The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-10-16
PROPHETIC WORDS.
Statement Of Lawton Like an Ac-
cusation From the Grave.


Statement Of Lawton Like an Ac-
cusation From the Grave.
Among the mry gallant American
soldiers whose lives were sacrificed In
the difficult task of suppressing the
Filipino insurrection none was more
beloved either by his brother officers
or the men IN the ranks than General
Henry w. Lawton. lie realized the
ideal American soldier as completely
MS any OF his contemporaries, and his
record IN the war for the Union, in va
rious Indian campaigns, In Cuba dur
ing tho Spanish war and in trying
york which called him TO the Philip
glncs constitutes a luStrous chapter in
tte annals of American valor. No
srayer officer eyer wore his country's
uniform No gcntcr more considerate
commau Ter ever led his troops into
battle. SO more chivalrlc leader ever
gave up his life in defense of his coun-
try's las
General L1Uton was killed in battle
with inslrrcctos in the island of LuZon
In 1900 While n-hting at the head OF
his troops 4 short time before the
tragic close OF his career he had writ
ten to a friend i'm the United States
letter. In which ne said:
"lf an shot by g Filipino bullet il
might as we'll eome from one of my
own mc1, because know from oo-
servatioa, oonIirmed by captured rris-
oners, that the continuance of fighting
is chiefly due to reports that are sent
out from America"
The words Of Lawton, fighting a
treacher1us foe in a tropical country,
were meant as a protest against the
unpatrio-ic "anuimperlallst' agitators
here in the United States, where ex-
presslons Of sympathy for the insur-
rection gave constant aid and comfort
to the enemy, Army officers of high
character and rugged experience in
the Philippines have frequently ex-
pressed the opinion that the insurrec-
ton would not have lasted ninety days
had IL not been for the support. moral
and otherwise. which its leaders re-
ceiycd from their sympathizers in
America.
chief among those sympathiZers, the
inslstcnt and most reckless of all. was
William Jennings Bryan, and against
him the prophetic words Of the lament.
ell Law,ou stand like an accusation
from the grave For his unpatrioic
course during the Filipino insurrection
Mr. Bryan lacked even the shadow OF
an excuse. lie had entered the mill
tary service during the Spanish war as
volunteer officer and he knew that
the war ana the iusurrection I'm the is
lands could be concluded only with the
unqualified recognition of American
authority wherever it was asserted.
But In spite of that he encouraged the
Filipino TO continue In armed resist
tnCc. aul his reckless expressions un-
fouhtedly helped 20 prolonC n desper-
ttc and costly struggle which he knew
IN his heart could never end except I'm
The way &c was ended. Mr. Bryau's
tonduct throughout that conflict. which
tost 50 much alike To the United States
tnd to the dcluded Fillpinos them
selves. amounted 90 moral treason. and
{ Will never bc forgiven by the sur.
vlvors OF those gallant men from whom
{ cNactcd the last FUN measure OF sac
tdcc In devotion 90 duty
The words Of Iawtou win confound
MIR Bryan every time he opens his
mouth to speak on the Philippines I'm
the present campaign. lie cannot es.
cape them They indict him FOR giving
aid and comfort % the armed enemies
OF American authority and they brand
him as man who openly encouraged
a desperate uprising against the dag In
defense Of which Lawton died.
ge.l.IpIeIEzI-ls!sly 80.