The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-26
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 president of the
United States, land that this one thing is
keeping the rebellion alive, was written
by a captain in the volunteer service of
the American army to his family. 1t
speaks for itself:
,Lucaban, Tayabas Prov, Luzon. P. l.,
February 49, 1900.
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 one opinion free
ly expressed and general among them all
namely, that the one thing that Is Keep
ing the rebellion alive Is the nope or the
election of Mr.. Bryan as the president of
the United States.
The army Is convinced Of this. because
friendly natives all over the lsiano con-
tinually advance this as the promise that
the insurgent leaders hold out to their
followers, and insurgent prisoners IRE
quently make the assertion.
The troops, in going through the island.
have picked up many copies OF the Diff
ferent insurgent publications, now sup
pressed. which claim that Mr. Bryan Will
be elected, and has promised to Withdraw
the American troops and turn the Islands
over to the Aguinaldo government.
l have, more times than ! can n coun NJ
heard officers and men say. tine piooa 9.
upon the head of Mr. Bryan. He can stop
this rebellion at any moment by announc-
ing that he does not sympathize with the
rebels, and will not recognize them IL
elected" And they add further, but ne
will never do this because he needs TINS
point in his campaign. If ne should pc
rebels, but he could not stop the blood
shed by saying so. because 1t would be
Inconsistent with his present course"
Mr. Bryan perhaps does ,S rr not r rshais
lion. If he knew it he would probably end
it by disavowing any intention of recog-
nizing the rebel government In any case
Whether Bryan is elected or not; VIII
make no difference in these conditions
until fall, at least Until he is finally
defeated and the scattered insursen,n,ss
have all received the news, they VIII
continue to fight and plumber, believing
that II they can only hold out until
March. 1901, the new American admins
tration will withdraw the army, recog,,
nize the Aguinaldo government, and
probably leave fleet here under Aguin-
aldo's orders to protect the newborn
power against all molestation from with
! out
we know of our own knowledge, that
| the insurgents universally beieVe!in TINS
| hope. and that IL is this that holds them
! together. for we have talked to thet,n-
! surgent prisoners, as well as TO the
/ friendly natives, and many regiments
! have men who have been capturedpby the
! Insurgents and escaped. The. company
/ tailor of NJ company, this regiment for
example, was captured during a skirmish
/ at Cabinti. January "a. and is now back
/ captivity. The insurgent officers some
I OF whom talked English well. sounded
| him good deal, and told him that when
Bryan was elected all the American sol
I diers would be ordered home and the In
| surgents recognized. The Filipino sol.
| diers 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. 4 man Of my com
/ pany told a Filipino at Santa Cruz thai
/ BRYAN would never be elected. The mar
said he surely would then the United
States would have free silver, and all thu
J Americans would have TO go home from
the Philippines. They all say Bryan f.
a very great man. when you mention hi
T name
The soldiers take notice Of all this ant
I have heard them say. while trudginl
along at the heavy end Of a hard day
march: Bryan Bryan. damn BRYAN
am tirch OF hearing the Filipinos tail
about Bryan. II II wasn't for him vi
could 60 home instead Of hiking all Owe
these mountains chasing insurgents"