Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1900-08-23

nor may it be pardoned so readily. |
In the former instance the dam
age was caused inadvertently, |
In the latter it is the result of de-
liberate intent.
The latest testimony as to the
effect of this American fire in the
rear is found in a letter from
Maj. Arlington U. Belts, of Tole-
do, O., who is now in the Philip
pines and who has written home
in the hope that his contribution
may aid in giving thoughtless
citizens better understanding of
the situation. Mai. Belts illus
trates one effect of American op-
position to the war in Luzon by
citing the case of the city of Ia
baco. This city has population
of 10000 industrious and COM
paratively prosperous citizens.
At the breaking out. of the in
surrection they voted not to defend
the city against the Americans.
Having heard of this decision,
Aguinaldo sent a delegation of
Tagals to plaster the city with
his proclamations, already widely
published, urging the Filipinos
to resist American rule and prom
ising that with the election I'of
Bryan they would be granted in
dependence. Through the inf1u-
ence Of these arguments the citiz-
ems of Tabaco were induced to
raise an army of 5000 men aud
construct an adequate system of
Notifications, with the result that
the taking of the town proved a
difficult and expensive business.
every drop of blood, both
American and Philippine, writes
Mai. Belts, "can be laid to that
circular, the foundation of which
was taken from an American
newspaper. In every city and
banco we have taken we have
found quantity of clippings
from American newspapers, and
is it any wonder they believe by
holding out a little longer we
will give up and go home? Such
a thing now would be impossible,
and all at home must see it that
way. To leave here now would
mean the death of every Filipino
in the islands who has dared to
be friendly to the Americans"
Maj. Belts expresses the opin-
ion that practically all the sol
diers in the Philippines feel as he
does, and he predicts that if they
were at home their ballots would
be cast where they would do more
to put down the rebellion than
the boys in Luzon have been able
to do with their Krag-Jorgensens.
In closing this rather pathetic
appeal for support at home to the
soldiers in the field, Mai. Belts
says:
On one thing, it seems to me, both o
the great parties should be united ant
that is the rebellion must be suppress
ed. II plank to that effect should b.
placed in each Of the great parties
platform, this trouble over here woul,
soon end; but as it is now they hav,
every reason in the world to thinl
that, as they express it, if the grea
DR.. Bryan is elected the American
will leave the islands at once. Thi
poster enclose to you speaks mucl
: louder than anything can say, and
send it to you that some of my friend
who are on the side OF the great D,
Bryan" may read it and more thor
oughly understand the situation owe
: here. fit was not for the assistauc
this rebellion receives from the state
it would quickly end. Our friend
. . in both parties can assist us j
/ quickly bringing this trouble I
/ an end by declaring that. first {
!, all, the rebellion must be sup
pressed. After that has been accon
plished, then let our statesmen, or th
: people, decide what shall be done for {
with the Philippines. send to va
this poster, trusting that you will pei
i. NIT some OF our friends at home I
= read it, and by SO doing it may silenc
at least couple of the guns that
present are, am sure, being though
e lessly fired In our rear.
i The letter was written befol
- ~, a xvvr:%a~ d,1 11a,.d xt.o .a..