Evening star., 1902-05-30

to look at what it had accomplished for
decency and justice and charity. Yet this
is exactly the attitude which has been
taken by too many men with reference to
our army in the Philippines; and it is an
attitude both absurd and cruelty unjust.
Rules of Warfare.
The rules of warfare which have been
promulgated by the War Department and
accepted as the basis of conduct by our
troops in the field are the rules laid down
by Abraham Lincoln, when you. my hear
ers were fighting for the Union. These
rules provide, of course, for the just sever
ity necessary in war. The most destruc-
tive of all forms of cruelty would be to
show weakness where sternness is de-
manded by iron need. But all cruelty is
forbidden, and all harshness beyond what
is called for by need. Our enemies in the
Philippines have not merely violated every
rule of war; but have made of these viola
tonS their only method of carrying on the
war. We would have been justified by
Abraham Lincoln's rules of war in infinite
ly greater severity than has been shown.
The fact really is that our warfare in the
Philippines has been carried on with singu-
lar humanity. For every act of cruelty
by our men there have been innumerable
acts of forbcarance, magnanimity and gen.
erous kindness. These are the qualities
which have characterized the war as a
whole The cruelties have been wholly ex-
ceptional on our part.
The guilty are to be punished; but in
Furnishing them, let those who sit at ease
at home, who walk delicately and live in
the soft places of the earth, remember also
to do them common justice. Let not the
efortleSS and the untempted rail over much
at strong men who, with blood and sweat
face years of toll and days and nights of
agony, and at need lay down their lives in
remote tropic jungles to bring the light of
civilization into the worlds dark places
The warfare that has extended the boun-
daries of civilization at the expense of bar
barism and savagery has been for centuries
one of the most potent factors In the prog
reSs. or humanity. Yet from its very ma
ture Ii mas always and everywhere been
liable to dark abuses.
1t behooves us to keep a vigilant watch
10 prevent these abuses and to punish
those who commit them but If because of
them we finch from finishing the task on
which We have entered we show ourselves
cravens and weaklings. unworthy of the
sires from whose loins we sprang. There
were abuses and to spare in the civil war
Your false friends then called Grant a
butcher" and spoke of you who are lis
tening to me as mercenaries. as 'Lincoln's
nirellngs- Your open foes-as in the reso-'
luton passed by the confederate congress
In October, 1St2-accused you at great
length and with much particularity of
"contemptuous disregard of the usages of
civilized war: of subjecting women and
children to 'banishment Imprisonment and
DEATH" of murder of ''rapine" of 'out-
RACES on women" of '1awless cruelty" of
'perpetrating atrocities which would be
disgraceful to savages;" and Abraham Lin
coin was singled out for especial attack be-
cause of his spirit of barbarous ferocisy"
Verify, these men who thus foully slandered
you have their heirs today in those who
traduce our armies in the Philippines, who
fix their eyes on Individual deeds OF. wrong
so keenly that at last they become blind to
the great work Of peace and freedom that
has already. been accomplished.
-. Peace and Freedom.
Peace and freedom-are there two better
objects for which soldier can fight Well.