The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-09
GERMANS ONLY PEDLARS.
All Business in the Philippines is
Done by the English.

Copyright, 1898, by Associated Press.)
London, July 9-One of Aguinaldo's
leaders in the last Philippine revolt is
living incognito in London and prac-
tieally acting as Aguinaldo's agent, be-
ing in receipt of constant kilograms
and letters from Cavite. Questioned
pn the Philippine situation by a repre-
sentative OF the Associated Press, he
said: THE Philippine republic was
proclaimed in October, 1896 and its first
president was AndreaS BOn1ac1O. w men
he died over a year ago, Aguinaldo was
elected president and commander IN
chief. On the arrival of Captain Gen
eral Primo de Rivera, that officer
adopted a policy of bringing the rebel
lion to an end by means of concessions,
force having failed Our leaders We're
approached and the result was the
Pact of BianObatO, so called from the
village where it was signed on Decen-
Der A. 1897.
Senior Sagasta the other day denied
that in that pact" Gen. Rivera prom
Used any reforms Here is an official
copy of that pact wherein is prom
Used the Punishment, or at least the dis
banding of the religious orders, Philip
pine representation IN the cOrIeSs the
same administration of justice for the
native as for the SpaniardS; unity OF
laws between the Philippines and SPAN
the natives to share the chief offlces OF
the Philippine civil administration; re-
arrangement of the property of the fr1arS
and of the taxes in favor of the natives,
recognition of the individual rights OF
the natives with liberty of pubic meet
ing and of the press; ana general am
nesty. To sum up,the native grievances
are what we shall expect the Americans
will correct.
For those reforms AguinaIdo and the
other leaders promised that if Rivera
carried out the pact they would eX-
patriate themselves for three years ana
fonent no movement against spanish
IL hot Tfr10A
rebels surrendering their arms, amnu-
milton, forts, etc, AguinaldO was 10 re-
ceive four hundred thousand pesetas.
This money AguinaldO deposited IN the
Hong Kong and Shanghai bank at
Hong Kong, not for Is personal use
but as a fund, interest on Whlch-ln
case the captain general carried Out ms
part of the "pact'-WaS to be deNOleu
to the education of natives in England
In case the pact was not fulfilled by
the Spaniards the money was TO De
used for arms and ammunition Tor the
rebellion. The captain general never
proclaimed a general amnesty, denied
the existence of the pact ana shoI
several rebel leaders who returned 10
Manila on the strength of it.
Since the renewal of the rebellion IN
der the inspiration of Admiral DeWey'S
victory. the present captain general mas
aDDrOached AguinaldO and his leaders
and promised if they would make com
mon cause against the Americans ne
would carry out the reforms stated IN
the pact" AS a mark of bOnahde ne
created a legislative council to which
he nominated 20 leading ministers OF
the Philippine republic All OVertureS
were scOrnfully rejected The German
pretensiOns are simply prepOster0us-
They are practically little more tnan
pedIars- All the large mercantile houses
are English, who have in their hands
quite three-fOurths of the bulk ana
value of the commerce. The banks,
railway, telegraphs, cable and local
steamship lines are English. The only
cotton mills belong to the English ana
the English control the sugar and hemp
trades. The Germans are trying Tor
some of the heavier trade, but have
not capital or credit There IS only one
American house at Manila, There IS
only one Russian subject in the island.
Up to now the Spanish has been the
official language. but by last weeks
mail I learned AguinaldO intends as Tar
as the republic is concerned, to substl-
tute English.
The root cause of the Philippine re-
beIliOns has always been the steady
deprivation of the natives Of their
rights by the Spaniards. Year by year
security for life and property has d1-
minished. Particularly so as to the
native friars in the Philippines. The
Spanish friars, too, have sent to SPAN
all the monastery wealth they couId
dispose Of particularly that willed to /
the monasteries by rich natives. Then |
too, the persecution of the Free Ma /
sons by the friars caused the 5000 Ma
sons be lodged in Jail at the instance
of the friars and loaded with irons. Be
sides no promise ever made by the /
Spaniards with the natives has been |
kept, quite.