Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-10-17
SPUR TO RESURRECTION.
The Great Hope Of FiIipinos Is Election
of VIM. J. Bryan.
Interesting Letter From Frank M. Howe OF the
39th Infantry.

\ letter has been received from the
Philippines by James f. Kingsley Of
this city. which is of more than ordi-
nary interest touching it does
somewhat upon the political condition
there. especially the fond hopes which
the Filipino leaders are placing in the
election Of VIM. j. Bryan for the presi-
dency in November. The letter was
written by Frank NJ. Howe, chief
musician Of the 39th Infantry. who has
many friends in Augusta. The letter
is dated from Santo Tomas, z. l..
Sept ). After remarks Of a personal
nature, Mr. Howe says:
Il am no politician, but | think some
and wonder how the election will go
On and am sorry to lose my vote. There
are some peculiar and startling feat
ures over here in this far away island.
| recently read in a Manila paper a
dispatch from the United States
stating that Mr.. Bryan in his speech
If acceptance Of the nomination for
president by the Democratic party.
said that if elected he would grant in
dependence to the Philippines under
American protection and in the same
paper was another telegram stating
that the Republican managers had met
this with statement that they would
| do for the Philippines just as they are
doing for cuba. but not until peace is
established.
What are we fighting for? What is
American blood and American money
| being wasted for? If our candidate
for president is going to give these
tnIananIAuHa and the
expense and waste Of life to protect
them the work of the American soldier
has been in vain. There are 20 different
tribes on these islands speaking 40
different languages The Tagalog as
sumes to be the leader hut he is not
the most numerous. although l think
he is the most cunning and by far the
most unprincipled.
God has made a natural cover 50
perfect in every essential that brigand
| age can be carried on even in the face
| Of a powerful army Should indepen-
| dence he granted them now it would
| be unending. | say it because it could
be and these people do everything they
can in that line The Filipino is no
dare devil he wages war with cunning
and stealth. or in other words he must
be hidden from the enemy in order To
| muster up courage to fight. When not
| hidden he poses as a most obsequious
| friend and as they all look alike and
dress in the same fashion. our enemy
| can and does most frequently throw
| away his gun in the deep grass and
| then meet us on the trail as a Staunch
| friend (amigo) and abuse the rebels
| with all the vehemence of his nature
| "All the utterances of our leaders at
| home get to these people. and they are
| familiar with the names of Bryan. At
| kinson. Mason and other leaders of
lesser light. They regard these people
as mighty warriors waging battle
bitter and determined against Nc
| Kinley and that these promises they
make are for the purpose of keeping
up the fight here so as to weaken the
| common enemy and gain an ally, and
| their share of the booty when he tMc-
Kinley) is finally overcome will be
| their cherished independence. Fill
pino'S idea of independence is about
the same as was the Negroes idea of
| freedom when the emancipation
proclamation was issued, One thinks
| he will be free to do as he pleases with
no regard for law and order; the other
| thinks that the bolo and rifle will be
the test of ownership. What are we
| fighting for? Why are our brave men
| and officers being held up as targets
| for the bolos and rifles of these skulk-
ers? Why not stop. if these candidates
are going to pull down Old Glory and
give up the fight 50 brilliantly begun.
| May /. '9S. 1t is certainly encouraging
to the soldier who is and has been
suffering the privationS of war and
separations from home and friends to
think that he is doing all this for
nothing and that the fruits of his work
are but the plaything of politicians.
Mr.. Bryan, if these dispatches are
true. has given an impetus to the in
surrection that nothing else could give.
The Filipino knows no mercy: with
him cruelty is courage. He does not
think the dumb capable of suffering.
He dresses his fowl. scales his fish or
skins his game alive or allows it to
die during the operation with no more
concern than a crossroads merchant
whites on his goods box while await
ing a customer. With all his cunning.
cruelty and stealing. I think he can be
made much for the better. Half civil
lied people cannot be taught the errors
of their WAYS in few months by a
handful of men. We should act as
American citiZens-in good faith. firm
" chastiZng the unruly. protecting the
sick and giving employment to the
poor. Our duty is plain: let US keep
on as we have begun and add another
jewel to our crown 50 illustriously be-
gun in 1776."