The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-24
One Of the Traitors.

Senator Pettisrew has given to the
public a letter received by him from
one of the Filipino leaders, which Is
notable principally for the reason that
IL proves the absolute truth of the
charge that the Bryanites have been
engaged in reasonable correspondence
with the armed enemies of the country.
lending them encouragement and at
tempting TO work up public sentiment
In their favor in this country Pettigrew
publishes this letter for the purpose Of
undertaking to impeach the veracity OF
Admiral Dewey. the latter having as
serted that he never at any time prom
ised to the Filipinos independence or
made use OF any language to them
which by any possibility could be tor
tured into the semblance Of such prom
ise
The letter purports to contain the sub
stance OF a conversation between Ad-
miral Dewey and n prominent Filipino,
in which the admiral is quoted as prom
Using the Filipinos their independence in
the most unequivocai language He is
quoted and addressed as admiral" al
though he was then only a commodore.
A mere glance at the language attrib-
uted to him shows that the pretended
interview Is a crude and clumsy false
hood, concocted by an ignorant Fill
ipino without the assistance Of the
American advisers who have pre-
pared most OF the Filipino state
papers and addresses. II does not re-
quire the denial of Admiral Dewey, al
though that Is at hand. to convince any
intelligent man that under no circum-
stances would he have used the lam
guage or any portion of the language
attributed to him No American naval
officers OF rank have ever assumed TO
commit the government to any course
OF political action: neither are they in
the habit OF placing American warships
at the disposal Of anybody. No Amer
lean naval officer. or civilian, who had
the advantages Of a common school ed
ucation, would ever have talked about
the constitution preventing territorial
expansion. The whole thing ia a silly
and ignorant fabrication. and Senator
Pettigrew Is perfectly well aware OF
that fact
Senator Pettlgrew resents the charge
that he IS traitor to hts country; yet
he himself has furnished the absolute
proof OF the truth Of the allegation. Had
he not been recognized as friendly to
the cause Of the Tagalos, and willing
70 aid them to any extent he would
not have been 81 correspondence with
them. nor would he have been accepted
as the proper channel through which
the clumsy falsehoods Of the Filipino
leaders should be given 70 the Ameri-
can People II a little more art had
been employed IN the manufacture %
this delectsble report. It Nigh, have had
some weight In d.screditlng the testi-
mony az Admiral Dewey, and some in
auence on public opinion. in which event
Pettigrews irAitorous work might have
been 81 value TO hts Filipino associates.
That It is too crude and clumsy 20
; carry any weight - conviction does not
} lessen Pettsrew's ofTenss in lending his
a.d to the cause ~ the Tagalos. II
( simply shows that hc Is lacking in com
moa sense as we'll as common patriot
( Ism.
/ As between Bryan himself and Petit
grew the difference 5 but in degree. The
/ former Is equally wiling to lend his
/ moral support 20 the TaSalos. and he
/ thankfully accepts instead y repua.At-
/ INK Pytugrews aid 10 his campaign
While he would not. probably. MAKE
himself the channel through which FIJI
.p.uo falsehools we're SVEN - the
American people. ne Is vet willing -
encourage the dissemination oe such
I falsehoods. in the hope that they may
aid his campaign. He has sufficient
common sense 10 know that the pre-