The Lambertville record., 1908-09-30
PROPHETIC WORDS.
Statement of Lawton Like an Ao-
cusatior From the Grave.

SuShtiOU TTOH tHo
Among the many gallant American
soldiers whose lives were sacrificed In
the difficult task of suppresslng the
Filipino insurrection none was more
beloved either by his brother officers
or the men In the ranks than General
Henry W I.awton. He realized the
Ideal American soldier rs completely
ns any OF his contemporaries, and his
record In the war for the Union In VA.
rious Indian campaigns, In Cubn dIr.
Ing the Spanish war and In trying
work which called him TO the Philip
pines constitutes II lustrons chapter III
the annals Of American yalor. Ne
braver officer ever wore his country's
uniform. No gentler, more considerate
commander ever led his troops into
battle. No more chivalrlc leader ever
gave up his life In defense of his eoun
trys flag
General Iawton was killed In buttle
with insurrectos In the island OF Luzon
In 1900 whhe lighting at the head Of
his troops. \ short time before the
tragic close OF his career he had writ
ten 10 friend In the United States Il
letter, In which he said:
"If am shot by Filipino bullet u
might ao well come from ono Of my
own men, because | know from 90
servation. confirmed by captured pris-
oners, that the continuance Of fighting
is chiei!y dus 20 reports that are sent
out fren America"
The words of Lawton lighting a
treaeherous foe In tropical country.
were meant us n protest against the
unpatriotic 'anti-imperlallst' ngilators
here In the United States, where ey
pressons of sympathy for the insur
rectlon gave constant aid end comfort
to the enemy. Army officers of high
character and rugged experience IN
the Philippines have frequently ex
pressed the opinion that the lnsnrree.
ton would not have lasted ninety days
had il not been for the support moral
aud Otherwise, which Its leaders re
celged from their sympathIzers In
America.
chief among those sympathlzers. the
insIstent and most reckless of all. was
William Jennings Bryan, aud against
him the prophetic words of the lamcbt
ed Iawtou stand like an accusation
from the grave For his uupatrlotlc
cougl,' during the Filipino insurrection
Mr. las an lacked even the shadow Of
an excuse. He had entered the mill
tary service during the Spanish war rs
volunteer officer aud lie knew that
the var aud tde lnsurrection In the Is
lands could be concluded only with the
unqualified recognition of American
authority wherever 1t was asserted
But In spite of that he encouraged tho
Filipino to continue IN armed resist
ance and his reckless expressions IN.
doubtcdly helped TO proong n desper-
ate and costly struggle which he knew
In his heart could never end except In
the way II was ended. Mr.. Bryan's
conduct throughout that conflict. which
cost so much alike to the United States
, and to the deluded lillIplnos them
selves, amounted to moral treason. anJ
II viii never be forgiven by the sur
vlvors of those gallant men from whom
1t eSacted the last full measure of sac.
rifice In devotion to duty
The words OF Lawton will confoana
Mr.. Bryan every time he opens his
mouth to speak on the Philippines IN
the present campaign, lie cannot es-
cape them They indlct him for giving
aid and comfort 10 the armed enemies
!, Of American authority and they brand
| him as man who openly encouraged
a desperate uprising against the flag In
defense of which Lawton died