Excusing Atrocities in the Philippines
By L. A. S.
It is very significant of the nature of the spirit which is becoming dominant in this republic, that the effort is made on the part of those high in governmental authority to excuse and belittle the iniquities perpetrated under the American flag in the Philippines. We refer to those things which have been done by American soldiers and officers in those islands, contrary to the rules of “civilized warfare,” such, for example, as the infliction of torture to extort information from prisoners. At first it was denied that such things were done at all; but when the proof of them became so conclusive that denials could no longer be made,— when the persons charged with these iniquities openly admitted that they had done them,— then, instead of disavowing them and expressing deep regret that such dishonor should have come upon the republic, and taking steps to right the wrongs as speedily and completely as possible, American history is searched by officials and others here to see if it does not afford some precedent by which such things can be justified! In Congress and out of it, by statesmen, newspaper editors, and other public men, the effort is made to prove that such things are really proper and right after all, notwithstanding certain contrary sentiments which have been associated with this government heretofore. Savagery has become a thing to be imitated by those representing the world’s highest civilization. This is a sign of the times, and may well admonish us of the speedy coming of the day when men everywhere will be given over to the sway of intemperance and carnal passions, separated from all good by the complete withdrawal of the Spirit of God. Yet a little while the day of probation lingers, before the night cometh, in which no man can work. L. A. S.