The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-06-27
ent, and this was in brief part the way

There has been a good deal of criticism,
and some of 1t Of an exceedingly intem-
perate Kind. about the actions of the
army over In the Philippines. THAT army
Is composed of exactly such men as those
| see here tonight. cloud applausc).
Some of you Went to cuba, some to Porto
Rico. some 10 the Philippines. and the
regulars. whom join with you In greet
Ing tonight here with the pride In their
past achievements and their present
standards. which all good Americans
should feel doud applause). have served
simply wherever they happened to he
sent.
1t Is exactly the same army that went
to Santiago. that went to Porto Rico. that
stayed in Chickanauga. because 1t was
its duty TO stay there and, If praised or IL
blamed. 1t must stand aa our representa-
tive and we share the praise or the blame
with IT.
Within the last fortnight there has
been an appalling outrage committed In
the Philippine islands. -Four men were
captured and after being kept for II little
While were, put TO death by torture. You
have heard very little of 1t. have seen
very little mention of 1t, and the reason
Is because these four men wore the
United States uniform (cries of ''yes, yes.
that is right'). For that deed. if 1t In
possible to exact punishment punishment
Will be exacted. loud applause and wav-
ing of handkerchief.
Don't misunderstood me- (crles of mo,
no'O I do not have to say that--T am
speaking to soldiers You know that any
Infringement of the laws of war will not
be tolerated for moment aud that any
man wearing our uniform who discredits
1t by torture shall not he saved from
punishment by any record of excellence
In the past. You know that (Ct'ies Of
YES. yes'D. 1T is unnecessary to say 1t.
but let the other side Of tire neral be
kept in view also. Let 1t be remembered
that of all forms of cruelty the worst
course. the most provocative Of cruelty.
is the weakness which hesitates to use
just. proper severity when Just. proper
severity Is needed. cloud applause).
Peace is almost here in the Philippines.
We have the trouble with the Moros the
Mohammedan ,lncivilized tribes in a
small part of the archipelago, but out
side of that peace has almost come and
it has come because the army of the
United States. the officers and enlisted
men. wearing the national uniforms.
bravely. quietly. uncomplainingly. and
with an iron resolution. responded to that
splendid service.
The army has gone about it's duty,
needing the foe in front as little as they
have needed the foe who should have
known better, behind Ooud and continu-
ous appause), and steadily insisting that
peace should come not by falling back
from armed resistance. but by overcom-
Ing 1T; steadily insisting that order should
be attained. 1t has gone forward until
now throughout the Philippine islands
there is a condition of greater peace than
has obtained in them from the time when
the keels of the Spanish shibs first fur
rowed the waters of Manila bay until the
present moment. tAppa,se). And more
than that.
Remember that the army has conquered
not to bring military rule. but in order
that the sphere of civil government
should he constantly extended at the ex-
pensc of military rule (loud applause). so
that. to use the language of the Declara-
tion of Independence. owing to what the
army has done in the Philippines. the av-
crage Filipino has more chance now for
life. liberty and the pursuit of happi-
ness than he ever dreamed of having or
his fathers before him until he came ,n-
der our flag. (Cries of That's good"
and loud applause)
These are the words of strong man,
a big man and one who knows he is on
the right path and is not afraid to stick
to it. They represent a growth. too,
over the somewhat boyish Roosevelt of
a few years ago. The stature of full
grown manhood, clean and vigorous. is
revealed in every syllable that we have
quoted and it is refreshing and slim
ulating to look upon it and to reflect
how futile will be the machina tons of
those who are plotting to pull that kind