Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-10-06
PROPHETIC WORDS.
Statement of lawton Like an Ae-
cusation From the Grave.

Statement OF lawton Like an Ac-
cusation From the Grave.
Among the many gallant American
soldiers whose lives were sacrificed In
the difficult task Of suppressing the
Filipino instruction 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 MS completely
rs 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 q lustrous chapter In
the annals of American valor. No
Drawer officer ever wore his country's
uniform. No gentler, more considerable
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 I.awton was killed In battle
with nsurrectos In the Island Of Luzon
In 1910 while fighting ut the head OF
his troops. A short time before the
tragic close of his career he had writ
ten to a friend In the United States a
letter, In which he said:
"lf am shot by Filipino bullet II
might as we'll come from one Of my
own men, because know from 90.
servation. confirmed 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 4
treacherous foe In q tropical country.
were meant as a protest against the
unpatriotic "anti-imperlalist agi.ators
here In the United States, where ex'
pressioIs 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 It not been for the support, moral
and otherwise, which Its leaders re-
ceived from their sympathizers In
America.
Chief among those sympathlzers. the
insistent 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
q 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 1t was asserted.
But In spite of that he encouraged the
Filipino to continue In armed resist.
ance, and his reckless expressions IN
iloubtedly helped to prolong a desper.
lte and costly struggle which he knew
In his heart could never end except In
The way II was ended Mr.. Bryan's
ronduct throughout that conflict. which
rost so much alike to the United States
and to the deluded Filipinos them
selves, amounted to moral treason, and
II will never be forgiven by the sur
yivors OF those gallant men from whom
It cxacted the last full measure OF sac
tifice In devotion to duty.
The words of I.nwton 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 a man who openly encouraged
q desperate uprising against the flag In
defense Of which Lawton died.