New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-12
ULTIMATUM TO INSURGENTS.
AGUINALDO MUST MOVE FORCES FROM
MANILA SUBURBS.
MANY CONQUESTS HAVE MADE THE
REBELS AMBITIOUS-PATIENcE OF
AMERICANS HAS PREVENTED
A CLASH

I
sive Spanish positions. and, at present, the
rebels control every foot of the island except
Manila. Cavite. and small portion of the Prov
nce OF Albay.
They hold over nine thousand Spanish pris-
oners and have recently captured several thou
sand rifles some cannon, large auah'''s vi
ammunition and several small armed steamers
The Spanards held out valorously. but were
fighting against the inevitable.
"It is undeniabc that the action Of the msur-
gents in pursuing the campaign after an arms
ticc was declared has caused much useless SUI
fering and destruction of property, ana mas an
initiated their every claim to be considered III
any respect az allies of the Americans
"Tbeir motive has been twofod: First. an I'M
rl,cabla hatred OF IN, Spanish. with an innate
racial thirst for revenge and second 'he' am
bition 10 place themselves on record before 'he
world as a successful revolutionary govern
ment and as complete masters OF the hu~o"
provinces and as many adjacent Islands a. 'hey
NAV have time to occupy before the fhihpPhe
question has been settled by the Paris COM
mission.
They are now free to withdraw their troops
10 make an expedition against Panay and TO
capture Iloilo BY continuing the campaign
now. regardless IF the armistice, they put them
crowding into the suburbs OF Mai.ila and refus-
ing to vacat, unless compelled by superior force.
tlev have put themselves in the wrong Win lhe
Americans.
Their action Is doubtless due partly To dis
organization Of their forces. which. by their own
confession. consists Of a congregation OF inde-
pendont units. with chiefs each ambitious OF
power and distinction. and all struggling TOT
nositions which will secure for them. by booty
or otherwise private fortunes.
AMERICANS AVOIDED CONFLICTS.
"This disorganization. which naturally affects
tha IRRESPONSIBLE individual soldier, has been
constantly fomcnting tho irritation resulting
from the dual occupation in the suburbs of Ma
Mia The situation has been impoSslhle from
the beginning and conflicts have been avoided
only by great tact and the extraordinary pa
tience II the American troops. who Loyalty ob-
serve their duty OF preserving the peace of the
town"
'The policy of permitting the Insurgents 10
occupy thc spanish positions has been iru'tiu'
in many difficulties not the least OF "hich u 'he
stimulus given To the corceit Of III" natives VINO
consider themselves tine conquerors of manila
although they captured not a sinsl" position
when the town was taken.
.Gencral otis has attacked thc complicated
oucs.lous he Inherited from General Merritt ms
nredecessor with remarkable energy ana De
cision. and is rapidly establishing order IN
every department where comparative chh"S
ruled before He has been iuly occupl'd
with matters more intimately concerning
tho military government OF Manila ana ohS
roceutlv has he been able 20 study eNhaustVcY
the lnsurecnt question and to satisfy hmS'f
regarding the equity of The insurgent claims so
as TO solve a problem practically unappr"ached
heretofore.
"Aguinaldo has persistently demanded IN
terms not too polite, various imposslhe coh'tS-
s,ora-ror example an occupation Of the Gov
crnor-G Gcnerars palace and other palaces a VIII
ton assurance that the insurgents VIII be per
mittcd 10 occupy permanently their m'''ary P'-
sitions around Manila, and protection for the in
surgent vessels 10y the American heet-"ith
many other claims including an innocent de-
mand for share - the booty capture" pS ''e
Americans at Manila"
GENERAL. OTIs's ULTIMATUM.
"After a careful review Of the situation Gen
cral otis arrived nj the logical conclusion 'hat
the Insurgents hav, no right to occupy ihe
suburbs of Manila, and that Aguinaldo Claims
have the support OF neither equity nor reason
He has therefore categorically refused To con
slider Aguina!do's demands, and to-day sent
him an ultimatum. in terms plainly 'onhpr"-
bensible and authoritative. that he must With |
draw his troops from the suburbs before me
fifteenth or suffer the consequences Of refusal
"Tho answer will probably be that Aguinaldo
himself is only too willing to obey the order. but
cannot explain TO his troops the reasons why |
they cannot remain at Manila. This temporiz-
ing excuse although now stale fom too IRE |
nuent use conceals much truth. 1t is an uh- /
doubted fact that Agunaldo has but feeble /
hold on the organization. His power IS iast
waning and the insurgents are threatened WIN /
disintegration into opposing factions unless Some
leaders are soon discovered who are able 10
harnonize the conflicting personal interests
1T is reported that the presidency Of the revo-
lutionary government will be offered 10 CaJe-
tano Arellano at a congress at Maolos on Sep /
tembcr 10 Arellano is a lawyer OF excellent
repute-the one man among the F'pnas VINO IS
universally respected. Hitherto he has CON
sistently avoided politics. and 1t Is doubtful
whether he will undertake the task OF steering
a rudderess ship.
WOULD WELCOME PROTECTORATE
whatever may happen at the congress, there
Is no possible assurance that the natives are
capable Of self government. The educated class
neither desires nor hopes for complete independ-
ence and will welcome any protectorate which
will secure for the people good government WIN
out tinge of Spanish methods.
THE masses Of the revoutionsts, on the other
hand are bitterly opposing any solution OF the
question which does not promise untrammehed
independence.
"In the present exaltation OF fictitious VIC
tory, believing themselves capable or ruling the
whole archipelago without advice or assistance
from any one, they entirely forget as Is evident
from the tone Of their official newspaper and
from their daily actions, that they owe to the
americans the chief elements OF success OF when |
they now boast. This blind conceit is "A racial
defect. IL ~ the prominent and controlling
weakness Of their character.
THE revolution was started by the lower