The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1902-05-24
IN OUR ARMY's DEFENSE.
Senator Lodges strong Cha9pion-
ship Of American Troops In
the Philippines.

That speech which Senator Lodge
delivered few days ago in defense
of the American troops in the Phil
ippines against the partisan attacks
made upon them will warm the
heart of every patriotic American
who reads it, even as 1t warmed the
hearts of those who heard 1t, says
the Albany Journal.
The speaker made no attempt to
deny that insurgents had been sub
jected to cruel treatment, but against
that treatment he set the barbarous
cruelties practiced by the hostile ma
tives as justification. He told, for in
stance, of the terrible fate of three
soldiers who were captured and,
while they were in helpless captivity,
stripped naked and told that If they
would exclaim: "Long live the Phil
ippine republic" they might escape
into the bush. The senator contin-
ued:
zone OF the three stood up there, naked.
in the midst OF that hostile crowd. and
cried: Long live America" They tied
him to a tree, and then men. women and
children stoned him to death. The other
two lost heart and cried: Long live the
Philippine republicv' but they were cut
to death with bolos. Do you wonder that
the American soldiers after that. went into
battle with cries for vengeance? I am not
here to excuse torture or cruelty. but
cannot condemn human nature On an Amer
lean soldier under such circumstances, as
those"
Senator Lodge said he would not in
the remotest way seek to defend
cruelties practiced upon helpless
prisoners by American soldiers, but
he protested against attacks made
against the whole army because of
isolated acts that may have been
committed by individual members or
small detachments.
Let us be just to the American
army" the speaker exclaimed. 1T is
not republican army. 1t is not a
democratic army. 1t is our army.
Don't let us condone single offense.
But let us be just, at least, to our
own. Let us remember, living here in
sheltered homes far away from the
sound and the trials of war, not only
their sufferings, but their tempta-
tions, their provocations, their trials.
When we condemn Waller for shoot
ing treacherous guides, when we
think of that little band of his that
struggled through the wilderness of
Samar, where no Spaniard had ever
gone, and came out on the other
side delirious with suffering-let us
remember the circumstances ere we
condemn"
Coming to the partisan motives for
the attack upon the army, the speaker
said that while it had been alleged
that American troops had been guilty
of cruelty and torture inflicted upon
Philippine natives, the army had been
guilty of crime greater than cruelty
in the minds of those making the at
tack. ut has been guilty of the crime
of success. 1t has been a victorious
army. 1t has put down the insurrec-
ton, ii meets now, as it met after APP
pomattox, abuse and attack, when
Grant was called butcher" In con-
| clusion he said:
when justice is done, when the guilty
have been punished for proved offenses,
when the whole story has been made up, l
DelleVe tnat, AFTER all tndt mas Deen sdlu
| and all the denunciation that has been
heaped upon our troops and our officers
| has fallen into silence, we shall find that
| in the history of the country the record
of that army, leaning with victories from
| Trenton to Manila, will shine brightly In
| the annals of the republic, when those who
vilify 1t are but blots on remembered
| name"
The applause that came from the au-
dience while Mr.. Lodge was speaking
and the congratulated which he re-
ceived from many of his colleagues
when he had finished prove that his
appeal to patriotism evoked ready and
enthusiastic response. Those who be-
lieve that partisan capital can be made
out of abuse of the men who are fight
ing under the stars and stripes to up
hold the nations honor and authority
against barbarian rebels have had theiI
say. 1t remains for them to learn the
grossness of their error. They received
their first lesson from that forcible
and eloquent speaker, that thoroughly
loyal American, Senator Lodge.
POLITICAL DRIFT.