New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-09
upon its superiority over it's neighbors in such
RRdTE MEN.


The fact is frequently and pleasantly OBJ
served that the soldiers on both sides in the
Asian war are displaying valor The Russians
find in that some consolation for the grievOus
losses they have suffered. Their seamen at
ChemuIpo and their soldiers at the Yalu were
beaten and persisted. but at least they fought
brayely and fell like heroes. The Japanese
find in the same circumstance an added cause
TOR exultation over their victories Their sea-
men eagerly enlisting for a death errand at
Port Arthur, and their soldiers storming IN
trenchments with the bayOnet at the falu. have
added new lustre TO the fame of Samurai hero
ism. Nor is that all. Each side has learned TO
recognize the valor of the other. and 10 pay it
the tributes which are its due Whatever may
have been their opinions of each other before
the war, these last three months have inspired
them both with the respect which brave men
feel for each other the world around
But this is not singular nor strange 1t Is
the common rule in civilized warfare for foe
men TO appreciate each others valor or this
one of the earliest examples is one OF the most
impressive. Practically all that we know or
Hannibal we know from Romans-that is to
say, from those who We're not merely his foes,
but who opposed him and hated him with
Juror ard an intensity of bitterness unsur-
PASSED in the history of human passions. Yet
the impression produced upon us by the ac-
counts of him given to us by such foes of his
is that he was probably the greatest military
genius the world has known: certainly one of
the three or four greatest. So 1t has been in
our later wars. The desperate courage of
Southern troops at Malvern Hill and Gettys-
burg can have no more appreclatve chronicler
than some Northern historian. Cervera, at San
tiagO. found his best eulogists among those who
shot his ships 10 wreck. The most eloquent
tributes TO the valor and resourcefulness Of the
Beers of the Transvaal were uttered by their
British cOnquerors.
1t is the common rule, say, for brave men
TO appreciate brave men. To that we may add
that ii is the common rule for men 10 be brave,
and TO be, the whole the more brave
they are more civilized and enlightened His
tory does not acquaint us with n nation of
towards Some have affected TO regard the an
Gent Persians as at least effeminate and soft,
contrasted with Alexanders Greeks. Yet the
names OF Cyrus and Darius are not unworthy
Of places on the roll of heroes, and the annals
of Firdusi are no less illumined with valor than
those OF Homer. In the present case he must
have been strangely miSinstructed who did not
look for herOism in the countrymen OF Deme-
trius of the Don, and equally in the descendants
of the Samurai. We do not always remember
these things. 1t takes a war sometimes TO re-
mind us of the heroic traits of men; a fearful
cost 10 pay for even such grateful knowledge.
Perhaps some time the same spiritual energy
that produces valor in war will be found
capable of conversion into reason and forbear-
ance and justice in peace. That time is greatly
10 be desired but II is not yet here.