Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-10-11
Stephen Brennan, a Lifelong Demo-
6rdt, Declares Himself for Pres.
Mckinley and the Republican
Platform.
THE, ISSUES OF The CfMPhlGh
OUTLINED FROM A SOLDIERS POINT
OF VIEW.


Democratic press and the principal
theme OF Democratic orators, is one
mon which the average American
CITIZEN is not thoroughly versant. a
representative Of the Herald sought
an interview the other day with Mr..
stephen Brennan OF this city with the
idea 81 obtaining better and wider
view of affairs in the Philippines,
knowing that Mr.. Brennan was one OF
those VINO enlisted in the 18th Mime
sofa, Go. l., in the late spanish war
one Of the foremost regiments in man
aging affairs in the Philippines and
to which far-otf land they were soon
transported after enlistment at Mime
apolis in April of 1898. Mr.. Brennan
has heretofore been a staunch sup
porter Of Democratic doctrine and has
never voted any other ticket. his
fall however he renOuEces Bryan and
his principles and will cast his vote
for Pres. Mckinley. He makes the
change for good and sufficient reasons
and Is not backward about stating
them. Mr.. Brennan states that
Bryan's hobby of l6 to has been ex-
ploded completely in the East for
ears and is a firm believer that cheap
money produces cheap labor. lie
believes Mr. Mckinley u be right on
the war question, aud is confident
that were it not for sympathy and
support rendered Aguinaldo and his
followers by so called American citi-
Zens in the United States, hostilities
there would have long since ceased.
He states that feeling exists among
the rebels that il Bryan is elected all
L. 5. troops will be withdrawn, Agui-
nado and his leaders will be placed
in power, their atrocities will be for
given and they'll have the best of
everything in sight. On the other
hand if Pres. Mckinley IS reelected
the war will cease in short order and
they will be obliged to take oath of
allegiance to your Uncle Samuel.
Mr.. Brennan returned to his story
more explicitly and we reproduce it
herewith with hopes that it will fur
nsh enlightenment to Herald readers
as it did to us;
The valiant 18th was ordered to
Manila MAY lst and proceeded to that
point on the vessel Para, arriving at
their destination July Both. This
regiment consisted of noble young
men who enlisted in answer to their
country's call-relinquishing lucra-
tive positions in civil life. II is a
well established fact that throughout
the country, in Congress and out, the
war feeling existed. The president
endeavored by every means in his
power TO settle the question by diplo-
macy and even after the blowing up
OF the Maine when the whole people
were stirred up to the war point, the
president held all in check until after
an investigation was made. How
can he thus be termed a rank lmper-
ialist9 After the report OF the inves-
tigatory board was made nothing was
left for Congress to do but declare
war and this regardless of party. 1t
then became the duty of every loyal
citizen 10 support his government and
it was with this spirit that MIR. Bren-
nan with the others throughout the
broad land were prompted TO enlist.
The Asiatic fleet under command of
Admiral Dewey could no longer re-
main in the friendly harbor OF Hong
Kong. The Spanish fleet was sta
toned in Manila harbor and always
proved a menace TO our coast
Dewey gained this harbor by sinking
the Spanish fleet. The treaty with
Spain was made and ratified and
through Its agency became possessed
OF the Philippine Islands. No thought
of an insurrection on part Of natives
figured in the question whatever but
the willy Aguinaldo, spurred by selfish
motives, had planned 10 attack the
L. 5 forces even before the ratitica-
tion Of the treaty took place, for on
Feb. 18th while our troops We're on
guard about Manila they were fired
upon by the insurgents. In the
neighborhood of hundred L. ).
troops were guarding the water sup
ply with squads of not to exceed
dozen at various stations surround
ing the city. The attack was made
AT night by insurgents firing upon
troops guarding the water supply and
was simultaneously taken up BY
rebels along the line, showing the
fight To have been premeditated.
Following the ratification OF the
treaty the United States government
was IN duty bound not only to protect
the lives OF its own citizens on the
islands and their property but the
lives Of Others not connected with the
instruction. Mr. Brennan states
that il was estimated that the forces
OF Aguiualda numbered but 10000.
white the city Of Mania alone was
53e,veo. the majority I'll whom well
coined the power of Uncle sam over
them. linus ii wou.d seem that .the
consent 81 the governed" would infer
the minority ratlcrthan the majority.
Ills uelivt is that the Intention III the
insurgents Wa the laatlng of Manila
hut that when iGWattrt iu TIL, SELF