The San Francisco call., 1898-09-17

MANILA, Sept. 16.-The Philippine General Assembly was inaugurated at Malolos yesterday with great enthusi- asn. There were thousands of visitors from the provinces and a great display was made. Aguinaldo, at g o'clock in the morning, entered the hall of the convent recently occupied by the Span ish local Governor. It is an extremely plain room, adorned only with some re- ligious pictures. The insurgent leader was in evening dress, according to the Spanish custom. The others were in ordinary costumes.
 Aguinaldo was received with cheers and also with cries of Viva America!" by the large crowd of natives inside and outside the hall. He read a de- cree converting the members, who in cluded several Spaniards. He next read a message eulogizing the army and thanking the friendly nations which had set the historical example of liberty and had assisted a down. trodden race.
 Continuing Aguinaldo urgently and eloquently exhorted the assembly to follow the noblest principles" and in voked the spirits of the martyred Fili- pinos."
 The Assembly then adjourned for the day.
 A Spanish delegate suggested that business be resumed in the afternoon, but a Filipino objected and accused the Spaniard of attempting to under mine the constitution. To this the Spaniard replied that he was a sincere republican and that his only desire was the welfare of the country. There upon the Filipino apologized and the proceedings terminated.
 During the afternoon many Ameri- cans and Europeans arrived and Aguin- aldo was kept busy receiving visitors, including the American Consul.
 The correspondent of the Associated Press had a private interview with Aguinaldo, who is extremely unwilling to compromise himself with the na- tives. He said that a majority of the Filipinos had been struggling for free dom for years and centuries, and that they now believe that their object has been attained. Aguinaldo professed entire ignorance of the autonomous system in vogue in the British colonies, of protectorates and of American State autonomy. He said he was unable to understand the idea and only under stood absolute independence" Per sonally he said a protectorate for the Philippine Islands was necessary, but he feared that the people would be dis appointed in this. He had not studied political economy and knew nothing about the various forms of government. He inquired whether Australia was an American colony, and said he had never heard of a Malay protectOrate. Con- tinuing, the insurgent leader said there was no need of protection for the Phil ippine Islands, because the Filipinos were able to cope with any army. He admitted that he had never seen for eign army, with the exception of the garrisons at HongkOng and Singapore, and he had never seen these troops on parade.
 Aguinaldo declined to discuss the American army and protested his un- dying gratitude to the Americans.
 He said they come to the Philippines to fight the Spaniards only, and now that they had finished the task it was to be expected that they would return to America. He was unwilling to be- iieve that the Americans would demand a reward for an act of humanity, and he declined to admit the necessity of quid pro quo.
 The Filipino leader expressed himself confident that the newly founded Gov ernment would build navy ultimately. Tn the meantime, he said, the great na- tions should protect and aid a young nation, instead of grabbing her terri tories. If the Americans should refuse to withdraw, the national assembly, he said, must decide the policy to be pur- sued-a policy which he declined to forecast.
 Further conversation was prevented by the strains of brass band, but Gen eral Aguinaldo was interviewed also by a dozen American journalists and one Japanese.
 A Spaniard, supposed to be an officer in civilian attire, trayersed the town, sneering at and denouncing the princi- pal Filipinos. On his resenting a friend ly remonstrance he was placed under arrest.
 Several Filipinos assure the corre- spondent that they have personally witnessed horrible tortures at Illoilo- the feet of natives held to a candle flame for hours, electric currents ap- piled to the most sensitive parts of the body and variously unnamable atrocl- ties-all intended to extort confessions This is scarcely credible, but there are numerous alleged witnesses of such outrages, and several who show scars of recent origin and unhealed. Some say they escaped only through bribing the Spanish officials.
 It is natural that there should be a yearning for revenge upon the Spanish prisoners at Malolos, but these are not maltreated. The correspondent saw several who were at perfect liberty. having peaceful employment and ap- parently quite content to remain.