad but sa-
cred duty while doing honor to the
memory of that great, generous, noble
and fearless prince of fighters and men,
Gen. LaWton, who has just fallen in the
struggle to maintain without falter-
ing Americas honor, prestige and in
fluence.
1T is fitting in this notable gathering
of New Enlanders, whose proud COM
monwealth of Massachusetts and clas-
steal capital of Boston are the homes
of the leading dissenters, that we
should give heed and approval to the
warning voice of this brave command
er, barely silenced, to a prophetic mes
sage from the uncovered grave, and to
dying protest from the MODEST Roman
of them ALL to those unhappy teach
ms which would undo the work of that
distinguished living Vermont admiral,
cast reflections on the valorous, unself-
ish efforts of the dead Indian general,
encourage our enemies to continue the
insurrection to the bitter end, and dis
aVow the achievements and train of
events that have made us the para
mount power of the Pacific.
LITTER FROM T,AwTON
I'm my hand 1 hold a warning and
message to the American people which
came to me during the last month ia
the form of a letter from this hero,
whom l not only admired and loved,
but had often seen on the firing line.
From his lonely rain sodden, heat
steamed camp in the jungle. like the
voice Of one crying in the wilderness,
yet ever cheerful and persistent, he
wrote:
would to God that the truth of
this whole Philippine situation could
be known by every one in America as
know it. If the real history inspira-
ton and conditions of this insurrection,
and the influences, local and external
that now encourage the enemy, as we'll
as the actual possibilities of these ISL
ands and peoples and their relations to
this great east, could be understood at
home, we would hear no more talk of
unjust Shooting of government" into
the Fflipinos, or of hauling down our
flag in the Philippines. If the so-called
anti-imperialists would ascertain the
truth on the ground, and not in dis
tant America, they, whom 1 believe to
be honest men, misinformed, would be
convinced of the error of their state
ments and conclusions and of the I'M
favorable effect of their publications
here.
PROPHETIC UTTERANCE.
eff am shot by a Filipino bullet it
might as well come from one of my
own men, because I know from OBJ
servations confirmed by captured pris-
oners that the continuance of fighting
is chiefly due to reports that are sent
out from America
who can question the honesty of
opinion voiced by this fearless, noble
soldier whom all the nation mourns?
Without political ambition and with
no object or purpose beyond that of
faithfully serving his country, he
speaks out the blunt, sincere feelings
that welled up from his big heart and
are confined by intimate acquaintance
with the facts he unselishly dis
cusses.
mo matter how much we respect the
NJ
ex-senator Edmunds, Senator Mason
and Col Bryan, it cannot be expected
in all frankncss, that the, American
people will follow the advice of these
men, who have never been in the Phil
ippines, or even crossed the Pacific in
preference to that of Admiral Dewey,
President Schurman, Minister DENLY,
Prof Worcester and Gen. Lawton, who
have mastered the history and condi-
lions of the problem by actual contact,
participation or association
Are we to accept the opinion of Col
Bryan of Nebraska, or of Col. Stotzen-
berg, who died leading his men on the
field of battle? The former, from his
quiet home in Lincoln, says we pro-
voked the conflict and we alone are
responsible; the latter in command of
his regiment at that point of the line
around Manila, where the firing first
began, went on record before his death,
that the Filipinos provoked the out
break after he and other officers had
done all in their power to prevent it,
and hence the Filipinos must suffer
the inevitable consequences. They
had deliberately fired upon our flag,
and there could be no satisfaction ex-
cept unconditional surrender.
COpTV puiI nPEM