Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-10-30

compelling the speedy submission or the
enemy.
1t was strange during the last session
of Congress- to read in the debates upon
the Philippines question, the words OF
utilization poured out upon our officers
and men, accompanied by what were
practically words of encouragement for
their adversaries, with never word OF
fault found for the atrocious deeds OF the
enemy, which brought about the retail
iatioti which called forth the complaints.
While we must regret the actions of the
very few of the 10000 men we had In the
Philippines, we ought in justice to re-
member, living here as we have been In
sheltered homes, without a thought OF
danger. far from the difficulty of the
hike the thickct and the ambush, the
tremendous provocations to which our
men have been subjected, and so remem~
bering, beg of the Recording Angel that
1ie, with us. might drop a tear upon their
record, and blot 1t out forever.
Compare the history of the English in
India, the Dutch in Java, the Spaniards in
their once world wide empire, or even our
own dealings with the Indians, with our
work and its results during the last four
years in the Philippines and OBJ
serve the controst 1. has been
indeed a hard task, and nobly
has it been performed. Men skill
ed during long experiences in dealing with
Oriental peoples, have publicly proclaimed
the fact of their belief that our methods
have been entirely too lenient, that as the
Oriental respects only strength we have
too much concealed our power; and it is
no doubt that one of our troubles has
been that 1t is extremely difficult to teach
the Filipnos that magnanimity does not
mean fear, and that mercy does not mean
cowardice. But the lesson has ut last been
learned. as perhaps it is best it should
have been learned, and the patient Gov
crnor Taft sees at last the reward of his
work. in the willing participation Of the
best of the natives in the kindly rule of the
Americans, of whom he is such n distin-
guished representative. Pence, we are
told, hath her victories no less renowned
than those of war; and what more glor-
ious action has ever been seen than Gov
ernor Tafts return from n wcll-earned
rest to die among the people for whom he
has done so much. We are too near to
the events of the last four years to judge
them with the proper historical perspec-
tive. but / venture the prediction that the
future historian of tn overthrow of the
Spanish domination, and the rise of the
great Republic to recognized place
(Which is soon to be the chief among the
powers of the earth, will voice the ver-
diet of the World that never was there a
war so shortly and completely finished
on both land and sea, never was there
such a dramatic contest waged never was
there such mdgnanimity exhibited by the
victor to his defeated foe. and that never
was there Il war conducted on such hui
name principles; and though we are even
now still hearing the rumbling of the So
called anti-imperalist complaints and
though We have lately seen an officer of
| high rank, after more than 40 years of
faithful service, and bearing the scars
of battle upon his body, put aside pre-
maturely with gnomny in response to the
clamor of an unreasoning public. this his
record
policy upon which war should be con-
Quoted, when nation Is so unfortunate
as to become involved in hostilities is to
wage that war as relentlessly as possible,
in order to make the enemy feel the
truth of General Sherman's statement that
War is hell" as quickly as possible; and
that n few lives sacrificed speedily, and
perhaps with what at the time seems
cruelty. will, in the end, result in saving
not only very many more lives, but much
greater cruelty of suffering if hostilties
are prolonged: then, when this history is
at last written. long after it is possible
to give personal vndiCation to a faith
full officer, his policy will be recognized
as the only one possible, with which a
savage enemy must be encountered
Doubtless there Is much yet to be accom-
plishcd. to lead the various tribes of peo.
pie placed, as | believe, by the fiat of the
Almighty. under our protection into the
paths OF liberty and freedom as exem-
pliiied in the democratic organization OF
the American people, it is unquestionably
the hardest task our people have ever un-
dertaken, but the duty has been placed
upon them. and they Will rise to their re-
sponslbilities in this case, as in all Others
that have been forced upon them: assur-
eddy not with perfect success. but with
better results teVen Though they be not
perfecO than those shown by any other
nation that has ever been placed in like
circumstances. Just as every man Is born
INTO the world mas laid upon him n certain
duty to make the world better because
he has lived in 1t, so IT Is with nations
and peoples; each has some special part
to play in working out the history of
mankind; and it seems to me that the
! part of the worlds work laid upon our
| country, is that of plain straightforward
| dealing with all peoples; the display of the
Anglo Saxon virtues of truth ana honor
| between nations. as between individuals.
America is set To be the peacemaker of
| the world. Think. for moment of the
work accomplished by our soldiers In
| China; what an example of straight for
| ward manly dealing with all with whom
| our small contingent were thrown in con-
| tact; how General Chaffee, with the most
| sublime disregard of diplomatic squabbles.
| or of military rank or precedence, an
nounced his intention of marching at once
| upon Hciin, and thus set in motion the
work which he. and presumably the other
| commanders, was sent TO perform, viz
! the relief of his Countrymen beleagured
| within the hostile wall of the Yellow City;
and all through the campaign his con-
| duct was such as to render the American
| flag the most honored by the Chinese
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