Hot Philippine Lad

HOT PHILIPPINE LAD

Who Had Been Reading An Anti-Expansion Paper.

SERGEANT RENO HOPPE

Writes to His Parents in Chelsea of the War.

The Volunteers Are Not Mutinous and Do Not Ill Treat the Natives. - A Very Interesting Letter From a Good Soldier.

Reno Hoppe, of Chelsea, now in the Philippines and a brother of Dorsey Hoppe, the democratic candidate for school commissioner last spring, writes his parents as follows:

"Pasig City, P. I., May 30, 1899.

"Today is Decoration Day, aud I suppose the good people of Chelsea are decorating the old heroes graves. They are decorating the graves here also and it makes a fellow feel as though he would like to be dead when he looks at the beautiful flowers and wreathes.

"But when we read the papers from the States we find we are not and never can be heroes. One preacher from Missouri prayed to God that the whole 8th army corps would suffer overwhelming defeat. Well, all I have to say is he will have to pray a long while for we will never let these niggers get hold of us to cut our throats. Another paper states that the reason why the Washington regiment kill so many insurgents is because the regiment is composed of horse thieves and cut-throats and they never take a prisoner. The dirty cur. At Santa Anna the Washington boys took 500 prisoners. At Tagigue they also took 500, and 100 since, making 1,100 in all or as many as any four other regiments. I saw on the battle field of Santa Anna where men gave the last drop of water out of their canteen to wounded niggers and even now at Pasig where we have 30 prisoners to do fatigue work. But when I am in charge of the fatigue party I find that the old guard do most of the work while the niggers sit in the shade. On pay day the boys gave them all the spare change and tobacco, also clothes, in fact they fare better than the soldiers. And then they call us cut-throats. We took an oath that we would fight the enemies of our country whomsoever they be. Perhaps these would be anti-expansionists will say these niggers are not enemies. But that is not for the enlisted man to decide. He only obeys orders as every soldier must and if some of those fellows think this war is all one-sided, I would like to see them in one good scrap. During the civil war such fellows were called copperheads, or men - no not men - but things who were too big cowards to join the army. We cal them nigger sympathizers. There are many men in the 8th army corps who do not believe in holding these islands and I am one. But this paper talk of discontent among the volunteers and the likelihood of a mutiny is false. Although all the volunteers are anxious to return home yet there isn't a regiment that isn't willing to stay to the end if it is needed. There is more apt to be a mutiny or a rebellion when we get back (especially the Washingtons) and get hold of some of those curs who call us cut-throats and horse thieves.

"I don't believe I will come home when I get back as the temptations will be too great as there are plenty of horses around Chelsea.

"The volunteers are going home Yes, Poca Tampe, as the Filipino says. The Oregon's start about June 5, but it will be a long while before they get to the 1st Washington. Besides old Otis is too scared of his hide to let all the volunteers go. They are his best fighting soldiers, although it would not do tor him to admit it. There are several boys in my company from Michigan, and others from Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York, who are going home after we are mustered out and we will be able to get cheaper rates if we all go together. If it is not too late when we get back I think I will come home on a short visit, but if winter has set in I don't think I will venture farther than San Francisco. The pressure would be too great after leaving this hot hole. It would be better and safer for me to let my blood cool off gradually. Well, I can't think of anything that will interest you. In fact, I don't feel very pleasant for I have just been reading an anti-expansionist paper. I have a number of views of battlefield and others which I hope to be able to show you some day.

"SERGEANT RENO HOPPE."