Does the Outlook know that our soldiers say that they were ordered to fire on white flags? Does it remember that since February 6th, when audience was refused to Aguinaldo, these people have had no chance to be heard? Does the Outlook know that some regiments of United States troops have "taken no prisoners? " Does the Outlook know that the general in command is described as a man who rarely leaves his office, where he conscientiously devotes himself to the adding of accounts, "to the work of a quartermaster's clerk?" Does it know that the simple-hearted, loyal hero of Manila is conscientiously sacrificing his reputation and his judgment because he serves the United States under the orders of the military commander? Does the Outlook know why all the general officers who can get away, escape from Manila? Can it be as the soldiers say that they would avoid responsibility for what they cannot help? Does the Outlook realize that few of the officers at Manila have any military training, and that over many of the bravest troops in the world are placed as commissioned officers men who were lawyers, insurance agents, printers, elevator boys, bartenders, and drivers of beer-wagons, a year ago in civil life? Does the Outlook realize the effect of the promiscuous looting of towns and the murder of " every man that sticks his head out of the door" on the men engaged in it? Some of them glory in it. rabbit drive on a grand scale." idea of war and everything and "It is like a Colorado More loathe the very every man concerned Does the Outlook realize the effect on the country when both these classes return home? One soldier says, "If the United States were on fire from end to end, I would never raise my hand to put it out." Another would " toss in a blanket the officials at Washington, as we toss a cheating corporal." Another says in print, referring to the abuse of the soldiers by their superiors in pay: 66 Yes, I knew that war would be hell before I got into it. But I did not know that war would be Hell deliberately and fanatically inflicted. I expected to sleep in mud puddles with my head on a stone for a pillow, and go hungry for days on forced marches and away from a base of supplies. But I never dreamed that I would have to sleep in leaky and exposed sheds when there was plenty of good shelter elsewhere, and when thirty officers had fine apartments in which there was room for five hundred men ; neither did I expect to be fed on coffee grounds and foul canned meat for weeks when we were right next to a base of supplies, and when our officers lived on the choice of the commissary's department. Now any young man whose ire will not arouse at such deliberate deviltry is not worthy to live under despotic Russia. Does the Outlook believe that a country as large as California and with about as many people as Mexico, and quite as capable and civilized on the average, can be subdued by any army the American people will maintain? Can it be held when once subdued? Why must it be subdued? Why ought it to be? are. It is true enough that not all these people are in arms against us. But all with whom we have come in contact If we try to bring "Law and order" to Mindanao, do we not know that the whole island will be in flames? Has the Outlook heard from one high in authority, that we have "to kill off half the population" of these islands Does in order "to give good government to the rest?" the Outlook realize "what is the character of that calm when the law and the slaveholder prevail?" Has it heard from high authority that "we must hold up the American flag even if we shoot down ten millions of niggers, dagoes and missing links?" It may be that its staff will become so bloody that no free man will grasp it. Does the Outlook believe that the commanding general with 30,000 troops, mostly volunteers held over time, will conquer the Filipinos in a thousand years? Has the Outlook read the history of the Straits Settlements? Does the Outlook believe that with 100,000 men, a brave Indian fighter can conquer these people in five years? Does the Outlook know the story of Achin? Is it true that our Consul at Manila declares that he does not expect to live to see the end of this war? Has the Outlook read the story of Mexico? Does it know how a feeble people cast off an alien yoke and spurned foreign help, developing at last into a peaceful, strong and orderly nation solely through forces within. itself? Now it may be that soldiers exaggerate the things they have seen. Perhaps so. I may be deceived by them, and the nightmare I have conjured up may be my own and theirs. But the men I have trusted had learned to see clearly when they left California. Their words are not so mild as those I have chosen. If the Outlook knew all that has come to those of us in California who have sought for the truth, it would set up no plea of mitigation. The magazines are full of stories of "What I did in Cuba" from officers who took part in that campaign. But no one prints "What I saw in Luzon." Not glory but the court-martial awaits the man who saw. If it were seen by the country, the country would burn with wrath hotter than the flames that consumed Malabon. In such case, what is the duty of the President? What is the duty of Congress? What of Christian citizens? What of the editor of the Christian journal? Do what you will with the Philippines, if you can do it in peace-but stop this war. It is our fault and ours alone that this war began. It is our crime that it continues. The authority to "strenuous life" We make no criticism of the kindly and popular President of the United States, save this one: He does not realize the wild fury of the forces he has unwillingly and unwittingly brought into action. These must be kept instantly and constantly in hand. do rests with him alone, and if ever was needed in the nation, it is in the guiding hand of to-day. The ship is on fire. The Captain sleeps. The sailors storm in vain at his door. When he shall rise, we doff our hats in respectful obeisance. If we have brought a false alarm, on our heads rests the penalty. |