“You must pardon these men,” he said.
“Must is a strong word,” returned the Judge, flushing.
“The reasons behind it are strong,” continued the Jesuit. “The deed they did, while irregular, has simplified matters amazingly, by removing the head and cause of the schism, so that they did you an inestimable service. You can not afford to show ingratitude toward what they did.”
“But it was murder.”
“Manslaughter, perhaps. America is at war, not only with Spain, but also with this schisms, and all war is manslaughter. Rainey’s victory was manslaughter. Manslaughter among soldiers is not a crime.”
“It seems to me you assume a great deal in saying that we are at war with this schism.”
“You will be, which is the same thing. The Aglipayans over all the archipelago are in arms.”
“Yes, and this deed precipitated it.”
“Precipitated it, perhaps; that does not mean that was the cause of the revolt. It was bound to come anyhow, and the sooner it comes the cheaper it will be for America; the quicker you win, the greater your reputation will be. The United States could not occupy the archipelago and leave the Philippine republic intact, you know that.”
Judge Daft thought in silence, pacing the floor. Then, seating himself at his desk, he wrote: