Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-05-08
BRYAN and The INSURGENTS.
Hope for His Election Keeps the Rebellion
Alive.


The following letter, showing the
hopes placed by the Filipino insurgents
in the election of Mr.. Bryan as presi-
dent of the United States and that this
one thing is keeping the rebellion alive,
was written by a captain in the volun-
teer service of the American army to
his family. 1t speaks for itself:
Lucaban, Tayabas Province, Luzon,
P. L., Feb. 49,, 190O.-The officers and
soldiers in the army in the Philippines
are pretty careful students of the causes
of the continuation of this rebellion.
And there is n opinion freely expressed
and general among them alI-namely,
that the one thing that is keeping the
rebellion alive is the hope of the election
of Mr.. Bryan, as the president of the
United States.
The army is convinced of this, be-
cause friendly natives all over the is
land continually advance this as the
promise that the insurgent leaders hold
out to their followers. and insurgent
prisoners frequently make the asser-
ton.
The troops, in going through the is
land, have picked up many copies of
the different insurgent publications, now
suppressed, which claim that Mr.. Bryan
will be elected, and has promised to
withdraw the American troops and turn
the island over to the A%guinaldo govern
ment.
l have more times than / can count
heard officers and men say, ''the blood
of every American killed from now on is
upon the head of Mr.. Bryan. He can
stop this rebellion at any moment by an.
nouncing that he does not sympathize
with the rebels, and will not recognize
them if elected" And they add further,
"but he will never do this, because he
needs this point in his campaign. If he
should be elected, he would never re-
cognize the rebels, but he could not stop
the bloodshed by saying so, because it
would be inconsistent with his present
course"
Mr.. Bryan perhaps does not realize
what a factor he is in the present re-
bellion. If he knew it, he would prob
ably end it by disavowing any intention
of recognizing the rebel government in
any case.
Whether Bryan is elected or not, will
make no difference in these conditions
until fall, at least. Until he is finally de-
all received the news, they will continue
to fight and plumber, believing that If
they can only hold out until March,
1901, the new American administration
will withdraw the army, recognize the
Aguinaldo government, and probably
leave a fleet here under Agninaldo's
orders to protect the newborn power
against all molestation from without.
We know OF our own knowledge, that
the insurgents universally believe in
this hope, and that it is this that holds
them together, for we have talked to the
insurgent prisoners, as well as to the
friendly natives, and many regiments
have men who have been captured by
the insurgents and escaped. The COM
pany tailor of M company, this regiment
for example, was captured during a
skirmish at Cabinti, January "a, and is
now back with the regiment, after three
weeks captivity. The insurgent officers,
some of whom talked English well,
sounded him a good deal, and told him
that when Bryan was elected all the
American soldiers would be- ordered
home and the insurgents recognized.
The Filipino soldiers talked about Bryan
continually, and believed he would be
elected soon, and turn the island over to
them.
All the Filipinos know about Bryan
and talk about him, and ask questions
about him of the soldiers. A man of my
company told a Filipino at Santa Cruz
that Bryan would never be elected. The
man said he surely would, then the
United States will have free silver, and
all the Americans would have to 60
home from the Philippines. They all
say Bryan is a very great man, when
you mention his name.
The soldiers take notice of all this,
and l have heard them say; while
trudging along at the heavy end of a
hard days march: Bryan, Bryan,
damn Bryan. l am tired OF hearing the
Filipinos talk about Bryan. If it wasn't
for him we could go home, instead of
Kicking all over these mountains chasing
insurgents"