The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-09-01
s.Men Uphold Your Flag"

FORT WAYNE, IND, august lU.-"We
charge murder and treason against
those men at home who encourage the
Filipinos by prete ding that our peo-
pie would consent to haul down Old
Glory"
This stirring philippe comes from
the boys at the front, from the brave
men who are fighting and suffering
and dying for their flag in the Philip
pines.
Perhaps nothing has done more in
this section to dash the anti-expan-
sionist spirit than letter just received
from one of the American heroes in
Luzon, describing the sentiments oil
his comrades in arms and denouncing
the people who lend persistence to the
rebels by leading them TO think that
they have powerful allies in America"
The writer of this letter is Corp. A,
E. Payne, who, under date of June 81
sent long personal communication
to his brother, a resident of Fort Wayne
The envelope contained clipping oil
an editorial article from Freedom, q
newspaper published in Manila. This
article printed under the caption.
"Men Uphold Your Flag!" is pronoun-
ced by Corp. Payne to be an accurate
representation of what the boys in the
Philippines think and feel. at ex-
presses our unanimous SENTIMENT
says the writer Here it is:
Would that an Anthony might arise
to-day, who would take the mangled
and mutilated bodies of our soldiers
from the battle field OF linus and hold
them up to the American people
o, Temporal o mores!
Out in the jungles of Luzon the
brave boys of the 9Th Army Corps are
planting Old Glory where freedom 8
flag ne'er waved before; out on the
plains and hills of Luzon the life blood
of American soldiers is crimsoning the
troplc sands, and at home a pack of
ghonls is swapping and snarling at the
govern ment, and with words and act
ions assisting in the murder of more
soldiers.
Gaze at these lowly forms! gaze on
these mutilated bodies! And would
that tongue or pen could have power
to lash and brand burn those who have
assisted the jungle fiends IN this most
a.rOcious work Who has assisted these
devils? Who has given aid and comfort
to these wild men of the forest? Who
in the judgment day will stand and
hear these awful words; Where is thy
brother?"
All the black crew that in ignorance
or prejudice or devilishness are ham,
pering the government and aiding in
the slaughter of volunteers and regulars
should be set up before the American
nation together with the banner-draped
bier of the soldier dead, mutilated by
savagery and barbarism Then in thun-
der tones might be heard the voice of
Columbia:
"You! You! You! You!
"You call yourselves men, Americans
You walk upright among the sons of
earth Look at these forms! The blood |
of these mangled bodies went out for
the flag-the old flag of s76. And you
foul brood, that hell will spew in dis
gust, you have done your share in this
bloody work. He'll has no depths for
you; perdition will refuse you, and pos
terity will brand you and yours with
the life-blood of these poor souls who
died that the flag might wave.
"You, by your insane acts, have
strengthened your foes; you have given |
comfort to the enemy; you have assls-
ted in the slaughter of our soldiers and
the whitening blast of heavens reveng-
ing lightning should annihilate your
soul for time and eternity"
People of America is it not enough
that the flag is at the battle front? It
is not enough that precious blood feeds
the insatiate sands? Is it not enough
that the bugle sounds the advance aud
the line in blue and brown ruslles to
the shock of war.
In Gods name, let us rally round the
flag and plant it victorious on every
serried peak of Luzon: shame on him
who cries "halt'; shame who would
trail the starry banner in the dust.
The war in Luzon must 90 on; It
was brought on by the overbearing
natives, and there is only one course
under heaven to pursue. The severe
ignity of the United States must be
acknowledged in the archipelago before
the next step can be taken. Any other
course would be folly.
Opposition to the war comes from
ignorance and party feeling.
. Why not cease this chatter about
the independence of the Flliponos un--
til the Philippine Commission has re-
ported? Why not pause to look at the
mutilated bodies of our soldiers? Deeds
OF treachery, savagery and barbarism
occur daily; in the lnsurgent ranks
assassination stalks at MONDAY.
People of America, if you have a flag
honor it: If you have government,
support it; if you have an administrat-
ion, strengthen it; if you have troops
at the front uphold them; and if you
have traitors, damn them eternally.