New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-08-28
BRYAN AND THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS.


The Bryanites do not appear to make much
Roadway with their appeals to the fathers OF
the American soldier boys to vote the Agui-
madam ticket, They thought they were going to
rouse a strong feeling against the Government
by repeating the tactics of the Copperheads of
1864, who talked about the Emperor Lincoln
his plan for consolidated empire" in which
1.-The limitations of executive power will not be
lin the Constitution, but in the pleasure of the
president" and walled for votes only over the
Sufferings of the soldiers engaged in the unholy
work of building Lncoln's empire. But their
appeals to the fathers of the soldiers support
ing McKinley'S empire are resented as hotly as
were the traitOrOus attempts to undermine the
Government of Emperor Lincoln" as the mar
tyr President was called by q newspaper which
now supports Bryan and invokes Lincoln's
name TO aid him.
The fathers Of the boys who are fighting to
maintain the authority of the United States in
territory annexed 10 the United States by law
full treaty, which Mr.. Bryan himself supported,
do NOT enjoy having their sons lives made the
sport of politicians in search of a campaign cry.
One of these fathers has recently written
letter to Senator Pettigrew in answer to an
appeal for aid. and his reply is likely to Is
courage activity in that direction. ThiJ fatner
says:
You ask for the active assistance Of your
friends to overcome the efforts of the Repub-
licans TO defeat you. Your friends are mostly
in the island of LuZon, and one Of my sons is
suffering from the fortunes Of a Mauser
bullet sent into his chest by one Of them. Your
boosted friends are the enemies of our country
and are thriving on the encouragement and sup
port derived from you Senator from South
Dakota I had two sons in the Philippine re-
bellion, and your political consort Judge Moore,
prayed that the God of Battles would strengthen
the of their opponents, that they might
drive these sons and their comrades into the
sea This sentiment you have countenanced
and encouraged by your every public act, and
it is because Of your having thus countenanced
and encouraged such treason that the rebellion
in the Philippines still hangs on.
The fathers of the American soldiers evil
IDENTITY remember LawtOn's dying message that
if he was killed his death blow might as well
have been aimed from the ranks of his own
men, for the enemy was living and fighting on
the strength of support from American oppo-
nents Of the Administration. They know how
the annexation was only possible through Mr.
Bryan's advocacy Of the treaty. II was he who
| secured for their sons the task Of maintaining
American supremacy in Luzon. The Republi-
cans whether right or wrong in their judgment
favored annexation, believing 1t to be a National
duty and National benefit. Even If mistaken
in their view, they could with clear conscience
face the soldiers engaged in the Philippines.
| Mr.. Bryan, however, who favored annexation
not because he believed in 1t, but for political
advantage, knowing full we'll he was booming
| our soldiers to battles for what he believed was
wrong, stands before them as the schemer who
was ready TO sacrifice their lives not for great
| National purpose, but to further his own ambi-
| tiOus strategy.
The soldiers in the Philippines know and
| their fathers and brothers know that Bryan's
| protested sympathy for them is only an cleo
| pioneering device, as bis action In making their
| campaign inevitable was only an electioneering
| device to cast the odium Of their service and
| sufferings on his opponent They know that he
| and his supporters are the main reliance now of
| those who are shooting at them, that his cleo
ton would only complicate the Philippine prob
lem, and that the reelection Of Mckinley means
the evaporation Of the insurrection and their
release from campaigning. In the face of Law
| tons reputation Of Bryanism applied to the
Philippines it will be Of little use for the Demo
Gratis to label their pro-Tagal policy one of
| friendship and consideration for the American
| soldiers