War’s Cheap Valuation of Human Life
How hardens the hearts of men! An incident in point is given by America's great Admiral Dewey. Manila could have been taken after the battle in the bay without firing a single shot. The surrender was all arranged, but the Spanish general in command wanted Dewey to fire upon the city. Here are Mr. Dewey's own words: "If you are going to surrender, why must I fire a shot? He said his honor demanded that, so I had to fire, and kill a few people." That is, human life was so cheap that a few persons could be sacrificed to please the whim of a conquered man! The people are spoken of as tho they were so many beeves or pigeons. Truly Sherman said, "War is hell." The judgment of God may set a different value on men.