The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-05-27
sEDlrI0US AGITATION.
Effects of the Trensonabie Efforts OF
the American Agui-
nnldoists.

The deplornble results of the sedi-
tious agitation in this country on the
subject Of the Philippines could never
have been set forth SO convincingly as
they are now in the interview with John
Barrett, eN-minister TO Siam. People
who have ridiculcd the idea that the
utterances of such men as Edward At
kinson were essentially of a reasonable
nature would do well TO ponder what the
ex-minister says and TO realize il they
can how advisable il is TO measure the
consequences of rhetorical inebriety be-
fore an indulgence therein.
Mr.. Barrett, who comes from a close
study of the situation, is positive that
the natives would never have made war
had ii not been for the encouragement
they received in the senate debates, and
that they would not have protracted
hostiltos as they have except for the
inspiration they received from Bryan.
Atkinson and all that class. He says
that the Boston mans pamphlets were
'meat" for the Flipinos. Mischief
making Spaniards at Manila seized upon
such literature, had il translated and
where IL would do the most harm. Not
only were the insurgents persuaded that
they had powerful allies in this country,
but some Of the documents sought To
make IL appear that Americans outside
the select circle OF the natives friends
were tyrannous and cruel. Spite OF
the remnant that would save, they
were harsh 20 subject and inferior
races and the Filipinos might read
their own future in the story OF the
negro and the Indian.
In the freedom OF our own debates
IL is OF course permissible for MS to
cTlticisc our own policies even in eN-
nggeratcd terms. But for n faction TO
20 with these criticisms TO an enemy
i'm time OF war is Infamous. The effect
which Mr.. Barrett witnessed was in
tvitable. 4 wiser people than the Fill
pinos might have taken comfort from
the wretched pamphlets, might have
looked for aid TO those Who were at
tempting 20 create a diversion against
the government in the United States.
How any American can think of the
matter without experiencing feeling
OF disgust and repulsion Il Is difficult
90 conceive.
But for others than the anti-cxpan-
sionists il will be pleasing to learn
that the success of sedition with the
Filipinos was abundantly offset by It's
! failure with the American troops. Our
soldiers were not only true TO their
duty and the law of military discipline,
rs they might have been il they had
had no relish for the war, but they
responded intuitivcly 10 the true SEN
! timent OF the people on this side OF
the water and ieered the specious adj
/ dresses that were sent out 10 convert
them into mutineers. Their reply in
i action was to fight all the harder. The
1 volunteers whom Mr.. Barrett consult
ed scorned the idea Of returning home
! IL such a course would embarrass the
campaign, and all expressed perfect
willingness to await the arrival OF
more regulars. Their spirit is revealed
in the following:
when the fighting was begun on Febri-
| airy 800 men who were on sick leave ap-
piled for permission 10 return 10 their reg
lments and got II. or the Minnesota regi-
ment. TO which Gov Lnd's statements at
tracted attention, can only say that while
the regiment was doing patrol duty In Ma
ria scores OF men took the first opportu-
nifty to skip out and 30 TO the front and
| fight when men will risk court-martial
10 fight 81 does not look M n they wanted
TO come home IN a hurry"
4 review OF the whole case should
make the agitators long, like Dickens
haunted man, for q loss Of memory
Chicago Times-lIerald.
1