The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1908-10-01
PROPHETIC WORDS.
Statement of Lawton Like an Ac.
cusation From the Grave.

cusation From the Grave.
Among the many 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. He realized the
ideal American soldier as completely
as any Of his contemporaries, and his
record in the war for the Union, in va
rious Indian campaigns, in Cuba dur
ing the Spanish war and in trying
work which called him to the Philip
pines constitutes lustrouS chapter in
the annals Of American valor. No
braver officer ever wore his country's
uniform. No gentler, more considerate
commander ever led his troops into
battle. No more chivalric leader ever
gave up his life in defense of his coun-
try's flag.
General Lawton was killed in battle
with insurrectos in the island of Luzon
In 1900 while fighting at the head of
his troops. A short time before the
tragic close of his career he had writ
ten to friend in the United States q
letter, in which he said:
"lf am shot by Filipino bullet it
might as we'll come from one of my
own men, because | know from oo-
ssrvation, confirmed by captured pris-
oners, that the continuance of fighting
is chiefly due to reports that are sent
out from America"
The words of Lawton, fighting a
treacherOus foe in tropical country,
were meant as Il protest against the
unpatriotic "anti-imperialist" agitators
here In the United States, where ex-
pressions of sympathy for the insur-
rectlon gave constant aid and comfort
to the enemy. Army officers of high
character and rugged experience il
the Philippines have frequently ex-
pressed the opinion that the insurrec-
tion would not have lasted ninety days
had 1t not been for the support moral
and otherwise, which its leaders re-
ceived from their sympathizers in
America.
Chief among those sympathlzers, the
tnslstent and most reckless Of all, was
William Jennings Bryan. and against
him the prophetic words of the lament
ed Lawton stand like an accusation
from the grave. For his unpatriotic
course during the Filipino insurrection
Mr.. Bryan lacked even the shadow of
an excuse. He had entered the mill
tary service during the Spanish war as
volunteer officer, and he knew that
the war and the insurrection in 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
ance, and his reckless expressions un-
doubtedly helped to prolong a desper.
ate and costly struggle which he knew
in his heart could never end except in
the way 1t was ended Mr.. Bryan's
conduct throughout that conflict, which
e0st SO much alike to the United States
end. to the deluded Filipinos them
selves, amounted to moral treason, and
It will never be forgiven by the sur
viVOrs of those gallant men from whom
It exacted the last full measure of sac
rifice in devotion to duty.
The words of Lawton will confound /
Mr. Bryan every time he opens his |
mouth to speak on the Philippines in |
the present campaign. He cannot es-
cape them. They indict him for giving
aid and comfort to 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.