Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-10-31
WHEMf RUr HURT.

1ne reproduction from the pLOnlDl-
ton publication, New Voice, of the
statement of the immoral conditions
that exist in the Philippines under the
countenance of the national admins
tration, has had a startling effect
even upon republicans. The Union
of this morning seeks to counteract
that effect by placing deliberate
misconstruction on the facts as di-
vulged and illustrated by a non-parti-
san paper that had the enterprise to
send special representative TO the
islands TO CLEAN the information that
the strict censorship has prevented
getting out through the ordinary
news channels.
The story as told through the col
umns of New Voice, and republished in
The ARGUS last night, is anything but
condemnatory of the soldiers of whom
it seeks to speak in pity, rather than
censure, in discussing the temptations
and evils that are put in their way
through the military authorities under
| the present American rule. 1t is not,
could not, be source Of any particu-
lar satisfaction, to the paper in ques-
ton, or to any other publication, to
give attention to such a shock
ing state of affairs. But it is
nevertheless duty to enlighten the
people of this country of the condi-
tions, far worse than the horrors of
war. that await brave American boys
who out of the noblest of impulses
offer themselves a sacrifice, if need
be, for their country's flag. The per-
lis that ordinarily confront the SOL
der, the deprivations and sufferings
that are apt to be his, are horrible
enough, but those to whom the SOL
der is dear could in the past console
| themselves over the fact that the one
taken had given himself to the holiest
of causes, no matter what his fate, if
that fate be inflicted by his country's
enemy.
But when the worst of misfortunes
that can attend the soldier are coun-
tenanced by those charged with the
administration of his country, then
the situation is indeed appalling. The
shocking details that are given to the
world through the latest investiga-
tions in the Philippines may well
awaken public indignation, not in the
fair mind that the facts were pub
lished, not that they can honestly be
construed as a reflection on the sol
der, but that the country under the
present administration should have
degenerated to medieval practices
where the soldier, instead of being
loved and protected for his love of
country and his worth as a man, is
treated like an animal.
The narrow heads who deliberately
misconstrue condemnation of the con-
terminating influences thrown about
and in the way of the soldier as lack
of appreciation of the soldier, are so
warped in their political preiudices
that they would not have their eyes
opened by any hardship that the pres
ent administration might inflict upon
brave American boys who enlist for
love of country but are used to further
the designs of that present policy
which President Mckinley once de-
clared that according to our code of
morals would be criminal aggression"
Probably as fair an indication of the
way the christian people of the land
regard the policy that the administra-
ton has entered upon in the Philip
pines is furnished in the following
sent out from Chicago yesterday by
the American Anti-Imperialistic
league:
I'VE, the undersigned ministers of
religion, declare our deep conviction
that the war against the Filipinos is
not right. We regard it as war of
conquest and directly within Mr.. Nc
Kinley's definition of criminal aggres-
SION
I'VE refuse to accept the updemo-
cratic conclusion that because the
American people can by might govern
colonies. they ought TO do so. We
deny that either the president or con-
gress may rightfully govern any man
anywhere outside the protecting re-
straints of the constitution. We agree
with Benjamin Franklin that neither
the obtaining nor the retaining of any
trade is an object for which men may
Justly shed each others blood We
feel bound to withhold our approval
of the immoral use of the public au-
thority, even to accomplish an as
sumed moral end.
I'VE hold that what is immoral for
men TO do acting singly is immoral
for them to do acting collectively as a
nation. Each step in a course of
action must be moral If the end is not |
tainted with immortality. No end can
Justify immoral means TO secure it. |
Ii is too late to maintain the doctrine |
that in the sacred name of religion |
we may kill some men in order to
convert those who may survive |
Love, not force. was the weapon of
the Nazarene; sacrifice for others. not
of them. was His method
of reaching the human heart.
I'VE desire TO see America exercise
her influence as q world power in a
new rather than in the old way We
view with grave apprehension the
tendency to make her what other na-
tons are. We desire to see her be-
roma the suureme moral fact0r in the