Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-08-29
A PROTEST AGAINST
NATIONAL DiSH0N0R

Academy, yesterday week at Ashfield,
Macs. Prot. CHARLES Eliot Norton OF
Harvard University delivered power
full protest against the dishopor IN
Hicted upon the nation by the course
OF the administration towards Cuba,
Porto Rico and the Philippines.
Most skilfully and soathingly, in the
opening portion OF his address, did
Proi Norton portray the enornity OF
Our national crime, and the amazing
indifference with which many people In
| this county have contemplated our
national dishonor. "Ara we morally 80
deaf,' he. inquiries, THAT we do not
| henr the reproachesof men to whom We
/ ba, Q broken our promise OF independ-
ence, and the bitterer upbraidings OF
thoge who had learned from our teach
| ing that liberty is worth dying forY
| Can we stop our ears to the cries and
| sobs OF innocent women and ohildten
whom We have made desolate nutcasts;
| 10 the groans of men whom we have
| shot down because they stood up
| against US In defence Of what were once
our principles, Of their rights and their
honor? What sin, what folly, what
shame. are ours! ~
And then he represented these tolerant
people as easing their accusing cum
sciences by saying: "Why dwell on
these things on which We have already
beard quite enough, when there are so
many pleasanter topics which might
better suit this oocasionY Are you not
aware that your opinions are sufficiently
known. and that they are not acceptable
to the people? Why cannot you be
silent, and IL you do not approve at
least submit to the popular verdiotY
Why neediessy expose yourself, lover
OF Tranquility and retirement, to the
penalties OF newspaper notoriety and
vulgar abuse? The nation has. indeed,
as you say, waxed fat, but this has
not spoiled IL. We admit that We have
broken faith with Cuba, but 1T lis for
her advantages: she will be the better
off for not having the independence we
promised her, and never really meant
to give her. We intend TO DO right by
the Filipinos; we are imposing our
will upon them for their benefit; we
call them rebels and aavages, hut We
don't really think them So, and If
, they'll only stop fighting we'll do them
Justice, give them better institutions
than they could devise for themselves,
and all the freedom that Is good for
! them. Let thugs take their course
!, Mr.. Mckinley is good man, and means
,, Just AZ right as we do. 1t will all
come out well in the end. ~
Such talk as this, Prof. Norton main
tanned, shows why a man who does not
| believe that good intentions are an
: excuse for i'll deeds, or that Indifference
to the misuse of national power ia a
good sign of national character, mar
! who desires to see his country take
: advantage Of her unparalleled oppor.
sa.. T. L. r.. H.. Inn.
hold his peace. His words may be
: tirssome, may he little needed, may bt
! scoffed at as those OF an old man wht
Z cannot keep up with the times, but hit
:, conscience will not let him be silent
! l1And when popular sentiment has gon,
: wrong, when many of those who SHOULD
" guide IL Alright are misleading it, whei
q many even of the protested minister
4 Of the gospel of peace on earth ant
', COED will to men have become tn
! apologists of war, and the defenders o
i spoliation, then above all IS there meet
= oil pIaip speaking Oh the part of thos
:, who do not believe that the moral lay
/. can be violated with impunity by al
- individual man, or 10y that aggregation
!. Of individuals which we call nation
= Not fate, nor fortune, nor destiny. no
- exyediency, nor Providence, can aIfor
\, valid plea In excuse Of wrong doing
i And then, himself propounding IN
i natural question of the apologists VIII
y he should use srch harsh and offensiv
words in regard to our national foil
and shame, Prof. Norton said, IAN
a., | reply, for two reasons; one, that the
in are the absolutely correct and apprc
pirate terms for it; the other, that tn
to apparent failure of our people TO recop
| IL ab If pttr fiaaHa
10 one OF the worst signs Of the times
ID Even rieht.minded men and wome
q seem to forget that in democracy lik
IN ours they have a share Of responsibility
nj in regard to the conduct OF publ
er affairs. President Mckinley listens, Q
Ga he tells us, with his car to the groun
e, for the voice OF the people; but tn
~ man who keeps his ear to the ground
IL not likely TO catch the voice OF tn
er people who stand upright, much les
t. any voice from heaven. My friendE
we all are more or less responsible fc
70 the shame OF broken national pledgel
Y for tho folly and the sin Of cruel hostii
I'D ties, underwriting of the name of wa
70 II is we who are paying for tine KILN
DO OF men, the burning of villages, th
a. subiugation of people over whom "
q. have no right whatever. liz is not
is pleasant thought that the shot whic
ng stretced sumo poor Filipino on I'll
g. ground was fred by hand for who's
no murderoua service you and have bee
be compelled 20 contribute payment.
nc at least, and those who think as d.
h, will not cease to protest that great
wrong is done TO us Americans tina
to the Filipinos themselves by the
degrading and criminal hcstilities. "
tes or the war itself, and of what hi
Ire been done in the name Of liberty to
he people whose only crime 10 tiehting Y
,re freedom. Prof. Norton gave this pictur
Ior tsThe report of Maior-G General Nh
Arthur, dated on the 4th OF July, rea'
IN as a satire ON our familiar Fourth
he July oratiuns. There is no FilipiI
H. army in the held, but from the LIST
gs last October, when our army oooupit
be Alb stations, the number OF the statio
,g- has ''of necessity been Increased
nd 500, and each of them "had been in co
,3S tact with some hostile force - Fro
j4T May 9TH, 1900, to June Both, 1901, the
AL were 1,026 contacts" .euphemis
nd for fights, between our troops and tho
whom the general calls " insurgents.
ed or Thesis insurgents, whom wou
Ter rather cnll innoceuts, We succeeded
he killing 1854 and wounding l,193i '
asst made prisoners of cog, and receive
IS. the surrender Of %, 095.
The most glorious event OF the peri'
da was the capture, by trick 80 mean
oss to make traitor blush, of the leader
his reople, once our friend and all