Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-03-05
SHORT TALKS
Brief Comment on Political and Other
Matters of Public Interest.

Brief Comment on Political and Other
Matters of Public Interest.
Ex-Postmaster Hicks, of Philadel-
phia, declares that Ashbridge said to
him at the beginning of his term Of
office that he proposed to get all there
was in it for Samuel H. Ashbridge.
Ashbridge denies that he ever said
anything of the kind, and the people
of Philadelphia have been by the ears
for week or two as to which tells
the truth. 1t doesn't seem to make
very much difference whether Ash
bridge gave notice in advance of his
intentions He has made his word
good, whether he ever gave it or not.
He ought not kick about anybodys
saying that he once told the truth
The Army and Navy Register hauls
Roosevelt over the Goals for his shabby
treatment of General Miles, and de-
clares that it is not possible to justify
it or excuse it even on the ground
that Teddy has fallen into the habit
Of losing his temper. We predict that
Roosevelt will go out of Office one of
the most unpopular presidents the
country has had. When a man would
president it shows an exceedingly vain
streak in his makeup. His intense
egotism and his I-am-the- whole-thing
style of dealing with men and meas
ures is not likely to last him through
his term. OF course, there are toad
les who are willing to applaud any act
Of the president, no matter what it
may be, but the sober second thought
of the people will not long tolerate a
man whose conceit is his strongest
characteristic.
General Wheaton declares that So
900 soldiers will be needed in the
Philippines for at least five years yet.
AS each soldier costs a thousand dol
lars a year, and the officers who have
charge Of the butchering a great deal
more, the cost of the Philippines will
be $3.50, 900, 900 in addition to what
they have already cost, and to the pen
experience, be with us for at least rs
years. There is no doubt that General
Wheaton is right The FIlipinos are
at home in the tropical sun and are
fighting for liberty and country. Our
soldiers suffer all sorts of Affections
from the climate; those of them who
have sense enough to go in when it
rains must feel ashamed that they are
conducting murderous crusade
against a people who are as much en-
titled to their freedom as we are. 1t
is safe to predict that twice $3.50, ,000,-
900 will not subdue the Filipinos suffi-
ciently to withdraw our soldiers and
leave them to the tender mercies OF
the greedy politicians and capitalists.
General Taft, who enjoys the dis
tinction of trying to be governor Of
the Philippines, like all the other
prominent men who have mixed in it
are having a very hard time to show
just how he and God are working dill
gently for the interests of the Fill
pinos whom they love so well. He says
that they have no thought of establish
ing reconcentrado camps in the usua
sense of the term. OF course not. The
ordinary sense of the term and the
sense of every man who knows any
thing understands that such camp Is
a place where the captured women ant
children of the enemy are placed tc
be starved to death in order to force
their fathers, husbands and brothers
to give up their land to the invader
This is what concentration camps
meant in Cuba, this is what they near
today in South Africa, and it is ex.
actly what they mean in the Philip
pines, where we are doing missionary
work for the cause of the lowly Naza
rene, who never did the slightest vic
lence to man, woman or child, anC
every one of whose precepts declare
against all such treatment of any o
Gods creatures. No matter what Taf
may say that he and God propose t.
do. the whole business is damnabl,
from the start and will be to the finisf
unless the American people have {
much needed revival Of the spirit O
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