The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-06-14
Can Il be Tue

Among the Filipino archives captured
by General Funston was the plan con-
cocted by AguinaIdo for the burning
Of Manila and the massacre OF all
Americans, with frequent illusions by
Aguinaldo to Bryan as the friend of
the rebels. 1t was supposed from this
that some documentary evidence of
Bryan's espistolary association with
the rebel chief would be discovered,
but the absence OF such evidence was
explained BY the Associated Press cor
respondent in the following remarkable
statement:
BueneaHiuo, the secretary Of state Of
the Filipino revolutionary government.
who Is In Manila, says that none OF the
really important secret papers was found,
that among them were correspondence
with foreign governments and letters from
prominent anti-impertalists. including w.
J. Bryan and Senator Hoar. All OF these,
he says. were sent TO Hong Kong last
September for safe Keeping in the hands
OF the Junta. The purpOrt OF the letters
from anti-imperiallsts. according TO his
recollection, was that the FtlipthoS should
adhere TO their demands for Independence,
and they would eventually be sustained by
the American voters.
1t is known that AguInaldo has been
encouraged in some manner to prOlong
his hopeless warfare by being led to be-
lleve that the Democrats were his
friends. and as they were sure to win
with Bryan the American troops would
be withdrawn, and then 1t would be
plain sailing for him. These facts have
been established beyond question OF
doubt. but the Inteiligencer viii require
something more substantial ttan the
mere word of the Filipino secretary OF
state to convince it that bir. Bryan was
actually guilty OF writing personally to
Aguinaldo. The charge is OF such a
character. however. that 1t would be
better for Bryan to deny 1t over his own
signature.
The Chicago Inter Ocean calls on Mr..
Bryan to explain. If he Is innocent, in
the following language:
Mr.. Bryan's friends will doubtless de-
clare such an accusation monstrous, ADJ
surd upon Its face and impossible OF be.
uGI. Even MS enemies Will EGkHTA ~ WIN
incredulity. But, then. there II is, proper
~ fatherel and credited And the con.
duct within the last two years Of several
eminent and supposedly loyal Americans
unfortunately proves that men OF longer
II not greate- distinction than Mr; Bryan
can be led by political passion and preiu-
dice into tampering with treason.
Before the war With Spain who would
have dreamed that Edward Atkinson
would ever attempt TO use the United
States mails to foment rebellion and In
cite Tnutiny. and would glory in his
shame? Who would have imagined that
Carl Schurz Union soldier and statesman.
would laud a Malay bandit and Incendiary
as q second Washington. and hope to see
the nag he fought to save trailed In the
dust? Who would have suspected that
George Frlsble Hoar, after more than
forty years OF public service, would from
his place in the senate utter words OF en-
couraEement TO bandits and nssassins en-
gagged in shooting the representatives oil
American authority?
Yet al these things the American people
have seen and heard? Since men so en-
inent have branded themselves with sedi-
ton, how can Mr.. Bryan expect complete
immunity from suspicion after he has
been repeatedly hailed by the Malay reb-
els as their friend. and by Tagal assasslns
as their hope, and has been directly &c
cused by one high in rebel counsels OF
promising TO grant all the Filipino de-
mands? VIII Mr. Bryan EXPLAIN