The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-16
TREAS0NABLE
LETTER WRITTEN BY DIR. VI. II.
LEvERsON TO \ REBEL FILIPINO.
1t characterized the Efforts Of the
United states to Subdue the In
surrection as Piracy.
GAVE TRAITOROUS ADVICE
URGED THE. CAPTURE OF AN M
PORTANT AMERICAN OFFICIAL,
And His Trial by Filipino Court on
the Charge of Piracy in the
Philippines.
AN IMPORTANT DOCUMENT
THAT SHOWS ANTI-IMPERIALISTS
ARE AIDING THE ENEMY.
Correspondence Captured by General
Funston-Whnt LevcrsOn, Bout
well and winsIow Say.
And His Trial by a Filipino Court on
the Charge of Piracy in the
Philippines.
AN IMPORTANT DOCUMENT
THAT SHOWS ANTI-IMPERIALISTS
ARE AIDING THE ENEMY.
correspondence Captured by General
Funston-Whnt LevcrsOn, Bout
well and winsIow Say.

WASHINGTON, Aug. l5.-The War De-
partment has made public the Filipino cor
respondence captured some months ago by
General Funstons command in Luzon. 1t
was translated from the Spanish. under
the direction of Capt. John r. NJ. Taylor
of the Fourteenth Infantry, who is in
charge of insurgent records. There is a
letter from DIR. Montague r. Leverson.
dated at Fort Hamilton, n. Y, July II,
1899. and addressed to Senior G. Apacible.
1t says:
Dear Sir and Brother-Our friend, AL
bert s. Parson, of Lexington, gave me
your name as one 10 whom l should write
as representative Filipino. | am men,
Der of the Anti-imperialist League of Bos-
ton, of which George 5. Boutwell, Is presi-
dent and Erving Winslow is secretary. l
have published many articles and letters
denouncing the piratical war carried on by
President Mckinley against your people.
He and General Otis and all his troops are
pirates on the territory of the natives.
Our Presidents are not in the position of
Kings. Our Presidents are not in the least
authorized TO make war without the con-
sent of Congress, as Mckinley is doing
and all persons compromised in this war
are pirates.
II should like to suggest a plan to you. 1t
is this: You should seize some official OF
rank in the service of the United States
and then inform the foreign consuls that he
was TO be brought before council of war
for piracy, and write to said consus TO have
representatives present at such council OF
war to see that Ii is legal. Piracy would
be shown by conducting a war in viola
tion of the usages of civilized war and the
proof would consist in the fact of the con-
sent 10 killing defenseless prisoners and
noncombatants, men, women and children,
in cold blood and in robbery by officers
and soldiers from noncombatants. If l
were not an old man of more than sixty
nine years, | would willingly aid you in
II also suggest that the Filipino congress
address an appeal to the people of the
United States. L shall not give you the
heads of this appeal / merely point out
some things which will especially influence
the people. For example, reference TO the
declaration of Independence must be in
serted, but / believe that ii is also nee
essary for you TO mention in your appeal
the points l have made above to show that
this war is piracy, using them 10 bring out
the want of Christian feeling for the SOL
ders. You must also show that Mckinley
keeps the people of the United State i'm
ignorance Of the true facts; that he and
the members of the Cabinet have deliber-
ately lied to secure the ratification of the
treaty of peace with Spain without q
clause which would have assured the lib
crty of the Filipinos; that they deliber-
ately lied when they said that Agoncillo ad
Vised Aguinaldo to fight and that tele-
gram stating the opposite was intercepted.
The war advised from Washington to
secure the passage of the treaty.
DO not fail to insist upon the atrocities
tefore mentioned especially the assassina-
tion in cold blood of women and children
and the sack of property of noncombatantS
perpetrated by officers and soldiers, espe-
cially by captain named Otis, who is be-
leved TO be a relative of the general, who
not only took no steps for the punishment
of the assassins but who did not even repri-
mand them. If you can prove that women
have been violated. put that also in your
statement.
You should offer TO prove all these
atrocities before a commission composed
OF three Americans named by the Congress
OF the United States and three Filipinos
ramed by the Filipino Congress and pre-
sided over by person of some other nation
chosen by the United States-he must not
be Englishman, for they are all asso-
ciated in the crime. If the publication of
any portion of this letter will be of any
service you can use it. but think it would
be more prudent TO keep IL secret.
do not forget to speak of the American
squadron which blockaded your coasts,
bombarding them without warning to the
noncombatants and peaceful towns, where
war would never have been thought of. but
where now the greater part Of the inhabi
tants, who formerly were friends of the
United States. have taken arms TO avenge
the deaths of their wives and sons. Also
speak OF the refusal of the United states
and Great Britain TO renounce the use of
explosive bullets, which was decided upon
IN the conference of the commissioners at
The Hague and which the United States
are now using although their use was de-
nounced as barbarous by the other commits
sioners at The Hague.
ASK the people of the United States IL
they think that they are Christians and
ask them how they can reconcile their
pretended religion with their present con-
duct toward Mckinley and his war.
This horrible war is nightmare for me.
II may be folly for me 10 permit myself 10
be affected by 1t. but its horror the eternal
infamy of IL for my country, whose people
are preparing a state of slavery for an
other prevents me from sleeping.
II can say nothing more, but that IL
would be well TO let the people know what
steps are being taken TO introduce mill
tarism into the United States, some ex-
amples of which can be shown from the
conduct of General Merriam in Idaho.
Very sincerely,
MONTAGUE r. LEvERsON."
PINS HIS FAITH ON DEWEY.
Another letter dated Singapore. June 1s.
1899, from W. G. st. Clair. editor of the
Singapore Free Press, to Howard w. Bray.
discusses conversations which the writer
claims to have had with Consul
Pratt, who was succeeded about that
time by Consul Mosely. at Singa
pore. There also was some sug-
gestion that Pratt favored the Filipino
cause. and the discussion related TO conver-
sations that Consul Pratt is said 10 have
had with the Filipinos. st. Clair takes lit
tie stock in that, but pins his faith to what
Admiral Dewey might say. and writes
Admiral Dewey goes home. IL is believed
to advise the President on naval and colo
nial affairs. He knows exactly what did
take place and what did not. and should
know IL he had any ground TO think that
the slightest promise was made by Pratt
TO Aguinaldo he would declare IL unau-
thorized and decline 10 act on H. I am
certain Pratt reported what he supposed
TO take place accurately. The vital