Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-08-16
U. S. TROOPS ARE PIRATES
So Writes an Arti-ImperaIst Lacquer from
New York.
Letter to Filipino Rebels - Advises
Ne izure of American Of Rank
Charges Against Administration,

Washington, Aug 1.-THE war de-
partment has made public the Filipino
correspondence captured some mouths
ago by Gen. Tunstons command in
Luzon. There is q letter from Dr. Mon
tague r, Leyerson. dated at Fort Ham
ilton, n. Y, July 10. 1899. and addressed
to Senior g. ApaoIble. It says
Dear Sir and Brother-Our friend,
Albert S Parson OF Lexington, gave me
your name as one 90 whom ! should
write as "a representative Filipino.
81 am a member Of the Anti Imperial
istiCe League of Boston Ot which Geo.
s. Boutwell, Is president. and Erwin
Winslow is secretary. ] have published
many articles and letters drnOuuulng
the war carried on by President Nc
Hinley against your people. He and
Gen, Otis and an his troops are pirates
upon the territory of natives, our
Presidents ore not In the positions "
kings Our Presidents are not duly au-
th0r.zed 20 make war. without the con-
sent OF Congress. as Mckinley is doing.
and an persons comprised In this war
are pirates.
u should like 20 suggest a plan TO
you, IL Is this You should seize some
one OF rank iu the service of the United
States and then inform the foreign con-
suls that be- was 20 bee brought before
a council of war for piracy and write
10 said C0nsuls TO have representatives
present at such council Of war TO see
that IL is legal
Piracy would be Show - ,J;.'.Jt.
ing a war IN violation of the usages
OF civilized war, and the proof would
consist IN the fact ut the consent 10
killing defenseless prisoners and nom
cOmbatants, men. women and children,
I'm cold blood, and Ia robbery by officers
and soldiers Of n0n-cOmbatants.
III I were not an old man Of more
than 50 years, ] would willingly aid you
IN your just defense.
81 also suggest that the Filipino con-
gress address an appeal 10 the people
of the United States ] shall not give
you the heads OF this appeal / merely
point out something which VIII espe-
cialy inform the people. For example
"a reference 90 the Declaration OF Iude-
pendence must bee inserted. but / be-
lieye that 10 Us also necessary for you
20 mention IN your appeal the points
have made above" 90 show that this
war is piracy using them 10 bring out
the want OF Christian feeling for the
soldiers
you must also show that Mckinley
keeps the people of the United States
in ignorance Of the true facts, that he
and the members of his cabinet have
deliberately lied 90 secure the rathca-
tl0n Of the treaty of peace with Spain
without a clause which would have as
sured the liberty OF the Filipinos. that
they deliberately lied when they said
that Ag0ncilo advised Aguinald0 10
fight and that "a telegram stating the
opposite was intercepted. The war was
advised from Washington 10 secure the
passage OF the treaty.
"Do not fail 90 insist uuon the atroci-
ties before mentioned. especially the
assassination IN cold blood Of women
and children, and the sack Of prop
erty OF non-combatants perpetrated by
soldiers, especially 10y a captain named
Otis. who is believed 10 be- a relative
OF the general. who not only took no
steps for the punishment OF the assas.
sins but who did not even reprImand
them.
III you can prove that women have
been violated put that aNo IN your
statement
you should offer 90 prove an these
before the commission com.
posed of three Americans named by the I
Congress Of the United States and three
named boy the Filipino con-
gTrss. and presided Over by a person OF
some other nation chosen by the United
States. He must not be an English
man. Tor they are an associated Ion the
crime II the publication OF any por-
ton Of this letter viii be- Of any service
20 you, you can use 49, but I think u
would be more prudent 10 Keep IL
secret.
40 not forget 90 speak OF the Amer
lean squadron which blockaded your
coasts. bombarded them without warn
Ing 20 the non-combatants and peace
ful towns, where war would never have
been thought OF. but where now the
greater part OF the inhabitants. who
formerly were friends Of the United
States, have taken up arms 10 avenge
the deaths of their wives and sons
also speak Of the refusal OF the |
United States and Great Britain 20 re- |
lounce the use of explosive bullets |
which was decided up0n IN the confer |
,nCe OF the commissioners az the /
Hague. and which the United states |
8 now using. although their use was /
denounced as harharous by the other /
'onmls si0uors az The Hague
ASK the people OF the United states /
( they think that they are Christians. /
md ask them how they can reconcile /
heir pretended religion with their
PRESENT conduct toward Mckinley and
lis war.
This horrible war ls a nightmare for
me-. 10 may be- folly for me 90 permit |
myself to be- affected hy n, but lbs
lorror. the eternal intamy ~ o. FOR my
whose people are preparing a
tate Of slavery for another. prevents
me- from sleeping
OF can say nothing more but that d
would be wen 90 lst the people know
hat steps are being taken 90 Introduce
nHItarIsm into the United states. some
yamulps ~ which can be- shown from
he conduct Of Gen Merriam IN Iadho.
Norv sincerely
MONTAGUE 4. LEVERsON."