The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-27
FROM THE PEOPLE,
A CHEERFUL oPTIMIsT.

Seattle, March rs, 1900
To the Editor: Your article In Saturday 3
paper on the situation in Finland touches
ona subject which cannot fail to be of great
interest to and to appeal strongly to the
sympathy of any intelligent lover of lib
erty and justice, and 1t is not the only
case even within my recollection present.
ing similar characteristics in which we,
as nation, are powerless to intervene,
however much our sympathies as individ-
uals may be stirred up. England and Ger
many. not to mention others, have both
done things which aroused our Indignation
and condemnation, though different meth
DDS may have been used. England has
blown Sepoys from the mouths OF cannon.
shot down and slaughtered without mercy
weak tribes who were standing for coun-
try and home, and is now waging a war in
South Africa which no matter what phases
IL may assume. or what arguments may be
used to justify II. must be set down as
primarily one of greedy conquest.
War and bloodshed are terrible and hor-
rifying. especially to those who sieken
and faint at sight Of blood, but In reality
are not so cruel as those less spectacular
but really more cruel tortures which are
inflicted when strong nation like Russia
In Finland. or Germany I'm Alsace and Lor-
raine, Schleswig and Holstein. deliberately
undertakes to crush out with iron hand the
national traditions and sentiment; the Ian
guage, literature, poetry and SONGS, and
even the religion OF provinces too weak
TO defend themselves or protect what they
hold dearer than life. II is cruelty 10
cut OF a mans hand. IL is the refined es-
sence OF II to crush II slowly in a wise
until 1t is dead. and can be cut or without
pain or blood. or drops OF from decay and
putrefaction.
Yet these United States have n task
Ia ha jfk.., h.xfg
ize the West Indies and Philippines But
in doing II we shall not use an army ex-
eept for police purposes and there will be
little Of compulsion more than all eur
citizens submit to for the sake OF the gen
eral good but we viii hold out induce
ments that in the long run will not be in
effectual. We will offer them a dollar, and
a Bible, and a new story book or dime
novel. and a drink OF whisky and a chance
20 burn all the firecrackers and powder
they want to on Fourth of July. and yell
We are the biggest nation on top OF the
EARTH TO be justice OF the peace and post
master. and get elected to the Legislature
and maybe. who knows. president Of the
United States. and ALI the thousand and
one sentiments that appeal so strongly Ia
the average American citizen from boy
hood to the grave
II Is useless today 20 discuss the right or
wrong OF these things. they are before us
TO stay. II Is the tendency OF the times
that the great shall absorb the small. and
the strong the weak. and II Is upon us az
Hood which we are powsJless to stem
but must ride with II or sink and perhaps
after ALL these things are but steps in the
worlds progress.
To the optinist they are the means
through which oil men are being hrough,
up 20 the same high plane OF civilization
on which alone there can he universal
brotherhood. and TO the Christian. who a
al others Is best entitled 10 be an on.
timist. they are but the plowinEs Of the
Ruler OF Nations In bringing low the noun.
tains and fllinE up the valleys 70 make
plain pathway for the coming OF the
Prince o. Peace
NJ. w. WALKER.