The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-10-25
Another Clergyman Allat Sea.

While the Ryv. Herbert s. Bigelow,
with an American flag draped above
him, was inveighing against the ad-
ministration's Philippine policy and
denouncing President Mckinley in
rhetoric that bristled with hard names,
at the Chicago meeting of anti-imper-
islists, he was interrupted by II woman
there seems to have been no man
present who had the hardihood TO make
the demand-with the imperious sum-
mons TO stake down that flag; don't
disgrace it any longer" The Rev.
Mr.. Bigelow was expressing his amaze
ment that Americans should be asked
to "wade through seas of blood so that
the blessings of stable government
might be forced upon the Fllipinos."
This sort of thing, he said, was often
sive to the American ear, though it
might do to tell it to the fellahin of
Egypt and the pariahs of India. The
Brooklyn Eagle, commenting on Mr..
Bigelow's remarks, is of the opinion
that, though the reverend brother may
be very good man in Cincinnati, he
was very unfortunate in Chicago, and
points out to the impassioned orator
the difference between cold facts and
fervid rhetoric. The Eagle says:
II the other side has servicesble wit
ness it is the fellah. However much, says
high authority, the Egyptians resent the
rule OF foreigners and the exploitation OF
their country by Europeans, they would
not return to the old system OF arbitrary
tyranny under which the mamours could
insult fog and imprison with impunity
The officials, from the Khedive down, de-
spoiled the fellahn at will palace favorites
and public functionaries turned all the
Nile water on their own lands and forced
the fellahin to dig canals and make roads
and entertainments for the benefit OF theiI
large esta es, justice was purchasable, pub
lie Office was given to the highest bidder
and the lives Of private persons were at the
mercy OF the administrative authorities,
who put them to death or exiled them with
out any form of law. Thanks to what
came to a climax at Omdurman, all this has
changed. Now the Khedive himself can
not arbitrarily modest laborer in the field
There was a sea of blood at Omdurmsp
but the fellah can call his soul his own.
The Eagle shows that the Cincinnati
minister was equally unfortunate when
he brought the pariah of India into
court. The rebutting testimony Of
another minister, the Rev. j. p. Jones
d. D., missionary of the American
Board at Madura, is thus summarized
1.-THE history of highlands contact will
India during the last century and hal
is record of perhaps the most stupen
dous work accomplished by any natior
in the progress of the human race.
The history of highlands contact will
India has been largely a contact will
the pariah. In the prosecution OF thi
"stupendous work" there has beer
blood letting, in the massacre at Gavin
pore and scores of other places. Or
this score the Eagle continues:
The Cincinnati Clergyman would have
qusrreled with the outlay. He would, haC
he been an Englishman and had he had tn,
power, have kept the Englshman out O
India and Egypt. That is to say. he would
have left the parah to his fate He would
have protested against any effort TO softer
the asperities Of life for the felahin. Ii
short, he would have done precisely wha
the Nazarene would have had no though
OF doing, the fact that he is in the service o
the Christ to the contrary, notwithstanding
What England has accomplished in Indi
and Egypt can be duplicated in all tn
islands OF the great group which has know
no peace for centuries. We have, accord
ing to the Cincinnati preacher, paid twent,
millions for a tablet on which to write tn
epitaph of the republic. With due respect
we must be permitted to disagree with him
We have paid twenty millions for an cpl
taph, but not Of the republic. On the tab
let will be inscribed something altogethe
different, for the sun of civiliz alton is abov
the horizon and the archipelago will 500
have more than mere glimpse OF it.
And this, with rational people,
conclusive Of the whole matter.