Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-11-24

nea, est and dearest, merely to convince
these distant Malays Of the truth of an
abstract proposition; that it is useless to
resist the United States, right or wrong?
Is the demonstration worth the blood it
will cost? VIII it add anything to our
lndividu i rights, interest or happiness?
l. there a soul who will derive any bene.
fit from it, unless it be a few politicians,
soldiers, contractors and spectators?
And even if the glory of the United
States we've alone considered, the answer
would be the same. Mr.. Gladstone, in
all his long public career, never did
greater or a nobler act than when, in the
face of three successive military defeats,
he stopped the war in the Transvaal;
and because he believed their cause was
Just, granted to a triumphant but numer-
ically feeble enemy. whom he might ul-
timately have crushed, the freedom for
which they were contending.
Would not on: descendants, 100 years
hence, read, with a thrill of patriotic
pride, the chapter in their histories re-
lating similar magnanimous settlement
/ with The f'liipinos, lar greater than If it
coiltaih5G a further dismal record of bat
ties fought and towns taken over and
over again, with the final subjugation of
the Islands by overwhelming military
force? Is not Mr. Gladstone better
guide for Us than Mr.. Chamberlain?
Surely to maintain such contest is not
patriotic duty. 1t is not fighting for
principle; it is not even fighting for
coveted prize; it is simply fighting as
the brutes fight. We profsne sacred
name when we give the title of patriot
ism to such an outburst of animal pas
sion. Can 1t be possible that the 10Th
century civilization and Christianity Of
America are after all nothing but thin
veneer?
The people of the United States are not
a unit in favor of such prosecution of
the war, and the Plain.Dealrr well knows
it. Millions of them are opposed to it
Were it otherwise the philanthropist and
the true patriot might almost despair.
The Fllipinos have repeatedly made
overtures for peace, but have always
been met with the demand for uncondi-
tional surrender. This was not the way
in which we received the peace overtures
of Spain. 1t is not the common-sense
method of terminating any controversy.
A lawyer, who, having doubtful case,
should insist at great expense on fight
ing it to the end, refusing to listen TO
word of compromise or any suggestion
of negotiation, would justly be called
shyster, caring for his own fees more
than for his clients interests. What
should be said of an administration that
with vastly greater interests at stake
should pursue similar course in case of
war;
IL the Filipinos wish to negotiate for
settlement, do not sound policy, morali-
ty and religion all demand that we assent
to their request? Nay, more, is it not
our duty rs the stronger and more civil
lied party to take the Initiative, and re-
Numbering always that noblesse oblige,
to use our best endeavOrs to effect an
amicable arrangement that will restore
peace and goodwill with our former
allies? Let every patriotic citizen ask
himself this question, sOberlv and
honestly in the silence of his own room,
away from the beating of drums and the
waving of flags, alone with his conscience
and his God.
confidently challenge any man, from
President Mckinley down, to show any
good reason to the contrary.
DAVID GREENE HAsKINs, JR.