New-York tribune., 1900-05-24
REBELLION WANING
rxSrRGFNT HOPES LARGELY BASED ON
DEMOCRATIC SUCCESS.
7zF SITUATION IN LUZoN REVIEWED BY
GENERAL sCHwAN
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBuw-I


v-ssbinr--on May 23-Adjutant-Genersl Cor
sin has made public letter from General
c-h--sr his chief assistant who has Just
-77-ned from years field duty in Luzon. The
---irer has long been regarded as one Of the
-,oe+ napable officers in the United States
ia His march across Porto Rico was looked
,,nor as the most perfect military performance
If the Spanish war and in the Philippines expe-
a,t5ous under his command he cleared the enemy
RON the environs Of Manila and out Of Cavite
Province in brilliant series Of operations. Gen
era Schvan asserts that the insurgents base
their hope Of renewal Of the tnsurrection on
the belief that the American forces will be
shle 70 hold the garrisons during the rainy
son and the probability Of the success Of the
Democratic or anti-expansion party in the COM
ing Presidential election
TEXT OF GENERAL sCHwAN's LETTER
The Generals letter is follows:
NY Dear General: A brief reference to the
state Of things in the islands as seen by me
when quit Manila on April 16, may be OF IN
terest 10 YOU You know, Of course. that on that
date and for some tine previously the most if
nor al. OF the larger towns of Luzon and many
Of those towns in the other principal islands
which are regarded commercial and political
centres within their respective regions were
occupied by permanent garrisons You are
further aware douh less. Of the more or less
frequent collisions between detacllments from
the garrison troops and bands Of outlaws in
Testing their several spheres Of action: also Of
the inferenCes from these conflicts unfavorable
70 the permanent paciication of the islands that
are freely drawn in the United States and else
where. It may not be arniss therefore 70
mention here some facts bearing upon the GEN
era subject which Seem AT times to lost
sight Of
Brigandage prevailed IN q praa+a- or 1ass a~
tent n the Philippine Islands from time i'm
memorial In Spanish times no sustained or
4oia ICE eILoIps We're made for its suppression.
LocaL troops were. indeed. raised TO put down
and prevent robbery, but their operations were
Fpasnodlc and superficial and they were gen
eral-y suspected OF being in league with the
robbers and of sharing in their plunder Dur
ING that period Of the TsgaIog rebellion 1884,
'Ssl when, owing TO the voluntary wfrhd~s Wal Of
Agulnaldo and other leaders to Hong Kong
hosulit4es were generally suspended the rem
nanls or the insurgents or those men whom the
sistant robber bands who in consequence were
flaplec 70 carry on a guerilla warfare against
- ri.lioI ooales of spanish troops, IN addition
inhabitants
WORK OF ROBBER BANDS
The robber system. pure and simple. was kept
lp Whlle organized instruction against the
CnIted states was carried on: though at first
y received no coUnrenance from the fnsurpen+
leaders who even made occasional arternn+s "a
ofeaA II UP. With the disruption OF the insrIr-
gent government and the dispersion Of the in,
sLFsell armies. robber bands have been all over
The Islands. extensively reinforced Fv tnsUrgen+
s llIlcers and soldiers who. on returning 10 their
-tl-5-Ss were dlsinclIned 70 resume honest work
ano sti- clung TO The idea of q FiIipino renubIic
EA--lcins The savage mountain tribes and
nose directly connected with the hands atoI-a
mentioned "a comparatively small bI1- o1,,s+. go
y varying quantity, the Filipinos NAV he
roughly divided into TWO classes viz - -
lei-lseIl educated (aIsO. as a rule the pronerrv
2Wnlng) class, who form a small ulinori+v and
me Hneoucated laboTing or peasant class CON
sIrutng TIE great mass Of the people Most
men Cf both classes honestly desire ri ne ras4ora
uOE or peace and order under American or 49,
- -aI 80 .. 1 rue being thoroughly weary Of
80 -hose or the former class, for the most
part prefer American rule believing that
sloueh .nlid. II viii be firm, and above ali
-Sust ana because they have no Fai4h IN the
Hlhess OF the Fflipinos as q DeoDIe 70 yorern
Ll--lSelFes- They are, however afraid to cast
tl-lr lot tnreSerVediy with the a mericaDe 60
ful t-at the anticipated withdrawal OF American
Tfoops may expose them TO severe treatment of
ne hands o. the insurgent leaders who viii
even & small following. seem TO be able IN fer
ror1ze the people. and in the past have shown
F-1-Ilcll Eeness and cruelty almost beyond par
allei- Hence. while yielding a passive Obedience
70 o- At least refraining from positively hostile
acts against the military CAnerican) occ,1Danrs
some or them keep I'D relations with and con-
Fl3QIe 70 me needs Of the guerilla bands in their
nelghborhood. prOUiscuously made up Of rob
beTs and ex-insurgeDus Many men OF the lower
class Whle Dreferrlng a quiet humdrum life
70 he hardships and dangers Of highwaynen
and oushWhachers- ara Yet aHenable to the per-
sUaslons or threats Of the brfgand chiefs and
loln or quit the brigand service according 10
circumstances.
Those who actively or openly seek 70 main
tain prlgandage a nucleus or raIIvfng roint
Tor a future rebellion the military and no.
litcaI leaders ~ the late organized insurrec-
pulous and actuared by purely selfish motives
These men realize that, should the iusurgent
movement die out entirely and American rule
be firmly established. they viii forfeit forever
positions Of influence and prominence and will
~ relegated 10 their former obscIIrfty and
penuFT IN private station.
BASIS OF REBEL HOPES
II the main they rest their hope for a revival
NJ The lnsurrecriOn and the recon centra ZION of
lnsurgent forces upon the supposed necessity
American troops will he under OF abandoning
many of their present positions owing 70 the i'm
possibility OF supplying the latter during the
Wet season. and upon the success Of the Demo-
cratic OF an1-expansion party in the coming
Presidential campaign in the United States
Their ability 10 hold the guerilla bands to-
getler and 20 retain moral control over a con-
siderable proportion Of the common people is
cue largely 70 the astounding Ignorance and
creculiry ~ the latter AS an illustration OF
mis- II may 8e mentioned that within the last
f"o months 2 briEaud chief in Tavabas Prov
nee. who signed himself General of Division
&C NOT hesitate 10 give out that the F'Iinino
'r''ernTnent was still Tarlac: that tvyo Ger
nan Le1l-or-War had recently made a descent
1loh Laqulnlanoc. port on uhe south coasr or
ray pas, compelling the American troous there
- retreat INTO the mountains that Manila was
I'+li oi German and japanese soldiers av-ai-ing
~ opportunity 70 throw of their Disguise and
MAKE common cause with the Filipino- insIIr
sls aea.Hst their American oppressors
u N lci5on tnat the insurrection cannon re-
- li'. ne collapse II has suffered is found
ia 'i-e -olioNlng consideration:
ne principal islands are now ss ,era- ha4,a
| ' nun grip oy the military AS mas