The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-09

to have but mild form of that pestilent
period of the tropical year. Yet our mem
DRY of the brief campaign on Cuban soil
with its effects is fresh enough to give
us warning of the peril which our brave
and devoted soldier boys beyond the Pa
citic seas are about to face. And If men,
DRY were duller than it Is the new-made
tie grassy mounds, and the gaunt
shadows of erstwhile robust men return
ed from Santiago to wear out the rem
nant of their feeble lives among us,
the approach of this death-dealing sea-
son in Cuba now, the army of occupa-
ton, as we may see, day by day, is hur
riedly withdrawn for its preservation, as
happily 1T may be. But IN the far-off
Philippines, the army, perforee, marches
on and in. suffering even now from the
ravages of an adverse climate The hot
season reigns there. and the heat grows
daily more and more intense and oppres-
sive. Prostrati tons from this cause among
our troops have already reached threaten
ing proportion How short time opera
lions in the field can be carried on under
these conditions is scarcely problemati-
cal.
But this is not all nor the worst that
threatens. The month OF May will bring
the frequent and terrific thunder storms
which are the forerunners of the rainy
season that holds its full revel until
September. During that period of many
months the ceaseless rain comes down
in torrents. and the lower country sinks
under flood. The swirling waters rush
over the riven soil. tossing buried putres-
cence to the surface to infect the fetid
air The sun, unseen, still sends its burn
ing heat through to the earth, sucking
injection forth in poisonous vapor. De-
struction, disease and death are everv-
where. There is no war that may be wag-
ed save that which natures forces wage
upon each other. and all on hapless man.
Such slight mitigation as there may be
against the evils of the time can only
be found in the cities of the coast. The
interior is hopeless There the army no
longer marches on. but sits dull and
dumb in the dismal swamp, awaiting the
| only relief that comes or can come to
what Is welded to destruction.
1t Is a horrible picture this, but there
Is not one touch of color in it darker
than the reality. Whatever may be the
varied thought of the people of the Unit
ed States on mooted questions of ex-
that will dare set the American army,
or any part of it, in such a frame? A
Few weeks. at most, must make or break
the present campaign, for whatever re-
mains unaccomplished within that time
must walt for another day and season.
Nor can the territory over which the adj
vance Of our troops has passed be held
by occupa ton. during the rainy season.
II 1t were attempted September next
would md 1t tenantless of the living,
and from Manila to MaIolos the wav
would be marked by our soldier dead.
The best possible provision must be made
to meet this impending evil. The natio,
Will watch with anxious eyes the prog
ress OF events in the Philippines during
these coming days. For this people. while
demanding protection of American rights
and the honor of the American flag do
not ask that their soldiers, under pre-
tense of such action. be fed to pur-
poseless but inevitable death.